During the day I found out about the Independence Day Festival in Amsterdam, Haarlem, and other Dutch cities. (This festival is a big celebration of Dutch independance from Germany at the end of WW2.) It was near sunset when I started my one kilometer walk from my hotel at the Haarlem Grote Markt to the festival. Since it was cold outside I wore my new Netherlands hoody sweatshirt. This is the largest festival that I have ever attended. I am not a city slicker so I avoid the larger festivals in the big cities.
I followed the crowd (and sycamore trees) to the festival security. The positive spirit of the crowd walking to the festival put me in a happy mood. Because I was wearing a Netherlands sweatshirt, a number of happy Dutch people took selfie photos with me on my walk. I passed the security check into the festival. Then I found an information booth where I photographed their last copy of the Independance Festival handout.
It was after sunset when I arrived at the festival; walking around checking out the vendors, neat old buildings, and the live intertainment music. Near the band stage (by what I called
the white house) I relaxed and got to chat with some good Hollanders that spoke perfect English. I had a wonderful evening there on a very good event that I did not know about in advance.
Later that night on my walk back to my hotel, there was no big crown to follow. Fortunately the long line of sycamore trees took me back to the Grote Markt. This was really a great start to my five week vacation adventure in wonderful Holland; where I met up with many good TB buddies.
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