Zanse Schans Day Trip
by Augusta
We walked through town all the way to the huge canal with windmills and the original town of Zanse Schans on its banks.
The way the mills were operated and the different products that were produced at the mills was fascinating to explore and watch!
Next we walked through a wooden shoe shop, museum, and factory. The history behind the making of shoes was amazing. In the past, the Dutch made shoes for purposes of all kinds: peat-digging, walking across ice on the canals in winter, everyday walking, going to church on Sundays, or going to a wedding. In fact, there was a wedding tradition built around the wooden shoes. The future groom had to make his bride a pair of wooden shoes to show how much he loved her. He would carve the shoes and then decorate them with carvings of different symbols and designs. According to legend, the longer the toe hold on the shoe was, the greater the groom's love for his bride!
We ate lunch at a restaurant that served fresh orange juice made from real oranges, cold cuts of meat and cheese, and the traditional dish of pannenokoeken (thin, large pancakes with some kind of topping such as ham, cheese, or chocolate melted on top and served piping hot). They were delicious, and there was even a gluten-free option!!
After lunch, we rented bikes and went out for a ride around the countryside. It was a beautiful day, with golden sunshine, white, fluffy clouds, blue sky, and lush green fields. We passed goats, chickens, and ducks on our way around. A few of us quit after an hour and drink some warm tea at the restaurant. After we all met up again, As we went to a chocolate shop around the corner and watched a demonstration of how to make chocolate and made our own cup of hot chocolate and bought some chocolate to taste. :) The chocolate was yummy.
We walked around, exploring and admiring the small green houses and little canals wending their way out to the big canal. My mom and I passed a crane bird and stopped to watch him, taking pictures. As we walked away we saw him catch his dinner of a small, silvery fish. We walked up to the front entrance, where we had all agreed to meet. Vergena, Estefany, and I fed pumpkin seeds to the ducks that were hanging out by our feet. They were very trusting and didn't seem to be afraid of us. We had two choices: go to Amsterdam and eat at a traditional Dutch restaurant, or go back to the hotel and eat. Most of us voted to go back to the hotel and eat and also get an early start on packing up to come back home to America.
We went to the train station to catch the train back to the hotel. Something happened to me as we were waiting. There was a train that pulled up that we thought at first was our train and then the others realized wasn't. I got on the train, expecting the others to follow. I sat down, and when I noticed that no one of our group was next to me or on the train, I walked to the nearest doors and looked out. Seeing the group, I pushed the gold button to open the doors, but it was too late and the train began to move in the wrong direction, taking me with it. Those were two of the longest minutes of my life, but I knew what to do. I got off at the next station and waited for someone of the group to catch up with me. I was nervous, but I knew I'd be okay. Scott and my mom arrived about 10 minutes later, much to my relief! We boarded the train going back to the Zanse Schans station where the rest of the group boarded.
The rest of the trip back to the hotel passed without incident and we ate a scrumptious dinner and discussed our travels. It has been a great trip for everyone, and we are sad to leave, but happy to go home and see our families tomorrow!
