AD.

Friday,  in the town of Deventer.  The town itself was settled about 800 AD.  The first permanent church was built around 1000.  Nearby was a mint to make coins and a water well where everyone seemed to congregate. The barge did not move today, so we were encouraged to get out and see the sights of how a dutch town actually works.  It is quite interesting to see how cars and yes even large trucks (think cement trucks) negotiate the narrow streets.  I will combine some of the walking tour we had last night with today's activities.  This morning was the farmers market.  The whole square was transformed into booths or trailers selling all manor of produce, cheese toys and clothing.  I got a new backpack.  Last night the square had music (loud and for young folk).  Just goes to show how varied and used the town square is even today.  Another church )this with the patron saint of St Nickolas) was built about 1209.  The "new" spires were added in the 1500's.  Later in the morning we toured the Weigh House.  Built in 1528 its initial funtion was to weigh all of the items that were traded in the area.  This town being in the far eastern area of the Netherlands was on the trade route between western and eastern Europe NGreat vies of the city.  down below ow the building is is a museum.   After lunch we went to the "Etty Hillesum" museum.  She was  a Jewish girl that kept a diary for herself.  She did not survive the concentration camps of WWII.  Lastly we went to the huge church with a tower we could climb.Great views  The floor of the church had the crypts of people long since passed.  We were told that the skeletons had been removed. Back to the barge for our dinner cruse and a new location to bike from tomorrow.  We are all lamenting the fact that the tour is already half over.