No Halloween?

Okay, So there is no Halloween here in Holland. What the hell? I thought that earth based religions were started in Europe...

*Rant*

(I mean wasnt that the reason the whole witch hunts here started?...Which is a whole other story for American history...Weren't the pilgrims running from religious persecution when they went to the states....and then they had the gaul to persecute men and women believed to be practicing witchcraft, which btw still hasnt changed and never has been worship of the devil.)

*Rant complete*

But anyways I was extremely disappointed to find that all hallows eve was not celebrated. Nor was halloween. Then I started noticing Jack-o-Lanterns. I asked everyone, why are there those if you dont celebrate. "Well, I dont know" was the common response. Ive seen signs for Halloween parties and Bryan has heard event promos on the radio for Halloween eve parties. "Must have some American influence..." - That I dont believe, I think there are people out there who just know what the holiday is, American influence or not. I mean Halloween doesnt have to be kids running around in costume, that I think is the American part. But why not freak yourself out? Why not indulge in scary movies? tours or haunted houses?

Well the haunted house bit is exactly what I plan to do, and guess what I found in my research. THERE ARE HAUNTED TOURS and SCARY STORIES through this ONE CASTLE, and not only in ONE PLACE, but multiple are doing it. Strange for a country who doesnt celebrate halloween huh? or maybe its that American influence.

So the question is; what am I going to do?

There is a castle 1/2 hour from us in Waardenberg.

Photo credit to Waardenburg Castle Website

This place has been around since the 1200 and though it was owned by multiple owners and has seen 2 wars, both of which lead to major reconstruction, it also housed a famous sorcerer, Dr. Johann Georg Faust. Evidentially he sold his soul to the devil and for some reason the Devil severed him for 7 years as a servant. Weather Faust was aware that his servant was in fact the devil or not, was not told in the story I read. Faust was very awful to this servant, Joost and made him do things like build a road only to tear it up again or dump a bag of bird seed into thorn bushes to make him refill the bag.

After 7 years, evidentially the Devil took what was due. He grabbed faust by the ankle, threw him against the stone wall of his study, splattering his brains across the walls, only to drag his body through barred windows and "drag his soul to hell."

Note* Do I believe this? No. I don't believe in the Devil, but I do believe in Evil, and I think his servant was fed up and murdered his master. Legends are made out of the unexplainable evil one person can conjure up.

Unfortunately this castle is not open to public inspection, but does have A LOT of ghostly activity, evidently.

Second Choice

Museum De Heksenwaag

I may be able to do this, on the way to another place, but its something I want to do regardless of Halloween. There is a museum in Oudewater (my friend Alicia found it first...but I think its awesome) where you can be weighed as a test of witchery or not.

This was an actual test during the witch hunts in the 17th century given to the town by the Emperor Karel V. This was the only fair weighing process given to any european city. Luckily, it was fair because no one was ever convicted.

I want my certificate.

Third Choice

Photo Compliments of Google Search of Maastricht Underground.

Maastricht; Mergelmaand

This is an underground tour, starting at 7:30 or 9:00 pm. They will be telling a ghost story about "The lost girl" while giving a tour of this castles underground tunnels. The city was attacked so many times through seven centuries that there was constant reconstruction and better tactics laid out. Eventually this underground system was developed to surprise attack the enemy. The underground passages were build to house 5000 military men.

Later the cities underground system was used as air-raid shelters to protect the cities peoples during World War II and the Cold War.

I have found a few other haunted castles, their tour-ability, unknown. Their spookiness...not as thrilling as the one that is not too far from us. One even has a ghost horse that supposedly took a hunter who tried to kill him to hell. OOoooOOoooOOO....

This is my, Im not impressed face....

Meeting Willie and Klaus

Purple Beans?? yes its true! I have some!! =)



Long awaited by grandma bev. - Photos of Klaus and Willie's house.

Bryan, Arie and I all went to have lunch with grandma bev's friend who lives here in Holland. They are Lilac farmers, the only ones that do winter blooms for Lilacs. Willie is a dear friend to my grandma and my step-father. She took care of my step-dad and his brothers when they were kids.

The Business end of the house.






The Three of us.
This is worth going back to this resturant for. Ginger balls in syrup with vanilla ijs and slagroom. (ice cream and whipped cream) =)
Willies House, Inside

HAS INTERNET

I can proudly say, I have internet in my bedroom!

Though this may entice some of my family and friends to skype me (all night long) please try to remember the time difference and refrain from calling me at 3am....unless its a dire emergency. =)

I also will be able to post more. YAY!! its too cold to go downstairs and I dont like dragging my laptop around all over. Unfortunately this also means Bryan will be gaming....but atleast we will be together (in the room) while I work on my stuff and he games.

happy happy joy joy.

lot of new stuff to come!

Wort Wakker

So, I got up this morning at 5:30 to go for a run, but....because its now October, the sun wont be rising until 7:50. Now Im stuck with a dilemma... Go out in the dark and run? or wait until there is a glint of light, at which case everyone else may be starting to wake up? Maybe Ill go when Bryan wakes up.