"Sweetie, can I ask you a big favour?"  That is the beginning of the email message that greeted me this morning over breakfast.  It had been only minutes since we had hung up from our phone conversation and Amanda had forgotten to ask me to pick up a treat from Holland before I left tomorrow?  What you may ask did she want from Holland?  As her email reads, "Lee and I both love the coffee bean chocolates, would be be able to go to a coffee shop where they sell coffee, not drugs, and get me two bags?  Also, they should sell sugar sticks, they look like lollipops sticks with crystallized brown sugar stuck to the end...I have but two left and I like to use them for stirring sugar in my coffee."  So, with that that request, off I went to begin my last day in Holland, and in reflection as I sit here in this most beautiful of accommodations in the evening, I know today couldn't of been any better for me. 

The morning began with a lovely call from Amanda, just wishing me a good morning from north of Edinburgh Scotland.  We must of chatted for a half hour, talking of such varied topics, but overall very light and quick witted.  After our call, I organized my belongings for my days trip across several streets to where I am now.  I couldn't check in until 1:30 so I spent two hours in the lobby of last nights hotel doing some computer work for a client back in California, and then checking and sending emails as well as adding to my journal.  At 1:15, off I went with my bag in tow.  I have a total of four bags, one goes on my back, the other is on wheels, and the last two are my computer and camera bags, which go over each shoulder.  It was a bit of a task, but I arrived at Spaarne 8 sharply at 1:30.  I must say, that is hotel, (it should be called a home as that is how it feels) is stunning.  Ironically, it is directly across a canal which I have spent the last two nights on the deck of a parked canal tour boat.  I'd sit there, as I am going to do after entering this journal note, and watch the reflections of the several hundred year old buildings reflect in the water.  Last night I was there until 1 in the morning, with my small glass of scotch and a nice Cuban cigar.  Anyway, Peter only stayed long enough to show me my room and give me other pertinent details, then he left to return upstairs, to what I presume are his living quarters.  This building is a tall 3 or 4 story building, probably dating back to the 1700's.  My room is complete with beautiful art deco and a large, lovely nude painting on the wall.  The rest of the downstairs is for me to use as well.  There are two bedrooms, one of which seems not be occupied tonight, leaving me the whole downstairs and garden out back.  The main room, which I am in now,
has various African art mask and sculptures positioned about, is immaculate.  The Best of Bach is playing on a hi-fi stereo right now, providing such a stimulating environment.  During my one minute tour, Peter had shown me the kitchen and said help yourself to anything.  I didn't look too closely at that time, but when I later went in I so pleased to see a huge selection of the best wines, ports, and other liquors that I knew it would be so hard to choose.  I need to get up early, so one or two glasses of something nice - very, very nice - will suffice for my night on the canal later. 

It wasn't but 20 minutes that I decided to head out to the town today to accomplish some task I had, one of which was coffee bean chocolates and sugar sticks.  I also knew I'd need a bank, a hardware store, a cigar shop, and something to eat.  I had decided that it would be best to walk to the station from hear so I'd be familiar with the route in the morning tomorrow.  It is quite a jaunt from here to there, but it took only 15 minutes without luggage, so add perhaps another 10 to that. (it is all mute now a Peter said he'd give me a ride when I returned only half an hour ago)  Once I found the station, I then also took some pictures as I thought it would be a shame not to have some shots of this wonderful city.  (Minus the rain, I could easily see myself living her)  I then began a walk down he busiest shopping street in the city.  The shops vary from one to the other, but it is quite a nice stroll.  At one point, I stopped in a meat shop and asked to take a picture of the display case.  The guy eagerly lifted the glass casing in front of the meat for my picture.  Then, my next visit was to the cigar shop. A rather nice one, but they sent me on my way after selecting my cigar to find an ATM to get some cash.  They didn't accept credit cards there.  So, off I went on what turned out to be quite an adventure in itself.  I found a bank a couple of blocks away, and in doing so, also found a nice little place to eat.  Eating has been a challenge for me, as I generally like to eat healthy, and all about are places that server one fried thing or another, or tons of cheeses and breads.  Forget about the fish!   So, as the man talked me into some type of meat spread which he claimed to be ever so healthy, I asked about the coffee bean chocolates.  Coincidentally, right across was a place that only sold beans, and various coffee and tea products.  The man knew exactly what she wanted and I bought her four bags, instead of the two she requested.  After being unsuccessful in a local hardware store for a screw for a piece of my equipment, I returned to the cigar store.  I got my cigars and decided to head back to another coffee house, the kind that sells pot, and use the internet.  When I got there, there was quite a collection of college age people hanging out getting high.  Two of which were two girls, one black and the other one was blonde, definitely Dutch.  The only chair to sit down was at their table there on the sidewalk, so of course I didn't argue when they offered.  Just as the blonde was about to complete the rolling of her joint, I asked if I could take her picture doing so.  She happily agreed, as I happily took the picture.  That led us into a great conversation about a lot of different things.  Another gal sitting there was a telemarketer in Holland.  She told me in Holland, the law states you must ask first if this is a good time to call, if they say no, you politely say goodbye.  So, the crowd thinned out leaving me to sit there for awhile waiting for the computer to become available. It cost 1 euro ( about a dollar) to use the internet for 15 minutes.  When it became free, it turned out it didn't work, so off I went to the main square to sit in the sun and people watch. I must tell you, that overall, the Dutch are very thin people, with very, very few being overweight.  Could it be the bikes?  And if you like blonde haired girls, or even just pretty ones regardless of their hair color, come here in the summer.  I completed my visit in the main square by taking some pictures of the various buildings.  The main two were the city hall, and the cathedral.  Both are breathtaking and several hundred years old.  They used to hang people from the balcony of city hall.  I hear that once when Haarlem was flat broke, they sold the city hall to the government at market price, only to buy it back for 1 guilder.  Oh, my friend Doc Mollenhauer had asked me about the ease of using the Euro.  This being my fourth trip and first experience with the currency, I think it is just great.  You find yourself using lots of 1 and 2 euro coins, as well as .50, .20,.10,.5, .2, .1 cent coins.  The value is that I don't have to worry about getting rid of one currency to travel to another country and get new money there.  Very, very nice. 

So, in closing this portion of my journal, let me say that I wish you are well.  I love to get emails, so if you are reading this and want to drop me even just a hello, that would be great.  I now that my friend Doc Mollenhauer, (85+) enjoys reading my stories as I travel along, as do my good friends Mike, KC, and Frank back home.  I'm sure my family does as well.  So, even if only a handful of people read this regularly, my efforts are well worth it...