The show was amazing again. This time I was there from the very beginning till the very end, from build up to break down like never before. Although, it was quite an exhausting week, I was happy to take part in it. Although, I lost my voice on the day just before the show and struggled with my sore throat all along, I was happy to make (quite one-sided) conversations with new customers and recognize returning ones. This week undoubtedly developed team spirit which is otherwise in normal case impossible. 
Last year, returning from Amsterdam I made a list that I must did this year. I'm happy to report that I did all of them, even extended with new goals that were achieved, too. This trip was undoubtedly about the realization of dreams.
Since this was my fifth year in Amsterdam, I definitely wanted to go outside the country and to see real windmills. A visit to Amsterdam and the Netherlands would not be complete without having seen the lovely Dutch countryside. Now, I had it.
When we approached and the first windmill appeared, I felt something unexplainable pleasure, some uninvited tears came and heard an inside voice whispering "now you are here and can thank for yourself; you planned it and put it into execution". Awareness that made me think this way instead of having another grey tick.
My colleague Gergő joined me this excursion. He was amazed at my lucky me because we were always on schedule and on the right track, in time on the spot and everything happened so smooth. Normally, this is how I always do and this is how things happen with me.
During this excursion we saw Zaanse Schans, the picturesque windmill village with its typical green-timbered houses and warehouses. Aaaaaand we visited a working windmill! The task of the mill we went inside was to produce oil from peanuts. Unfortunately, there was no wind so we could not see the true summit of perfection in the use of wind power. But the experience itself compensated this tiny incompleteness. We were allowed to go really inside and also upstairs outside. Beautiful pics could have been taken and it was not only me who thought this; a young Dutch couple performed their wedding photos then and there.
After the windmills we visited a clog maker and saw how those traditional wooden shoes are made. One or two pair per day in the past, one pair in 3 minutes nowadays. Then Marken Express provided a fantastic boat trip sailed by a cute captain and followed by a host of seagulls. Other highlights during this excursion included the famous and lively fishing village of Volendam where we visited a cheese factory and hardly believed the real age of the 74-year-old lady who drinks a cup of whey every morning and evening that is disgusting but brilliant for the skin.
Marken. I really liked this place. Marken is a peninsula in the Markermeer. Because it was an island for so long, the costume of Marken is quite different from many other traditional costumes in the Netherlands. Accidently I found them on www.beforethey.com as well which actually means "before they pass away"...
Worth to mention two other highlights that was not part of this excursion but the part of this one-week trip.
Either of them is a restaurant that we tried collectively. De Kas, recommended by Lonely Planet. They grow their own herbs and vegetables in the greenhouses and gardens at the restaurant and on their own farmland. The restaurant itself is a 8-metre high greenhouse. What an atmosphere and what an experience! We laughed a lot and really enjoyed the situation and each other's company. We really had fun, so it was a good choice, another clap on the back.
The scene of the other highlight is another restaurant. I met one of my friend from Budaörs who moved abroad so many years ago and finally found himself in Amsterdam. He works as a chef in a lovely restaurant. I visited him two times and my colleagues joined me.
Gábor not only prepared heavenly courses for us but - as he is very verbose - we were truly entertained by him while eating. He spoke about his life in Amsterdam, introduced a couple of Dutch habits, let us tasting different kinds of Dutch beers and shared the secrets of coffe shops and their attachments. It was good to see him and his life over there and I'm happy to get to know also his dreams and plans. Cross my fingers for him and clap on my back to initiate and carry out this visit.
Heineken Experience, the former brewery containing museums and attractions, was also a great entertainment. The biggest experience was to battle and label my own. More exactly my brother-in-law's as one of his favourite beer is the Dutch Heineken.
And what are the 'must to bring' from Amsterdam? Stroopwafels (waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle), bulbs and different kinds of cheese and then say cheeeese!
My colleague Gergő joined me this excursion. He was amazed at my lucky me because we were always on schedule and on the right track, in time on the spot and everything happened so smooth. Normally, this is how I always do and this is how things happen with me.
During this excursion we saw Zaanse Schans, the picturesque windmill village with its typical green-timbered houses and warehouses. Aaaaaand we visited a working windmill! The task of the mill we went inside was to produce oil from peanuts. Unfortunately, there was no wind so we could not see the true summit of perfection in the use of wind power. But the experience itself compensated this tiny incompleteness. We were allowed to go really inside and also upstairs outside. Beautiful pics could have been taken and it was not only me who thought this; a young Dutch couple performed their wedding photos then and there. After the windmills we visited a clog maker and saw how those traditional wooden shoes are made. One or two pair per day in the past, one pair in 3 minutes nowadays. Then Marken Express provided a fantastic boat trip sailed by a cute captain and followed by a host of seagulls. Other highlights during this excursion included the famous and lively fishing village of Volendam where we visited a cheese factory and hardly believed the real age of the 74-year-old lady who drinks a cup of whey every morning and evening that is disgusting but brilliant for the skin. Marken. I really liked this place. Marken is a peninsula in the Markermeer. Because it was an island for so long, the costume of Marken is quite different from many other traditional costumes in the Netherlands. Accidently I found them on www.beforethey.com as well which actually means "before they pass away"...
Worth to mention two other highlights that was not part of this excursion but the part of this one-week trip.
Either of them is a restaurant that we tried collectively. De Kas, recommended by Lonely Planet. They grow their own herbs and vegetables in the greenhouses and gardens at the restaurant and on their own farmland. The restaurant itself is a 8-metre high greenhouse. What an atmosphere and what an experience! We laughed a lot and really enjoyed the situation and each other's company. We really had fun, so it was a good choice, another clap on the back. The scene of the other highlight is another restaurant. I met one of my friend from Budaörs who moved abroad so many years ago and finally found himself in Amsterdam. He works as a chef in a lovely restaurant. I visited him two times and my colleagues joined me.
Gábor not only prepared heavenly courses for us but - as he is very verbose - we were truly entertained by him while eating. He spoke about his life in Amsterdam, introduced a couple of Dutch habits, let us tasting different kinds of Dutch beers and shared the secrets of coffe shops and their attachments. It was good to see him and his life over there and I'm happy to get to know also his dreams and plans. Cross my fingers for him and clap on my back to initiate and carry out this visit. Heineken Experience, the former brewery containing museums and attractions, was also a great entertainment. The biggest experience was to battle and label my own. More exactly my brother-in-law's as one of his favourite beer is the Dutch Heineken. And what are the 'must to bring' from Amsterdam? Stroopwafels (waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle), bulbs and different kinds of cheese and then say cheeeese!
