VIDEO | Finding Wisconsin in the Netherlands, Part II

July 4, 2017 – Gouda, Netherlands - Hokey and loving it. Gouda is a community in the Netherlands known for its clay pipes, treacle waffles and of course it's cheese.  Upon my entrance to the city I find this cheeky cow made of Legos. Reminds me of home. 

Toured the historic Museum Gouda. The location used to be a shelter for the homeless, begging monks and escaped serfs. They were allowed to spend the night.  

Also at the museum was a remake of the hospital pharmacy. If a pharmacist wanted to display his status to his clients he put crocodiles and other exotic animals like salamanders and snakes on show. Snakes were, by the way, also used as a cookie ingredient; viper cookies kept you young.

Agypy  was the medicine made of finely pounded mummies -  believed to give you eternal life.

 Felis was made of dried cats good against rheumatism as cats are flexible.

The famous cheese shop in Gouda (photo, above) where they even made blue lavender cheese (see video, below).

VIDEO | Sorry, Wisconsin, no cheese for YOU

June 28, 2017 - Leiden, Holland - Spent an extra day in Leiden which is about 25 miles south of Amsterdam. 

Smaller community than Amsterdam but a college town and fast paced with a lot of museums. Plus, there was heavy rain overnight and more precipitation on tap today. There are also several museums I missed ... so those are all my excuses and I'm sticking to it. 

Ramon Severs was one of the first vendors I ran into. He was a good-looking guy and spoke English, but I was drawn to his big wheels of cheese. 

The 25-pounder would not fit on my bike nor would the cheddar stone of 40 kilos. Sorry, Wisconsin friends.

Side note: Listen in on the video. I like the part where he says "I'm my own boss."

The vendors with white tents ran down the edge of the river and all around the city centre. 

There was a meat man, bolts of fabric and sport socks, olives and candies. One could experience a real hum to the market.