PDPW Day 5 Rotterdam & Gouda

Our group was on the move bright and early day 5 as we had to be boarded, luggage loaded and hitting the road by 6:30 am.  The excitement of seeing the worlds largest flower auction was motivation enough to get us there on time.  We traveled to Aalsmeer to go to Royal Flora Holland to take our tour. 

 

 

 

The automated cart trains were running full speed to get where they needed for filling.  The building hustled with the little carts picking up and hauling the orders as they needed filling.  It looked like an ant hill with thousands of things taking place and going all at one time. 

 

Do we look like tourists?  Ha Ha!!

We stopped to tour Futureland which gave the history of the Rotterdam harbor and the future goals for the area.

The amount of cargo cranes were crazy to see.  Knowing all of the port was manufactured and began as just harbor full of water was impressive. 

 

We traveled from Rotterdam towards Shiedam and saw so many beautiful windmills. 

We were shocked when we found out our lunch was being served in a windmill. 

The beautiful views as we walked to the windmill for lunch.  We got plenty of exercise as our bus wasn't able to travel into towns and we would end up walking from the drop off. 

In spite of every attempt this picture wanted to stay sideways.  ugh.  Anyhow this was the restaurant we went to called De Noordmolen, which was a windmill that originated in 1803. 

 

We traveled to see the infamous floating dairy.  It was so different than I was expecting, but learning on this trip that nothing was what was to be expected. 

Arriving in Rotterdam at the floating dairy site. 

What a site!!  It was a three story barge basically.  I recommend clicking the link for the farm as it shows the building process.  The manager for the site was a wealth of information and quite ambitious! There was a floating segment next to the dairy, which powered the floating dairy.

 

The dairy was a free form site as well as the cows were free to eat, or milk at whatever they wanted.  The Dairy used Meuse Rhine Issel cows that were dual purpose

The cows although beefy looking were quite sweet

We all got fresh milk!

 

Following our tour we traveled to Gouda.  We got to our hotel and had freetime to wander to the city center.  It was a wonderful city center with more fabulous buildings and churches. 

The Stadhuis

The local cheese market Gouds Kaashuis

After our time strolling we returned to our hotel. 

 Upon returning to our hotel we went up and by the elevator we noticed the snack machine.  I had to laugh as it sold both Stroopwafel and Beer in the same machine.