Last week, I flew to Amsterdam. (Dennis had meetings in France first so he flew to Paris and then on to Lyon and Marsille and eventually to Holland.) I got to stay with our friends Armanda and Carlo, and I spent almost a week visiting other friends and seeing some sights that we had planned to see but never had time. This week, we traveled by trains and planes and made it to Valencia, Spain, where Dennis will be working at the European Cystic Fibrosis Conference.
The Dutch don't let a little rain stop them. We went for a walk so we could see how excited the everyone was for the world cup. Whole streets were decorated.
There are beautiful gardens and landscapes everywhere. This one just happens to be at an old and rather "small" castle in de Steeg.
As soon as I got off the plane at Schiphol last week, I felt excited to be back. The whole week I felt almost like a kid in a candy store. It has been so fun!
The Dutch don't let a little rain stop them. We went for a walk so we could see how excited the everyone was for the world cup. Whole streets were decorated.
There are beautiful gardens and landscapes everywhere. This one just happens to be at an old and rather "small" castle in de Steeg. 
We went to a fair that was hosted at the castle. There was horse dressage and show jumping, a border collie - sheep roundup demonstration, a falconer show and lots of stalls selling everything from horse and pet supplies to very expensive clothing and boots.
Armanda and I sent to Tilberg to see the Textile Museum. That was a place we had planned to visit before we moved and never got a chance. It was very interesting.They demonstrated very old techniques as well as the new types of fabrics that they are working on.
Here I am peddling a loom that is making fabric. A constant and steady pace is needed in order to have a good weave.
Armanda and I sent to Tilberg to see the Textile Museum. That was a place we had planned to visit before we moved and never got a chance. It was very interesting.They demonstrated very old techniques as well as the new types of fabrics that they are working on.
Here I am peddling a loom that is making fabric. A constant and steady pace is needed in order to have a good weave.
These 150 spools of thread supply the warp threads for a wool blanket. So impressive!
On our way to Valencia, Dennis and I had a stop over in Majorca. We didn't get to leave the airport but we had a really good fly over the whole island.
Shopping is always a wonderful adventure. Here is the central food market.
Any one want half a ham?
You can buy all kinds of meats, fresh fruits vegetables, breads, spices, nuts, dried fruits & such.
And how about this for a place to sit and rest in the shade?
I believe this is the roof of an old monastery, or it could be the silk exchange, or...... we saw so much of the very old and untra modern today.
This tree is just blooming here and hasn't started to leaf out yet. I'm not sure what it is but it is really pretty.
I love all the alfresco dining places. When the weather is decent it is so nice to sit outside and eat, especially when you have things like old roman architecture to look at.
This tree is just blooming here and hasn't started to leaf out yet. I'm not sure what it is but it is really pretty.
I love all the alfresco dining places. When the weather is decent it is so nice to sit outside and eat, especially when you have things like old roman architecture to look at.
