Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 110

Sights to See: Windmill Island Gardens, Holland, Michigan

Situated on a small island in the eastern shallows of Holland's Lake Macatawa, this is the only authentic Dutch windmill in the United States. The 12-story tall, 248-year-old DeZwaan (The Swan) was brought over from the Netherlands in 1964 and is still used to grind grain into graham flour--bags of which make the perfect souvenir. (It is the last one brought to the U.S., because they are now national monuments in Holland and can't be exported.) It runs silently on gears greased with bees...

Sights to See: Holland Museum, Holland, Michigan

Located within a historical building, this atmospheric small museum holds an impressive collection of Dutch art. The second-floor Dutch Galleries displays 56 17th- through 20th-century Dutch paintings and more than 150 cultural objects, including fine furniture and Delftware. Holland Museum 31 W. 10th St., 888-200-9123, 616-392-9084; http://www.hollandmuseum.org/. M-Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5. $5, children free.

Sights to See: DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delftware Factory, Holland, Michigan

DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delftware Factory 12755 Quincy Ave./US 31, 4 mi. N of downtown, 616-399-1900; www.veldheer.com . Hrs. irregular; Tulip Time 8am-8pm. Factory: free; tulip farm: $7, 3-13 $4. See Dutch wooden shoes being hand-carved or carved by machine in a range of sizes--from a miniature Barbie doll version all the way up to a man's size 13. The only authentic delftware factory in the United States is also here, and artisans still hand-paint the blue floral and windmill motifs onto w...

Good Eats: Phuket, Thailand

Happy Easter!

I saw these pretty pink 100-year-old eggs last week in a market just north of Phuket in Thailand. They are actually made fresh but described as rotten beneath the shell. Yum, yum!

Learn more about these eggs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Century_egg

image c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Tulip Time Festival, Holland, Michigan

Founded by Dutch settlers seeking religious freedom in 1847, Holland holds on to many Lowlands traditions. Many of the outlying towns here—some are just tiny bergs--are named after The Netherlands' 12 provinces. In 1871 a fire destroyed most of the town's buildings, but the white Pillar Church still stands and performs Dutch services and some Dutch step-style architecture remains. Currently there are 174 churches in town.

Holland is one of the first cities to introduce a snow melt system benea...

Misc.: ZZYZX Road in California

It looks like this could be the end of the road.

http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/16/141610/285/travel/Exit+Here+at+Zzyzx.+Yes,+Zzyzx

Misc.: Colorful India

View a colorful day in the life of India.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/colorful_india.html

image REUTERS/Ajay Verma

Travel Videos: shame on United--again--part 3

This is the final music video in the guitar-busting trilogy from the Sons of Maxwell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45E0uGVyeg

Here's the back story:
http://www.davecarrollmusic.com/2010/03/united-breaks-guitars-song-3

Go here if you missed part 1:
http://travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/2009/07/shame-on-united-again.html

and part 2:
http://travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/2009/08/travel-videos-shame-on-united-again.html

Sights to See: Capomos Town, El Fuerte, Mexico

Named for the spring-blooming capomo flower, this Indian ceremony village was established 300 years ago. Visitors view the Mayos Indians performing the traditional dance of the deer up close in a compound is surrounded by mature cacti—organ, pipe, and others--and learn about the customs, wardrobe, and instruments that they use (butterfly cocoons are draped on leg bands to make a rattle snake sound). You'll see residents preparing handmade tortillas that you can sample, and making clay bowls t...

Great Sleeps: Hotel Posada del Hidalgo, El Fuerte, Mexico

Don Rafael Almada--a wealthy and influential town mayor--spent 5 years and 100,000 gold pesos building this traditional colonial mansion in 1890. With wood trim made from 285 Canadian red pine beams and four layers of brick and adobe construction, it was once the largest and most beautiful in town. The iron work was brought in from Mazatlan. The colonial "Casa Vieja" section has attractive rooms with modern amenities and a lovely central courtyard, and it is claimed to be the original site...