The Most Dutch of Days

It's been hot here in the Netherlands - getting into the low 30s (the high 80s / low 90s).  It may not seem too hot to you, but in the Netherlands, it's humid and there is no air conditioning, which means that sometimes inside the house is hotter than outside.  And there is no relief, not even at night, when temperatures inside the house raise to 32 and won't go down for days.

On one of these hot days, we decided to get out of the city, actually looking for wind (in the form of a nice breeze from the North Sea) by taking out bikes and going on a bike ride that almost reached the North Sea.

Bram, with friends Ivona and Harish, as we just begin the trek.

As we head out, we realize that this will be the most Dutch of rides, as we head out along a narrow path along one of the major canals, typically used to bring cargo in from the sea.

A cargo ship.

Then turning north, heading along yet another canal.

Check out the sign... cows ahead.

Let's just say the sign did not disappoint.

Which later led to this awesome picture - can this get more Dutch?

Local wildlife.

Finally, we reach the location of our lunch - placed near another windmill!

View from the windmill, over a bridge that crosses the canal, that works via cantilever.

Bridge rising.

Bram ordered a "salad".  It was mostly meat.

Back on the bike ride, Harish and Bram talk while biking.

And I take pictures while biking!  Haha!

Trees along a road.

A field of anti-Bram.

We reach a cute, tiny town, that is having its market day.

Even the trees are happy here.

More wildlife, this time in action!

Turning back to Groningen.

We took this ride on the Forth of July.  And who else did we run into but the Statue of Liberty!  What?  That's crazy!  A statue of Liberty in the middle of the Dutch countryside!!!

And other less patriotic statues...

Happy Tanksgiving

Happy Tanksgiving!  No, it's not a typo.   It is what happens when an American bar in the Netherlands tries to put together a dinner on Thanksgiving day for all those American expats or Dutch people who are just curious.

Our armband.  Tanksgiving!!!

Yes, we dared to go to an American bar on Thanksgiving day to eat what the Dutch consider a Thanksgiving meal.  What is a Dutch Thanksgiving, you ask?  The answer is drumsticks (chicken, not turkey), sausage, meatball, zucchini, macaroni and cheese, bread, and fries.  The closest they got to actual Thanksgiving food was corn on the cob (which, considering how rare corn is in Europe, is actually quite special).  Oh, and no Tanksgiving meal would be complete without the Tanksgiving burrito, filled with ground beef, tomato sauce, peas and carrots.

Who ever said the Dutch can't cook?

When I asked if there would be pie, the waitress said "Pie?  Why do you expect pie?"  

Sigh.

After our meal, we headed outside to watch a bunch of very drunk Dutch guys play football in the Grote Markt.  They had a real football, but clearly did not understand any of the rules (they would pick the ball up after it had bounced several times on the ground, throw the ball multiple times to whoever happened to be open, and instead of tackling, they would pick each other up and kick each other).

Needless to say, it was great fun to watch.  It was made even better by the random sorority girls who were crossing through the football game on their way to a party, dressed up in many strange costumes, from frogs to dinner tables to pink square cheerleaders.

Hallo Sint! Hallo Piet!

It's that time of year again!

The time when everyone, especially the little ones, go out to the local canal and wait patiently for someone to come sailing past.  Yes, it's the time for Sinterklaas to come to town!

Of course, Sinterklaas is always accompanied by his cadre of friends - the Zwart Piets.

The Zwart Piets arrived in all sorts of boats, including repurposed cars.  They all hailed the Spanish flag because that is where Zwart Piet lives.

Apparently,  if you are bad, Zwart Piet will hunt you down, put you in a sack of potatoes, and bring you to Spain!

Honestly, it's not that bad of a punishment, really.

Finally, Sinterklaas himself arrives on the last boat in the flotilla!

Once docked, Sinterklaas and his friends go on a parade through the streets of the city.

The Piets hand out goodies to the kids, small circular cookies called pepernoten.  It's something that would never happen in the US - letting your kids accept unwrapped cookies from a stranger.

Waiting patiently for the Pepernoten

Most Dutch buy pepernoten in the stores, but you can also make them at home.

More Piets arrive by unicycle.

A common form of transportation in Spain.

Then the paddywagon arrives, toting gifts for children with typical Dutch names.

Sorry, I didn't see any for Bram or Sjaak.

This Piet arrived with his sheep.

Also black, oddly enough.

 Finally, I can see Sinterklaas above the heads in the crowd!

Go Sint!  Go Sint!

Sinterklaas heads to the university.  Nearby, sniper Piets keep a lookout for danger.

Just kidding!  Not snipers, they actually repel down the university building.

Piets hand out pepernoten and other treats to the wall of children that has formed.  Sadly, they won't give any to adults.  *sniff*

But we did catch one long enough for a photo-op!  Thanks Piet!