FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 - ALKMAAR CHEESE AUCTION

The group met at the Amsterdam Centraal train station at 7:30 a.m. to board the train that would take us to the city of Alkmaar for the activities of the cheese auction.  Our arrival was scheduled for 8:34 and once off the train we used 2 cabs for transport to the site of the cheese auction.  In the square where the auction was to be held, bleachers were set up and when we arrived about 20-30 people had already gathered and were seated in those bleachers.  We proceeded to choose seats and then waited as the cheese was brought out.  Below, the Weighing House in the square where the cheese auction is held.  Note the orange wheels of cheese laid out in groups.

 

Below, the stores around the square.

And, the cart next to the canal.

Much of the cheese is floated to the auction in small boats.

The market is open for sales of cheese...

 and shoes...

 The carts are loaded with cheese and related items to sell to the crowd of people in the bleachers.

The crowds gather and watch and taste and buy.

 

The haulers move the cheese as it is judged and sold.

The girls load the sacks with cheese and related items offered for purchase.  Joy & Sylvia bought some.

The judge walks the square.

Note how the haulers carry the cheese.

Joy arranged for the services of a guide to take us through the Weighing House and on a city tour.  The guide on the left, Joy on the right.

Our walking tour of the city began with these buildings.

 

Our guide said that she did not approve of the sex shops so she wouldn't take us to any of them and she did not point them out.  However, I noticed these on our route.

 

 

Beautiful streets... 

and canals

And, a picture of a beautiful door (for Carol)

 

A lovely garden inside a compound built as a retreat for young women

 

A church tower

 

 and the pipes of the organ inside the church.  We stopped for a short time to listen to the music and rest our feet.

 

  

Dutch girl tops a chimney 

 

we returned to the square for lunch

and then, used a taxi to get back to the train; Joy & Tim are exhausted and need a train ride to rest.

 

Since we had pre-purchased tickets for the Anne Frank museum for late afternoon, we returned to our lodgings and agreed to meet at that museum at 5 p.m.  (Holly felt that she did not have enough time to return to her hotel so she came to our apartment with us for the short time before departing for the museum).

 

Our best made plans did not work too well for our visiting the Anne Frank Museum.  The group was to assemble together and then proceed to go through the museum.  A few were "on time" but most of us were late due to transportation problems--late running and cancelled trains.  When we finally all arrived the authorities there were very generous and proceeded to allow us all to go through the museum as a group, no matter what time our tickets stated.  (Pictures were not allowed so I have nothing to insert).  It was a worthwhile, moving visit and one I will remember always.

 

From Anne Frank museum we proceeded to the Van Gogh Museum restaurant where Joy had reserved a large table for our group.  After a very nice dinner we toured the museum as we wished and then returned to our apartment for the night.