19 July 2013 Alkmaar, Noord Holland

OK, this is one of those wonderful days that kept me grinning all last winter. Temperatures are around 75-80F. Sunny, but with just enough cloud to keep it from becoming too hot. We've got the shade up, and are using some of the supports to air the comforters and provide shade along the side of the boat. Books, drinks and nibbles to hand, all is really good.

Coming into Alkmaar in Monday was a bit hair-raising. We were told to go under a raised bridge, go into the (very narrow) canal through town, turn around and moor. Oops, there was barely enough width to turn around to begin with, and after the tjalk ahead of us turned and moored that little space disappeared. It was possible, but difficult, and it turned into one of those times when there were a dozen helpers and each of them thought they were in charge. Chaos, but we finally managed it.

We are on a little side canal heading into the old town center from the major canal through the region. The major town square is just a couple of "blocks" straight down the canal.  It's about 5pm right now, and they've just finished one of the two carillon concerts in the square scheduled for today. We didn't have to move an inch, we just sat in the shade on the back deck with drinks and munchies in hand and listened.

  There's another this evening. I guess we're planning to head down there sometime after it starts to try for dinner at the Indonesian restaurant in town, or else if we're not really hungry enough for a whole meal we'll come back to the boat for something light.

Today we did half of a rather long walking tour of the town. Either we're becoming overly sensitive to the commercial aspects of tourism, or we're just visiting areas this year where that is overly emphasized. Alkmaar is a really lovely town,

 very old, and it is filled with some terrific unique boutiques

(Couldn't resist tango-ing cows!)

 shoe-horned into tiny old buildings on narrow streets:

but that seems to be the emphasis, shopping. I guess that's just not my thing. Of course, there is the exception. In Paris I've dragged Bill to all the big name cooking emporiums. Well, here there's a lovely little cooking boutique just off the main street. I've purchased a few small things - yes, only a few and only small - but had some nice discussions with the folks there.

If I've got it right, it's owned by an expat from New York who has modeled it after Dehillerin in Paris. It's modern and sleek in stark contrast to Dehillerin's dark, crowded and dusty, but at it's core it covers all the same bases, has the same quality, and it's been a joy to explore. Sure wish I could bring a few things home . . . .

Alkmaar evidently has its own red light district, and it's only one very short street off the central market square. Bill insisted on having his photo taken there, though I think mostly at the time because it was such a non-place.

  Oops, that evening we walked by again on the way into town to buy ice cream cones and things had changed a bit. No closets with windows on the street like Amsterdam, so the ladies just strut up and down the one short block in very skimpy underwear. Next day during the day it was much the same thing.

Friday is the day they do the cheese market in the town center. We'd seen much the same thing several times in Gouda, so it was familiar. What they did have at the same time was a market with quite a few real quality craft stalls and demonstrations: a clog maker (managed to get a single wooden shoe for next to the door at home), a man who was doing really very nice pen and ink drawings, a fantastic basket maker, a man making and selling stained glass ornaments, and A LACEMAKER!!!

 We had a lovely talk, and I was able to purchase some patterns so I have something to work on.

The internet connection is refusing to upload photos again, so will try to add them later when/if we get a better connection.  Till then folks, . . . .