I was thinking of windmills when I woke up. It was the break of dawn in Amsterdam. An early start despite retiring late from our escapade the previous day. We had booked a bus tour this day to take us to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, and Marken.

The tour bus left from just outside of Amsterdam Centraal Station (central train station) and rolled into the parking lot of Zaanse Schans. A 10-mile trip through moderate traffic. Zaanse Schans became a popular tourist attraction because of the relocated windmills and old wooden houses from the surrounding areas of Amsterdam. The icons of Dutch heritage were in a state of gradual decay and needed preservation. We disembarked and were ushered into the neighborhood. The tour guide gave us a brief history of the place and enumerated the expectations of the tour.

The few remaining windmills looked old and worn out. It was remarkable to know that these were not museums but were fully working structures. We listened and watched as a gentleman explained how the windmill worked. It was fascinating to know that the windmills served many different functions. Very few of the windmills survive today. Its usefulness has long been surpassed by modern technology.

It was soon time to move on to our next point of destination – the small town of Volendam.