Haarlem

Oh, by the way! I never said, but we went to Haarlem for our excursion. Apparently the guide books said it was "achingly beautiful," a phrase we were wary of until we reached central Haarlem. We asked: "Are you aching yet? I'm so ache-ache! Where's the ache-ache; did you find it?" all the way until we got there (and then a little afterward). As we left, we each said independently "...I actually do ache a little, guys." Smaller, less touristy, and far older than Amsterdam. Medieval streets, buildings, cathedral with people buried in the 1000s (as in, one tomb was from 1016). And even the buildings were a little smaller, meaning only 2 storeys tall, not 3-4. So quaint. So lovely. We ached. And we all wondered why there wasn't a University there! Travesty! Was great, and we got to rest from biking.

Picture in part of the downtown area of Haarlem, right by the ridiculously old cathedral.  Plus: bikes.

 

More Haarlem, downtown!

And, finally, another area of Haarlem.  That's a lot of Haarlem...and I'm not even subjecting you to the cathedral photos.