HELLO HOLLAND Gotta pack the Dog, right Fans?

         Good to be back on ManBijtHond another season. Keep those funny cracks coming to the MBH Website. You know I have a thick skin and can take your jokes.
         Do you think they serve kroketten amd bitterballen on the ship?

Here's where it all began for me and my DNA 400 years ago

          The 1652 Dutch Wyckoff Farmhouse and Museum in Brooklyn, New York, part of the New York City Historic House Trust. Look what one visit did for me. It's interior is a magical place.
           It's on Facebook and the 50,000 Wyckoffs out there should look it up on Facebook, not to mention all the families that narried the 11 children, like the Van Hornes, Covenhovens, Schenks, Van Ness, Bayard and other family names of mine.

Remembering Harbor Day 2009 - The Dutch are Back!

What a fabulous day for Nieuw Amsterdam 2009!

Being on a ship named for the colony and its people brings back all that Russell Shorto's book stood for. -- The Dutch gave America the ideals it strives to live by.

The day Her Majesty Queen Beatrix's Government came by for a visit

                                                   Got to tidy up.

                                     Do you think they will want kroketten?

                               Meeting Madam Ambassador Rene Bos-Jones

                               In 2009, the Prime Minister of The Netherlands

                            Shout out to Francie's daughter Simone and Marielle

                             Madam Ambassador enjoying the children's song

The memories of my Dutch heritage experiences are still fresh.

                                   She loved my Argentine Club Polo shirt!

                                       What a great time in the mosh pit!

                                                   a grand, grand day

Taking a break while travelling to embarkation port of Ft. Lauderdale

Posted in thanks to my favorite Royals watcher, Matt, who is already planning the menu for his annual Queen's Day celebration in Williamsburg, I'll bet. Her Majesty Queen Beatrix's Royal Secretary even sent him a Commendation letter for his efforts. And he's Swedish! (Wish I could give you the address, but he'd kill me!)

ATTENTION ALL FOLLOWERS---ANNOUNCEMENT

              Dutch Television show ManBijtHond is carrying the Questions and Comments page for this site. Would love to hear from you while I am aboard beginning April 3rd.
              Comment page is   www.ManBijtHond.nl/user/Charlotte
              Shout out to fellow Indiana Law School grads from IUPUI Campus. Wait until you see coming posts of  the Hoorn tulip - our school colors - red and white Indiana and black and gold Purdue!
       

Oh Baby,a memory for a lifetime...Come to Mama...

         My thanks to Erik Elvejord, HAL's man at the helm of PR, for this stunner.

authored by another Daughter of Holland Dames

Looking forward to reading  this and passing it along to the ship's library

Inaugural voyage of the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, HAL's Flagship

Of all the ships built in the Venetian lagoon, this one will have a place in my heart, taking me on an adventure over the ocean. It's in my DNA to be sure.

What are they trying to tell me? Water, not wine in the cabin...

                    Exercise equipment in the stateroom? Not too subtle, fellas...

New York Skyline? I thought we were bound for Espana?

    400 years since Dutch mariners sailed the bounding main. Now it's our turn, together. Looking forward to taking your questions and comments about the journey and life aboard for the Dutch officers of today whom we will visit at their posts.
    The Hudson 400th celebration of 2009 is past, but the thought of a voyage across the Atlantic remained for me. Of course it had to be on a Holland America vessel and the flagship no less!

Family and Friends who have supported the Wyckoff Museum

             Almost 400 years later - decendants Charlotte, Catherine and Carol

Housekeeping Fact - Followers take Note

Found the email widget for you to receive postings direct to your email. Please see box at bottom of page to save you the trouble.

Pomp and Circumstance for a Princess

 

   Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima christened the ship and took an inaugural tour, just this past July.

If it's good enough for her, it works for me...

Presenting...Tah Dah... Godmother to the MS NIEUW AMSTERDAM, Princess Maxima of The Netherlands. Enjoy further views of her inaugural tour of the vessel tomorrow.

First landfall o'er the Eastern Horizon

   Thanks to John Woram, author of the wonderful story of Tierra del Fuego, "Here Be Giants", I can share this GPS mapping by Google Earth of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

Honestly, I won't believe it, 'til I see it after a week at sea. (You may need to upload "Google Earth" free software to sail in closer, but try clicking the picture. See you there around the 10th of April )!

The ups & downs of life...

   I feel foolish prattling about my voyage to come when so many are suffering so. Reminds me of feeling too guilty to go to Broadway shows for years after 9/11. I suppose disasters and devastation paralleled our lives, but it wasn't in-your-face really until the Vietnam body count appeared in the living room on our family's black and white TV.
   Now the omnipresence of late-breaking news through the Internet has made tranquility a difficult state to achieve. And so we write to friends we know who are connected to Japan, New Zealand and elsewhere, send a contribution through the Red Cross and give some thought to how precious are our lives.

Alert re those less fortunate

   CompanyStore.com donates a comforter to homeless children for each one you purchase under the program "Buy One - Give One"

Mayor of Hoorn sends Greetings

      Thanks to the Honorable Onno van Veldhuizen, Mayor of the stunning city of Hoorn, the Netherlands for providing the city's flag to present the captain of the vessel. Hoping to have it flying as we enter the Straits of Gibraltar. Cue the music!
       Check out the video on http://www.hoorn.nl/ to view the many architecturally significant buildings,museums,harbor activities for recreation and the cultural events of a vibrant city's life. I plan to return to enjoy a Queen's Day celebration and the reopening of the West Fries Museum in the future.