Our tour guide of the day
Ken Gackler is our guide today. He works along with Gary as family historian. He accompanies us to the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, where he and his wife spend many weekends in summer.
 | | Lake Michigan. What a nice place for a vacation... |
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Holland State Park, Holland Harbor Lighthouse
 | | Lake Michigan. A beautiful, sandy beach! |
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The first lighthouse was erected here in 1872. The present structure, popularly referred to as "Big Red", was built in 1907. It is situated on the Lake Michigan end of the channel dug by the Dutch settlers in the mid-19th century in order to connect that huge lake with small Lake Macatawa, which they wanted to use as a harbor. We enjoy the
sunshine and the sandy beach. Some even put a toe into the lukewarm water of the lake.
Windmill Island
 | | The windmill. No wind? |
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The island is named after a windmill that was brought here from the Netherlands in 1964. It is over 200 years old and the last one to be exported. Dutch law now prohibits the sale of windmills since they are considered national monuments. Many parts of the upper floors are original. A friendly lady in Dutch costume is our guide.
Walter Stengel from our group knows at least as much about mills and explains the grinding-process to us in German. We take a look at the miniature Dutch village and at the
candle-makers at work; along flower-beds and across bridges we walk back to the bus.
Holland, Michigan
On our way from "Windmill Island" to "Dutch Village" we tour the town of
Holland. It is still decorated for the celebration of the sesquicentennial of the first settlement. A genuine Dutch princess came over to help celebrate.
Dutch Village
A commercially run theme park with all kinds of "Dutch" features, among them the street organ "Golden Angel", built by
Carl Frey, Waldkirch operated by Jan, himself an immigrant from the Netherlands. His wife conducts guided tours through Dutch village. A few days after our visit she is due to make her appearance at a contest for the title of "Senior Miss Michigan" (minimum age: 60); let's hope she's won!
Erika takes a ride on the Dutch Swing; Lieselotte lets herself be weighed on the
Witches Scale and is declared a non-witch.
Woodland Shopping Center, Grand Rapids
That's where we spend the evening (window-)shopping, eating and drinking. For those who'd like to stay a little longer,
the bus runs twice.
