Kind of like Gulliver...

I thought I would post some of the pictures from Kyle's visit in several blogs since it takes forever to load the pics.  Hopefully this will encourage me to do a few at a time and get them all in!

These are the pictures from Madurodam - also known as mini-Holland (at least in my mind).  The park was built in the late 1950s and has been continually updated.  Basically its a large open air arena surrounded by model dikes and filled with replicas of some of the more interesting buildings and features of the Netherlands all in 1:25 scale.  Its aimed at kids, but its fun to wander and you can get a really good overview of what there is to see (like a national tour in an afternoon!). 

The birds amuse me greatly!  They're not really part of the exhibits but since its open air they can't really prevent them from landing in the middle of displays.  Pseudo-godzilla like beings wander amonst the tiny inhabitants of Madurodam...

This is a replica of the Leiden windmill, De Valk (the falcon).  You get an idea of the scale from Kyle and Dave (if the birds weren't convincing enough).

And just to totally throw the size contrast: giant clogs!  There is one enormous clog in another area that I have a great pic of myself sitting in, but it's not in digital. 

A bit belated...

I've

been trying to figure out a way to send pics along with my Blog and it

seems that I've found the way!  These are pretty old (taken a few

months ago after one of the very rare snowstorms in Leiden that

actually stayed on the ground).  After Kyle's visit last week I

have a lot more to post but it will have to wait for a few days. 

The epic of our journey through five countries in less than two days

must not be rushed!





The

pictures are actually quite near my (current) house.  I can see

the top of the windmill from my window and the boats are moored on the

other side.  The river is actually the Rhine- it just happens to

flow right through the middle of Leiden.  You wouldn't believe how

many people were out making snow men though!  They only get a

snowfall like this once or twice a year so its a big event.  No

one ever believes me when they see pictures from Canada!

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