The Netherlands

Sat 13 March: We got up about 9:00, had cappuccino from Jeff's espresso machine. It was luxurious. It's like living with a barista. Beth, Sheila, and I went to the local market for groceries, The Albert Heijn Market. We enjoy going to local markets. This is where locals do their thing, and it give us insights into local culture. Rotterdam shopping is very interesting. In the first place, the market is closed Sundays so working people have only one day on the weekend to shop. The place was packed. You could hardly turn around. Also Beth has a card for this market you scan your card, get a hand held scanner and a shopping cart. You scan each of your purchases yourself with the scanner keeping a running total. If you buy produce that doesn't have the bar code. You identify it and weigh it. A sticker with the bar code is dispensed, and you scan that. When you walk out you a might get vetted by a clerk who spot checks for people not exactly honest. Other than that you just swipe your card, and you're done. Cool. They also have an amazing array of prepackaged foods that are seleced for ease of preparation, variety and nutritional value. For less than €10 you can purchase a complete meal for four by using a mix and match system. For example: number 1 is the main dish. Number two is the carbohydrate Number three is the vegetable and so on. It's unbelievably convenient, and there's a wide variety of choices: Japanese, Mexican, Italian, or traditional. We left the market and stopped to get some frits, french fries, a local fast food popular with the Dutch. French fries! I love those things. Wow! I love this place french fries everywhere and beer. This is heaven. More later, Love, Michael