DAY 20
FRIDAY MAY 20 2005
Today I woke and dropped off 20 pounds of camping gear at the hostel desk to put into long term storage. I decided not to mail the tent and what have you home. Just in case, you never know. That sure was fun loosing 20 pounds like that! Yes!
All morning I was filled up with trepidation. It was my last day at the hostel and I needed to find a bike repair shop before I could go anywhere. How many hours of searching would it take? Would the bike shop down the street be able to do it?
I had fiddled with airing my back tire up for 45 minutes yesterday. My thinking was that I was having trouble learning the presta valves. Well no, it was the air pump. I succeeded in letting the rest of the air out of my tire, which wasn't my goal at all. My air pump is a goner. So is the gauge that's included in it. The big question of the morning was: is the bike shop that is five minutes away a repair shop also? I went there and sure enough it was. The man didn't speak English so I explained as best I could. The only word I really understood emphatically was when he picked up the air pump and tested it. His exact words were "KAPUT!" Well, ok, then. It wasn't me. He sold me an adapter for my presta valves so that I could air up at any gas station. YES!
I also bought a pump that works with the adapter only. So now the big question is where can I find a presta tire gauge? He didn't have any and I was lucky he had what he had as it was made quite clear to me not every shop did. The are bike sales shops and there are bike repairs shops. I was so happy to have a way to put air back in my tires I forgot to ask him about my very loose and sloppy right brake. Oh well, it will hold for now.
The street the bike shop was on was a gold mine! Not only was the shop a success, they also had a supermarket where I stocked up on water, and a bakery. I bought a croissant there as I didn't get breakfast at the hostel because when I went down the food was gone. Soccer teams are hungry monsters.
I then easily mounted my bike (as I didn't have camping gear blocking my way) and mentally prepared myself for hours of riding to get to the Outdoor Museum. Much to my happy surprise I found it in about five minutes. Yes! So much for trepidation. I just never know what the day will bring, I tell you! I took over 110 pictures of fabulous stuff. I will just post a few here. I hope it isn't to slow downloading.
This has been one of my major goals. I have wanted to come back here for years and now I have. By bike even!
I had been wanting to go back to the outdoor museum for many years. I had been to it previously on a Rick Steves tour and we only spent an hour there. Not enough time by any means. It shows you how people used to live before modern times.
It rained this morning, just in time to use the straps Jeff had sent me. It cleared up by early afternoon.
What does and a historic outdoor museum after do with contemporary body art? You will just have to go there to find out. :-)
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It has a warehouse of antique equipment. What a wheel chair!
Games.
I seem to always be there for the weddings. I saw several in Venice and Haarlem and now here at the museum.
You can just see the bride.
Many gardens to get lost in.
Farm animals of all kinds.
Historical workmanship displays.
Look Ma, no chain!
These pictures do not even do this museum justice. There were indoor displays of all varieties. My favorite was when I sat to watch a silent picture film. I just don't see those anymore. It was all black and white authentic film footage about women before emancipation. One noted statement was "The emancipation of women stood on two pillars; the pill and the Hoover vacuum. :-)
Coming here was a real accomplishment for me. It was a years in the making. I was extraordinarily happy all day. I spent four hours walking this museum and then I got on my bike and went to the zoo. Here are some of the pictures from my three and half hours there. Sure was a lot of walking today, but it was all worth it!
The ocean display was the most unique display I have had the pleasure of seeing. You walk through a tunnel where the fish swim all around you. It was like seeing fish fly. They were flying above and all around my head just like birds. Something to experience to be able to feel the awe.
The Rain Forest Display.
At one point I walked through a man made tunnel wondering why they would have an empty tunnel from outside to outside. It was a few seconds before I realized that I was in a HUGE greenhouse. I felt like Little Elvis. This thing was HUGE, man, HUGE!
Yep, I go wet! Oh, but what fun! :-) You should have herd me giggling.
I got lost in the "Desert Display". It was so huge I wondered around for an exit, finally have to ask an employee. Crikey!
Then came the "Safari Display".
Rick Steves say traveling is living at an acierated pace. Well, for me, for today, it certainly was! I saw how people lived from the middle ages to the 70's. Then I was in so many climate zones in one day it was mind boggling. If you ever come here I recommend doing giving the museum and the zoo one complete day each, instead of like me, both in one day.
After the zoo I took off for the city center. At one point I asked this man on his electric bike which way to go and he didn't speak English. He explained as best he could. During my forty minute cycle ride to the city center he passed me two more times just to make sure I was still on route. Poor guy was so worried about me. Gosh!
The cycle ride itself was a joy. Forty minutes of a downhill ride. Wow! I even got up to 30 Km an hour, then I started breaking. What a surefire joy today has been!