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

Golders Green

Day 1: Landed at Heathrow Sunday afternoon, took the tube ("chube") to Golders Green, an old Jewish neighborhood in northern London where Lesley's Bubby Eva is from.









First meal: Schwarma and chips at Solly's take-away. They use more cinnamon and cumin in their shwarma here and let you select from over 20 condiments and salads to put IN your sandwich, i.e. taboulleh, picked carrots, cabbage, chili sauce, hummus, baba ganoush...need we say more. (Note: Joe is no longer a vegetarian, Lesley is on her cultural "travel diet")









Our first best practice in transportation: Well lit crosswalks









Day 2: Picked up a salt beef (corned beef) sandwich and two kinds of pickles at Bloom's to take into London.









Picnicked at the Tate Modern.










On "The London Eye"


















Look who joined us in London?









Tubey's here too?









Our first favorite pub, oxtail stew with mashers and very rare roast beef. Had a delicious Czech beer, began with an L, knocked our socks off.









Day 3: Happy New Year! Joe's first Rosh Hashanah at the West London Synagogue, the Rabbi was from Texas and rocked the mini shofar. It was a contemporary service, with references to Paul Newman's legacy and the market crash. It is a strange time to be traveling given the current economic situation, and it lends a whole new layer to our research into our families emigration stories.












Moroccan stews at Camden Market to warm us up on a rainy day and fuel us for buying coats!












Note: Upholstered ceiling












Took the afternoon train to Harwich for the boat to Holland....

Departure

In celebration of our marriage last July, we head to Europe to trace our roots. This trip is more than genealogy--it is about who we are and where we come from. Some of our stops will be to specific places where we know our ancestors have traveled and lived; where less is known, we will learn from place. This trip is also about where we are going--about being inspired by art, food, transport, water, how places are shaped, how people live and thrive. Throughout this journey, we will be looking forward by looking back, all the while hoping to make emotional, cultural, and spiritual connections.

here we go....


sea tac to heathrow, bring it red eye.

thanks to all for your help and support in making this happen.

love, love

send off, by steve and robin









les is ready