beautifully. We ate breakfast afterwards at a parking Platz and when we stopped at the next service station, there were the Stuarts. So small is Europe!! They too were on their way to Holland.

Holland proved to be a surprise as the land was so flat and bear after Germany. Did not see many windmills and no tulips fields until our third day. We arrived in Holland about 4:30 PM and could find no place to stay. They sent us to Haarlem which was not far and we got fair rooms and had a good dinner. Food not too different from Germany. Our continental breakfasts next a.m. had the addition of cold ham and cheese — just couldn’t seem to hack it that early.

Friday, May 8; After breakfast to cheese market at Alkmaar. Oh, what an enchanting village. Cobblestone sidewalks and such narrow winding, uneven streets with tall, narrow buildings. We loved it and although there were many more tourists than natives it was fun. The bicycle traffic in Holland is fantastic!! This intrigued me the most. It is very hard to drive, though, as they are everywhere!

After cheese market, we drove to Amsterdam and had a short ferry ride on way. Took the canal ride through the city and into the harbor — saw a dry dock in action. We then went to Anne Frank House but it was closed at 4:00 PM — it was 5:00 PM! We had dinner at small place mentioned in our book. Quite good — back to Haarlem and bed.

Saturday, May 9; On the way to the Haag and our accommodations which weren’t bad but more costly than we had hoped and a most unpleasant landlady. We went to look for a small village to shop and picked a lulu — Delft.

Every tourist bus in Holland was there and they even accept American money. However, it was fun and had many souvenir shops — we got the wooden shoes — some Delft ware and Theresa of got her Dutch doll. We ate in a small place there which was OK — nothing special. Then we drove back to see the Madurodam (the miniature city). It was so cute and complete -airport — dock — moving ships — autobahn — seaside resort — water skier — castles — the works.

 Sunday, May 10; Sunday — very early mass — 7 AM — so we can start home. A simply terrible breakfast — not even milk or cocoa — dry bread — lukewarm hard-boiled eggs — cold cheese — and tea. However, my family brightened my Mother’s Day with lovely souvenirs of Delft and The Haag. How I loved them!! We had words with the battle axe before we left but finally got on our way.

Trip was long and uneventful until Jimmy pulled off autobahn (where he shouldn’t) to take a picture and we sank up to our hub cap. Along came the polizei — tow truck — and even Beltz (small place Europe). $5 later we were on our way. Almost got hit before we reached home but did get to the AYA by 6:00 PM and bought children hamburgers for dinner.

Could not stand another meal in a restaurant with them at this point. Our family relations really take a beating on these weekend jaunts – especially the 4-day ones.

Jimmy and I ate at officers’club and then home for us all to unpack. Oh, I forgot that Saturday we did see many tulip fields on the way to the Haag and also stopped at Keukenhof Gardens. A beautiful display of tulips — all sizes — shapes — and names — even a Perry Como. These are formal gardens. Also, here we got the very worst wurst and hot dog ever imaginable!!