Gouda.

Arrived in Gouda to a brilliantly large and free car park close to the centre of town. The only difficulty I had was driving round in circles to find it.

That done I decided to explore the town. Pretty, quiet, sleepy Gouda. It basically (I think) a concentric circle of streets and canals rippling from the town hall.

Town Hall. 

It is I who lean, not the hall. 

This isn't Pisa.

Erasmus, famous (ish) son (sort of) of Gouda.

The town hall is opposite the Gouda Museum, where you can researcg the history of its most well known local produce but you cannot buy. Most of the shops were actually closed, which is a shame as I might have been prompted to kit myself out a la Gouda Girl..

As it was I just had a mooch. 

Saw the greenest  canal in Holland. 

Yes, its actually a canal..with ducks and a boat on it. Look carefully at the boat and you will see...more cheese! 

Had a Gouda toastie.

Saw a guitar made of parquet flooring.

Ate ice cream.

Laughed at the local signage. 

I'm SO easily pleased.

Its actually a really lovely place. The streets are narrow, like York. The houses thin (Amsterdam). 

Two Netherlands facts you probably know:

1. Houses were built on the smallest possible plot of land due to then being taxed on square footage of ground beneath. 

2. The Dutch are the tallest race on Earth. 

It shows! 

You should see the height of their bicycles. 

And finally.....

Near the carpark (at Plein Amerika) there is a cafe. Above the cafe there is this marvellous sculputure of some fella. It's not solid so when you look at it you can see the clouds behind. Just awesome!

Passing cloud, different pic!