Visit to Volendam, very touristy fishing village - much like Lorne back home. On the Ijsslemeer, a large lake which was formed when they dammed a part of the sea and is now freshwater. It was called the Zuiderzee prior to the damming. Had our fill of poffertjes with lots of butter - Petra style. We then dressed up for a photo in traditional Dutch costume - some of us probably should not have done it. The Volendam traditonal clothing was originally unique to th...

Today was a day to discover where Frantz and Marianne were married and left Holland. We drove to Rotterdam. Rolfe, Petra, Ome Natan, Tanta Lenie, Mariska and myself in a hire van. Frantz and Marianne were married at the Rotterdam city hall first and then went to the church - Onze Lieve Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand. They left Rotterdam 2 days later on a ship from the Holland America Line. Tanta Lenie acompanied them on the ship as far as Amsterdam. Ome Nath...

Today was a day to discover where Frantz and Marianne were married and left Holland. We drove to Rotterdam. Rolfe, Petra, Ome Natan, Tanta Lenie, Mariska and myself in a hire van. Frantz and Marianne were married at the Rotterdam city hall first and then went to the church - Onze Lieve Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand. They left Rotterdam 2 days later on a ship from the Holland America Line. Tanta Lenie acompanied them on the ship as far as Amsterdam. Ome Natha...

Today we met up with Petra and Rolf - the Doof side of Mariska's family. Leaving Rob abd Jolanda's house for now. Travelled to Gouda - pronounced as Howda. Absolutely quaint Dutch architecture, very picturesque. Long rows of terraced houses which are a couple of centuries old. A church from the 1200's which was burnt down and restored in the 1500's. Floors of the church made from the tombstones of previous graves. Ome Nathan (Mariska's uncle, Mariane's brothe...

Morning drive of about 100km to see Mariska's uncle - Ome Theo, her father's brother. Theo is a retired Christian Brother now in his 80's. Saw his album of old pictures. Took copies of pictures for later blackmail of the family. Ome Theo gave Mariska a new nickname - Haaibaai (b****) Quized him about where he grew uo and where Frantz (Mariska's father) went to church as altar boy, kindergarten, played table tennis, courted Marianne in the local park. Drove to...