Last Day in Leiden with the kids.

This is Diana's and my last night in Holland with Cole and Judith.  I hope you have enjoyed the blog.  I have always been a night owl so I have enjoyed staying up late and just updating the blog for us.  My Jeans and shirts are finishing drying in the dryer which is about the size of a shoe box.  This will be my last post.  The town  is beautiful and everyone should experience a place like Leiden for one or two weeks in their life.  Add it to your bucket list.  Trust me.

Most all the buildings have hoists out the front of the buildings.  You didn't think you can get your table, furniture  and appliances  up those tight stairs did you ?

One last view out our bedroom window to the cathedral.  Hooglandse Kerk is a Gothic church in Leiden dating from the fifteenth century. The brick church is dedicated to St. Pancras and today serves parishioners of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

the Girls are out shopping and Cole and I discover the Pilgrims Museum 100 meters from our flat.  "Are you kidding me!"

The pilgrim museum is just around from the clock tower that rings on the hour.   The clock tower was a temporary wooden structure when they built the cathedral  but the population never moved into the center as expected so it was never finished in brick.

The Front door to the Pilgrims Museum.

these small artifacts were found in the sewers dumped by the pilgrims as they fled.

Stairs to the cellar.  The building is from 1370.

This banner is from 1530 and was only used during special ceremonials.   It is  all about the crucifixion  of Christ.  Symbols are everywhere.

The trunk is from the 14th century

items in the museum

This chair is from the 12 the Century.  Wow.

Judith's Law School

 The very old Church now gym where Cole and Judith work out.

 Cole and his friend K'irk at the Owl Pub just across the alley from their Apartment.

 Judith and Diana return triumphant from their shopping trip.

 Dave and Cole spend some Dad and Son time playing pinball

One last picture with our 14th century alarm clock.  The Bishop of Utrecht ordered the construction of a wooden chapel on December 20, 1314. By 1377 the population and economic prosperity of Leiden called for a larger structure, and construction began on the current structure. The sanctuary was finished in 1391 and the ambulatory in 1415.

 out last dinner in Leiden at the best Greek Restaurant

 we are actually indoors but it does not  look like it.

 First course of spreads and bread

 cheers

 a final group shot.  What a trip!

 Diana and Cole

 Diana and Dave

 Two Keys are the City symbol for Leiden and on many buildings

 Cole and Klaus one last night

 Cole shows  Mom how to use Spotify...and she is hooked

 And Judith finishes the night as  as the next Mrs. Robinson.  Simply Gorgeous!

Good night.  Can't wait to get home and cut some grass!  I will leave you all with my lessons learned from our trip to Leiden

• bikes and bike lanes everywhere
• Drinking beer is good
• olive oil is the only oil.
• we all quit work at 4pm
• no work in August- everyone
• everyone has a shop - for most anything
• no preservatives in the food
• walk around to truly enjoy the world
• casual clothes are all you need
• a pub on every corner
• a church on every other corner
• nice to visit John Robinson's town at last
• fresh flowers every other day
• toilets and bathrooms are not made to spend any more time then necessary.
• 500 years is not old
• if you cant walk to it - you don't need it
• no car - no problem
• Do you know what gas costs?  see above - who cares
• the train beats a plane on most days
• don't bring a car - you cant park it here.
• diet coke tastes bad in EU
• bread, cheese, and salami makes a fine breakfast
• the church will let you know what time it is
• don't like the weather - give it an hour
• Steve Jobs has these folks hooked too
• wine bottles here ave real corks.