VICKI & DON FROM HOME IS WHERE TO HEART IS IN ROTTERDAM. KLEIWEG 170A 3051SJ ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

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1 VICKI & DON FROM HOME IS WHERE TO HEART IS IN ROTTERDAM. KLEIWEG 170A 3051SJ ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS DAILY DATA REPORT: (PART A) VOLUME 2018, EDITION - JUNE DATA FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 22ND, 2018 (THROUGH) SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018 THOUGHTS OF ANDRE GIDE MAN CANNOT DISCOVER NEW OCEANS UNLESS HE HAS THE COURAGE TO LOSE THE SIGHT OF LAND. THOUGHTS OF MARK TWAIN Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. 1 PAGE So throw off the bowlines.sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.

2 FRIDAY JUNE 22ND FROM HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: IN ROTTERDAM. MONIQUE S LOVELY STUDIO (AIRBNB) ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS THE PLAN OF THE DAY: WORK ON EPISTLES, COLD DAY, WALK AROUND ROTTERDAM, CITY HALL, PAGE

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4 ROTTERDAM CITY HALL Rotterdam s City Hall is one of the few old buildings left in the center of the city. It was built between 1914 and 1920 and miraculously survived the 1940 bombing raids. Rotterdam s City Hall used sculptures to express the history of world port Rotterdam from the outset. When walking around the building, you will discover several special sculptures. 4 PAGE

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10 MUSEUM ROTTERDAM AT THE TIMMERHUIS MUSEUM ROTTERDAM HAS TWO BRANCHES: ONE IN THE TIMMERHUIS AND ONE AT THE COOLHAVEN. THE MAIN LOCATION, IN THE TIMMERHUIS, IS THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY. IT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTER, WHERE THE ULTRAMODERN GLASS AND STEEL OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS OMA ARCHITECTURAL FIRM COMES TOGETHER WITH THE CONCRETE AND BRICK OF THE TIMMERHUIS RECONSTRUCTION MONUMENT. HERE, HISTORICAL PIECES AND NEW HERITAGE TELL THE STORY OF ROTTERDAM AND THE ROTTERDAMMERS IN UNEXPECTED COMBINATIONS - FROM SETTLEMENT ON THE ROTTE TO A MULTICOLORED METROPOLIS IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY SO WE ONLY TRIED TO SEE PART OF THIS MUSEUM.. PRIMARILY THE PART ABOUT THE HOTEL NEW YORK. 10 PAGE

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13 REMARKS BY DON ALLEN DURING OUR CRUISE TO ROTTERDAM, ABOARD THE MS ROTTERDAM OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINES, WE HAD HEARD OF THE LOCATION OF THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINES CORPORATE HQ AND ITS VERY HISTORIC BUILDING. WE HAD LEARNED THAT THE BUILDING HAD BEEN SOLD AND A HOTEL WAS BUILT IN IT. IT IS CALLED THE HOTEL NEW YORK. DURING OUR FIRST STOP-OVER VISIT TO ROTTERDAM, WE WENT TO THE BAR AND CAFE OF THE NEW YORK HOTEL TO USE THEIR WIFI. THIS IS WHY WE WERE EXCITED WHEN WE WALKED IN TO THIS NEW MUSEUM ROTTERDAM AND SAW THE HOTEL NEW YORK HISTORY EXHIBIT. IT COVERS MOST ALL OF THE MAIN FLOOR. 13 PAGE

14 Hotel New York is in ROTTERDAM, based in the former office building of the HOLLAND AMERICA LINES on the "KOP VAN ZUID. The building has been a NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE since PAGE

15 MORE REMARKS BY DON ALLEN HOLLAND AMERICA LINES: THIS EXHIBIT IS AS MUCH A HISTORY OF H.A.L. THAN OF THE HOTEL NEW YORK. THE REASON THE EXHIBIT IS HERE IS BECAUSE THE HOTEL NEW YORK IS NOW 25 YEARS OLD. YOU CANOT HAVE THIS EXHIBIT UNLESS YOU INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF BOTH HOTEL NEW YORK AND H.A.L. 15 PAGE

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22 OUR WALK AROUND CONTINUED ON TO THE CENTRAL STATION WHERE WE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS. THEN WE CAUGHT OUR TRAM HOME. WE WENT PAST THIS GREAT SIGN OF A PARKING LOT IN THE CITY. SEE BELOW! 22 PAGE

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24 SATURDAY JUNE 23RD FROM HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: IN ROTTERDAM. MONIQUE S LOVELY STUDIO (AIRBNB) ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS THE PLAN OF THE DAY: ANGELO HAD INVITED US TO GO WITH HIM TO A CHESS CONTEST AND SEE SOME MORE OF THE CITIES OF THE NETHERLANDS, OF WHICH HE HAS GREAT PRIDE. WE SAID: YOU BET, WHEN DO WE LEAVE? WE ARE SO VERY BLESSED TO HAVE ANGELO TO SHOW US HIS GREAT COUNTRY WE WERE OFF ANF RUNNING AT 09:00. WE WILL HAVE A GOOD LONG CAR RIDE AND BE ABLE TO SEE MANY THINGS OUR FIRST DESTINATION WAS IN THE CITY OF MEPPEL. WE WILL ATTEND THE Royal Dutch Chess Federation YOUNG PEOPLE CHESS COMPETITION AND CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE NETHERLANDS. 24 PAGE

25 MEPPEL ISTHE SMALLEST CITY IN THE DRENTHE PROVINCE. IT DEVELOPED IN THE 16TH CENTURY AS A TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION INLAND HARBOR FOR TURF. THERE USED TO BE A LOT OF WATERWAYS IN THE TOWN, BUT NOW ONLY ONE REMAINS. THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL SCHOOLS WITH CONCRETE AND GLASS WINDOWS FROM FLOOR TO CEILING. A GREAT COMPLEX TO HOLD THE CHESS COMPETITION THE 2018 CHESSITY NATIONAL PUPIL DAY THE CHESSITY NATIONAL PUPIL DAY 2018 WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 23 JUNE IN MEPPEL. THE NATIONAL PUPIL DAY IS THE OFFICIAL DUTCH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IN CATEGORIES F, G AND H OF THE ROYAL DUTCH CHESS FEDERATION. DURING THIS ONE-DAY TOURNAMENT, 120 YOUTH PLAYERS WILL PLAY FOR THE DUTCH TITLE IN THEIR AGE CATEGORY IN MEPPEL. 25 PAGE

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33 THE CALLING WHILE WE WERE LOOKING AT THINGS, AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF EXCITEMENT WITH EVERYONE GOING TOWARD A SEPARATE CLASSROOM. MANY PARENTS WALKED WITH THEIR KIDS, WISHED THEM GOOD LUCK AND WATCHED THE GAME. THE KIDS WALKED INTO A ROOM WITH GAME BOARDS AND SETUPS ALL READY FOR COMPETITION GAMES. SOMEHOW PLAYER PAIRS HAD BEEN DETERMINED. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH. THE KIDS SAT DOWN, VERY SILENT AND POLITE. THEY SHOOK HANDS WITH THEIR PARTNERS, WAITED FOR THE DIRECTOR TO SAY: GO! AND AWAY THEY WENT I NOTICED THERE WAS GREAT NOISE OF MOVING CHESS PIECES FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 8 MOVES. THEN THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE KIDS OF THIS AGE SO SILENT AND THINKING AS THEY PLANNED EVERY MOVE, BOTH DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE. VICKI AND I WERE REALLY STUNNED OVER WHAT WE WERE SEEING. WOW! WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE. 33 PAGE

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37 JUST LOOK AT THIS BABY GIRL ABOVE. SHE HAS HER FINGER IN HER MOUTH AND IT IS SO VERY CLEAR THAT SHE IS THINKING AS HARD AS SHE CAN THINK TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE. VICKI, BEING A PAST TEACHER, WAS FLAT AMAZED TO SEE THIS. 37 PAGE

38 WHAN A GAME WAS OVER AT CHECKMATE, THE KIDS WOULD SHAKE HANDS AND THEN HOLD THEIR HANDS UP. THE CREW MEMBER WOULD COME TO CHECK THE CHECKMATE AND THE CLOCK. THEN HE LOGGED DOWN THE WINNER AND THE KIDS WOULD LEAVE THE ROOM.. 38 PAGE

39 THIS WAS A VERY NEAT AND ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH VICKI AND MYSELF.. I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WE WENT OUT INTO THE HALL WHERE ANGELO INTRODUCED US TO SOME OF THE PARENTS AND WE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE CHESS EXPERIENCE. 39 PAGE

40 THIS YOUNG MAN IN THE RED LUCKY SHIRT WAS A WINNER AND HE WAS IN A PLAY OFF HE WON IT AND THEN CAME OUT IN THE HALL WHERE ANGELO CONGRATULATED HIM. WE STOOD AND TALKED TO HIS DADDY, WHO IS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER. HE AND VICKI TALKED ABOUT HOW GREAT CHESS IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS IT REQUIRES SO MUCH THINKING AND CONCENTRATION. 40 PAGE

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43 THIS IS A ROUTINE THAT IS DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. HERE IS AN ADULT WHO IS PLAYING FIVE DIFFERENT GAMES.. EACH YOUNG PLAYER MUST MAKE A MOVE BEFORE HE COMES BACK. IF THEY MAKE A GREAT MOVE.. HE GIVES THEM A STAMP ON THEIR LOG CARD. IT IS GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.. FUN TO WATCH.. 43 PAGE

44 THIS IS ANGELO WITH ANOTHER PROUD MOTHER AND HER SON, WHO HAD JUST WON A GAME. 44 PAGE

45 WE SPENT ABOUT TWO DELIGHTFUL HOURS HERE. WE WERE ABLE TO SEE PRIDE AND LOVE EVERYWHERE. MANY PARENTS WITH PROUD KIDS AND GRANDPARENTS THAT WERE HAPPY, TOO. THANKS ANGELO FOR BRINGING US TO THIS EXPERIENCE! WE THEN LEFT TO GO TO ANOTHER CITY WHERE ANGELO WOULD LEAVE US. THEN HE WOULD RETURN TO THE COMPETITION AS WE LEFT, VICKI TOOK THIS CLASSIC PHOTO OF THIS YOUNG MAN WONDERING WHAT HIS STANDING WAS. I GUESS HE WAS LOOKING FOR HIS NAME. IT IS CLASSIC! LOOK AT HANDS! 45 PAGE

46 WE LEFT AND ANGELO TOOK US TO THE CITY OF GIETHOORN. IT WAS AROUND LUNCH SO WE WALKED DOWN A CANAL LOOKING AND TELLING EACH OTHER HOW VERY SMART WE WERE. WE FOUND A PLACE TO EAT. LOOK AT THE NAME OF IT: THE GRAND CANEL.. YES, THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL THE GREAT CANAL IN VENICE.. FUNNY! IT WAS AN ITALIAN PLACE SO WE SAT TO HAVE LUNCH.. GIETHOORN THE VENICE OF THE NETHERLANDS". IS A TOWN IN THE PROVINCE OF OVERIJSSEL, WITH A POPULATION OF 2,620. IT IS ABOUT 5 KM SOUTHWEST OF STEENWIJK. ****(YES, ANGELO: IT STARTS WITH S AND ENDS WITH K)**** GIETHOORN IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE "VENICE OF THE NETHERLANDS". 46 PAGE

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52 WE ALL THREE HAD LUNCH.. I HAD A PIZZA. ANGELO AND VICKI HAD SOME KIND OF PASTA.. WE HAD A GREAT TIME.. WE ALL 3 TOOK A WALK AROUND AND THEN ANGELO LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE CHESS COMPETITION. HE WOULD RETURN TO GET US AT 17:30 OR THERE ABOUTS.. SO OFF WE WENT TO SEE THE WIZARD AND SEE WHAT WE COULD SEE. 52 PAGE

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56 NOW STICK WITH ME. THERE IS A STORY RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES THAT WILL COME TO A FINISH OVER THE NEXT 3 HOURS.. IN THIS AREA THERE ARE NO CARS. ALL ACCESS MUST BE DONE BY BOAT. HERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMING TO THIS CHURCH. A BIG TIME WEDDING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. 56 PAGE

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59 AS WE WERE LEAVING THE AREA WITH ANGELO AT ALMOST 6PM, WE CAME UPON THE WEDDING PARTY AGAIN, STILL TAKING PHOTOS AND HAVING A BIG RECEPTION. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVITED WE WALKED AROUND AND DECIDED TO TAKE A BOAT RIDE AND SEE THINGS FROM A TOUR BOAT.. SO WE WALKED BACK AND CAUGHT THE TOUR BOAT. WE HAD A GREAT DRIVER OF THE BOAT WHO TOLD US HE ALSO WORKED AT THE SCHOOL IN MEPPEL WHERE WE HAD BEEN. SO WE HAD A COMMON TOPIC TO BE CONNECTED. 59 PAGE

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61 THIS IS A PEAT BLOCK THAT IS PROCESSED IN THE AREA. PEAT IS NOW SHIPPED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BURN AND COOK WITH.. 61 PAGE

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63 63 PAGE NOW WE RUN INTO A BOAT TRAFFIC JAM CAUSED BY THE WEDDING PARTY. SO WE SAT IN AN AREA WITH BOATS ON EVERY SIDE AND NOT A ONE COULD MOVE.. MUCH FUN!

64 NOW WE ARE OUT IN THE LAKE.. WATCHING ALL THE BOATS FROM THE CANAL JAM GET FREE AND GO ABOUT OUR BUSINESS.. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE.. WE GOT BACK TO THE PIER AT 16:45 AND DECIDED TO GO TO THE MUSEUM BEFORE IT CLOSED. 64 PAGE

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67 WE ARRIVED BACK AT THE PIER AND TOLD OUR VERY PATIENT DRIVER WELL DONE IN GETTING US THROUGH THE MARRIAGE AND THE RESULTING BOAT TRAFFIC JAM. IT WAS INDEED A GREAT TIME WE WALKED DOWN TO THE MUSEUM TO SEE WHAT WE COULD SEE.. 67 PAGE

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71 THIS IS A GREAT HISTORY.. IN ENGLISH TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE ENGLISH IN THE CENTER PART OF EACH YEAR.. 71 PAGE

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75 IT NOW 17:00 AND THE MUSEUM HAS SHUT. WE MUST GO AND MEET ANGELO AT 17:30 TO 17:45.. OUR MEETING PLACE IS THE CAFE WHERE WE HAD LUNCH.. SO VICKI AND I WILL GO THERE AND WAIT FOR ANGELO. WE HAD A DRINK. AS WE WAITED, THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITMENT BECAUSE OF THE PLAYING OF THE WORLD CUP.. ALL OF THESE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SHUT DOWN TO WATCH FOOTBALL.. (YES, SOCCER TO DUMMIES LIKE US FROM AMERICA ANGELO CAME AT 17:50 AND WE WERE ON THE ROAD BY 18:00.. ANGELO WANTS TO GIVE US A SHOW AND TELL ABOUT MANY OF THE CITIES ON THE WAY HOME. THEN WE WILL HAVE DINNER SOMEWHERE. THIS WILL BE A GREAT TRIP HOME I MUST STOP THE EPISTLE AT THIS POINT AND WILL CONTINUE IT IN PART B. SO HERE WE GO! 75 PAGE

76 IT IS TIME TO FINISH THIS DATA. THIS EPISTLE IS DONE. SO LET IT BE WRITTEN: SO LET IT BE DONE. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS LIFE IS GOOD! LOVE IS BETTER! 76 PAGE