Hoek von Holland and Rotterdam arrival

Arrived in Hoek van Holland Wednesday morning, greeted by mixed industry (manufacturing, shipping, power, and wind turbine)










and a beautiful little Dutch port town on a blustery day


















Twee koffie, alstublieft (nee slagroom)









We headed to Rotterdam because 350+ years ago, Lesley's great great great great great great great grandfather, Mathias Nafzger, left here for Philadelphia. Already we are finding that there is something incredibly invigorating about traveling with a mission---we are letting our family guide the way, with few expectations, leading to happy surprises all along the way. Admittedly, we didn't plan our itinerary before we left the States (except the big loop) and the making-it-up-as-you-go has been an excellent way to explore a place.

Joe loves boats

Large sailing barge









An eighty foot boat with a twelve foot leeboard!









A twelve foot boat made of steel, riveted!









I've read about it before...it is true...there are amazing similarities between the Dutch and the Chinese (boatwise)

Rotto

Rotterdam is the second city that we can see ourselves living in...(we felt this way about Golders Green too)...

Crazy cool art and architecture

Zalm sandwich and kroketten (think fried gravy ball, spread on toast)

Stainless steel skate park, an award winning public space in the center of town









Lesley's pointing at the slide rail installed on park benches









Rotto is the same size as Seattle (@600,000), and has a tram, metro, buses, bike paths, and a well-signed walking rotterdam path that takes you all over without having to think about it. People are out and about all day and night. It's a diverse new city, almost entirely rebuilt after WWII and with over half the population from outside the Netherlands.



























Our home in Rotterdam, the Room hostel