The Low Countries and south to Tuscany.

 August 5, 2011, central square in the city of Delft, Holland,  a compact, charming and relaxed town north of Rotterdam. We rented a car for three days and meandered thru southern Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

 Delft is famous for its "delftware", the distinctive blue and  white pottery originally duplicated from Chinese porcelain. Above is a parking ticket machine canal side decorated with delftware.

 Canal side view typical of many Dutch towns.

 Revisiting our Uncles grave at the Canadian war cemetery outside of Bergen op Zoom in Southern Holland.

 Central Bruges in Belgium.

In Ypres, Belgium at the Menin Gate in the south of the country on a very rainy day. The huge white gate, one of the saddest reminders of the town's past, is inscribed with the names of 54,896 British and Commonwealth troops who were lost in the trenches and who have no graves. Amazingly, every evening at 8pm traffic is halted while buglers sound the Last Post.

  Brussels, the Grand Place in the city centre  The imposing 15th century market square is the city's chief landmark.

 The square's splendour is due largely to its antique frame of guild halls.

 The Guildhalls were erected by merchant guilds and adorned with gilded statues and symbols.

 On the motorcycle again and in the Moselle Valley in south western Germany along the border with  Luxembourg. It is full of historical sites and picturesque towns built along the sinuous river below steep rocky cliffs planted with vineyards.

 Back in Switzerland on my way to Tuscany. Took in a hockey game with Karl and his father-in-law near Kusnacht.

 Karl and Edith on the steps of their home in Kusnacht.

 In Tuscany, we stayed in a holiday villa in the hills about 20 minutes by train from Florence. It was an incredible place nestled in the hills among olive groves and vineyards with a view of the countryside rolling out in front of us. One of the highlights of the European portion of this trip!!

 The buildings were converted farm houses.

 In the kitchen. There were 7 of us, my brother and sister-in-law (Dennis and Paula), Paula's brother Ian, his wife Anne, and their two children Adam and Sarah. It was quite comfortable.

 The view from poolside with the village of Cerbaia in the valley below

 What a setting for morning coffee!  It was like living in a painting!

 There were just a few units, so it wasn't crowded.

 A short distance away was a lovely restaurant, quite reasonable with excellent food. The expensive house wine was 5 Euros a bottle, the cheaper went for only 3. Above supper on the patio with an superlative view over the countryside under a star filled sky.

 In Florence, Dennis and Paula on the banks of the Arno River with the 14th century Ponte Vecchio bridge in the background

 On the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, lined with jewellery shops and full of tourists.

 On another day trip to Sienna and the Duomo (Cathedral) pictured above. A Gothic masterpiece, it was completed in 1215

 Inside the Duomo a rich selection of15th century frescoes cover the walls.

 Ceiling work.

 And of course the stained glass.

 Sienna is famous for its annual horse race (Il Palio) and is one of Italy's most enchanting medieval towns. The horses represent different wards in the town and the parades through the streets are of differently dressed groups representing each ward.

  The parade members are all decked out in their medieval finery.

 A local taking in the view of the streets below.

 Front row seats.

 As in the french countryside, this area of Italy seems to have a sense of the tastefully decorative.

 Shutters and a lamplight.

 Sienna is a walled city. Above a view from the wall of the countryside.

 Ian, Paula's brother, our host at the villa.

 Anne

 The centre of Sienna is a beautifully preserved warren of dark lanes punctuated by Gothic palazzi, piazzas and eye catching churches.

 The boys having a coffee or a beer after the festivities.

 Fresh produce stall.

 Another day spent in Florence and the famous Duomo and at its front the battistero (baptistery)

 A view over Florence from the Uffizi Gallery with the cupola (dome) of the Duomo centre.

 The street in front of the Uffizi Gallery (on the left), home to the world's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance Art. The artists include Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo,  and Raphael, among many others.

 The Driscoll-McCleod family among some old Roman sculptures, central Florence.

 Piazza in the small village of Vinci, birth place of Leonardo.

 Pottery shop, Vinci.