Tuesday, May 15, 2001.
The second (and last) day of the conference!
More work for Richard, more fun for Stacy - once again, while Richard spoke at the conference, Stacy headed out into the countryside of the Netherlands. This time she was off to the village of Eersel. Between the hotel and Eersel was the even smaller village of Steensel.
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| Exiting from the Tulip hotel where the conference was being held... | The road to Steensel. | |
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| Looking back at Steensel on the way to Eersel. | Arriving at the village of Eersel. |
Eersel has a classic gothic church... and a Chinese food restaurant!
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| The church at Eersel. | The Chinese food restaurant at Eersel. |
Now in Eersel, Stacy stopped at a cafe for a drink and a snack... unfortunately, there was a garbage truck stopped nearby, so the cafe was a bit smelly. After awhile, the truck operators arrived and fired up the truck... and moved it RIGHT beside where Stacy was sitting and picked up the garbage. After that they moved on, but the whole experience was rather stinky.
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| Stacy at the cafe in Eersel. | The stinky garbage truck in Eersel. |
After her coffee, Stacy headed back toward Steensel and the hotel. Along the way, she saw a number of garden nurseries...
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| A nursery on the road to Steensel. | Rhodos and other flowers in a nursery. |
Finally, at the end of the road to Steensel, Stacy found an antique shop in the village. There she bought a large Delft plate of Queen Willameina's coronation and a number of old egg cups.
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| The quiet road to Steensil from Eersel. | Look, a Dutch antique store! And look, Stacy's bicycle (notice the handbag strapped to the back). |
After bicycling the rest of the way to the hotel (and a short nap), Stacy came down to the conference, which was about over at that point. Richard and Stacy headed over to the outdoor bar in the hotel to meet up with the rest of the speakers and head out to a post-conference dinner.
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| Speakers, staff and spouses of the Conference to the Max, having a beer (or two). | Steve tells stories while Stacy and the others listen... |
After the drink, it was time for dinner at the hotel... for some, it was the last chance to visit and say goodbye - time for lots of pictures!
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| Stacy taking a picture of Richard taking a picture of Stacy... | Our good friends Bram and Denise - who are having a baby in nine months! | |
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| Lots of hungry people... | And here's some more! |
The main course at dinner was a choice of veal or ostrich - Richard had the ostrich, which a lot like a very lean piece of beef; a very dark red meat. While we were eating there were more pictures, and the speakers received a very cool gift - a portable putting kit!
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| Steve caught checking out his pictures... | Stacy having fun at dinner. | |
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| Check out the cool toy! | Mark Miller demonstrates the perfect putt (he missed). |
When dinner was finished, some went home, some went to bed, but most went to the bar. In the bar there was some pool tables and a foosball table. The foosball table was plenty busy - there was a tournament of sorts. It was quickly established that Team Britain was the team to beat. The Americans had a go, and were taking down, 8-1. The Dutch team gave it a shot and they too went down 8-1. Then the Dutch women went for it and lost 7-2. Even a coalition between the Americans and Canadians (Steve and Richard) went down 6-3. A second attempt ended in a 9-0 route.
And then, out of the bar, came two small young men. In halting English, they said they were from Barcelona, and asked if they could play the winners... which of course was Team Britain. The first goal went to the Spaniards, and the next, and the next. In the end, the Spaniards took Team Britain 6-3. There was much celebrating the demise of the dreaded Brits. A rematched ended about the same: 5-4 in favor of the Spaniards. A single rally in that match lasted longer than some earlier games!
Eventually the British retired, the Spaniards took over the table, and it was time for bed... on the way out, we saw Steve for the last time, reading his email: early the next morning he would fly home.
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| Team Britain pounds the opposition. | The Spaniard Team has a group hug after taking the first goal. | |
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| Team Britain is vanquished! Hurray for the Spaniards! | A pensive Steve, late at night, checks his email before his early flight home. |
It was the end of a long day, we hurried off to bed... Steve would be gone before we woke up. The next day would bring... the Holland Tour!