Haarlem

A typical canal scene in Haarlem.


There is too much to see here. It is like a smaller more easy-going Amsterdam. Today I ended up checking out of the Carillion. I looked up a laundramat listed in Rick Steve's Guidebook, and I did a load of laundry. And ended up walking around some more. In the laundramat on Boter Market, was a girl, a woman, named Gabriele. She was a little older and had a child, but still very beautiful. We ended up talking and she is working there part-time and is a designer as well. She designs purses and other things for women out of PVC and latex using different hardware rivets and fasteners to hold everything together. She was very cool. And it seems that there is a beach not too far away from here that she said I should visit. Tomorrow its supposed to be warm out....

I did my laundry and while it was being done, wandered across the street to a cafe for lunch - a hamburger. But with two different sauces and cheeses and some kind of bacon. In any case it was awesome. Half and hour passed and my wash finished just in time. Gabriele showed me how to operate the dryer and we talked more for another half-hour.

I ended up wandering over to a pub called the The Melkwoud and trying a couple of trappist brews. And talking with the owner about all things Haarlem and Dutch, and it was really awesome. One trappist brew can put me under - as it is about 10% alcohol. The owner let me in on where to look for a furnished apartment should I want one. Overall very cool. I also met Paul there who is a painter of frescos and he wanted me to explain the "Windy" City. Why is it windy? what happens? There is an interesting notion amongst people from Europe that the reason it is called the Windy City is because the city's skyscrapers were built facing the wrong way and therefore causes the wind to become amplified in certain areas of Chicago as it blows across the city.

The Melkwoud . A bar with great Trappist brews.


Haarlem is definately a liveable easy-going alternative to Amsterdam. I wish I could spend more time here and also in Amsterdam as well. Obviously a 2nd trip is required - or something....



Here is Boter Market. with Laundramat on the left and great burgers on the right.


Now I go back to Amsterdam to the Flying Pig. Tonight I perform at Boom Chicago.