Today we took a day trip to Den Haag (’The Hague’).  This is where Queen Beatrix lives, and is also referred to as the judicial capital of the world – due to the many international courts.  After a quick bite to eat, our first destination was the Escher Museum.

Sand Sculptures in Den Haag

Today we took a day trip to Den Haag (’The Hague’).  This is where Queen Beatrix lives, and is also referred to as the judicial capital of the world – due to the many international courts.  After a quick bite to eat, our first destination was the Escher Museum.

I’ve always been an Escher fan so this is definitely a biased perspective when I say that the museum was awesome, but it was awesome.  The museum itself is in a former palace that once housed members of the royal family.  Throughout the museum are tidbits of the palace lifestyle, some whacky chandeliers, and of course a great deal of artwork by M. C. Escher.

Paul's grandpa???

I was a little surprised when I saw photos of Escher in his early days, because he looks a lot like a good friend of mine, Paul Hansen.  Paul is a huge Escher fan, and considering Paul’s personality, I am starting to wonder if this coincidence is somehow not a coincidence….

Our next stops were to visit and take photos of the parliament building and the Peace Palace – some very impressive buildings, but not too much to do once we got there.

We finally ended up at Madurodam – ‘the smallest city in the Netherlands’.  This is a small park filled with tiny buildings, people, cars, boats, trains, airplanes, and more.

Each of the buildings is between 2 and 10 feet tall, and represent various locations throughout the Netherlands.  From a quick scan of the other park patrons, I assume that this park is meant for little kids.

Madurodam

However, despite being over the age of 8 – Carly and I still really enjoyed learning more about each of the cities in Holland.  There were more than 100 ‘info’ spots that were marked in our brochure with some description and background history.  We even saw a bunch of buildings that we already recognize from our short trips to Maastricht and Amsterdam, and the trip today through Den Haag.

They even had the flour mill and university from Leiden represented.  Overall we spent about 2 hours walking among the little buildings and watching small mechanized activities play out – good fun.

Our cute little rental car

We’ve been in Europe for a little over a month now, and so far we haven’t seen any castles.  Thus, last weekend we rented a little car and struck out to visit Luxembourg and Germany.

Our first stop was in Maastricht to grab lunch, and we ended up at Twee Heren which had fabulous sandwiches.  We hit the Belgian border shortly after Maastricht and pretty quickly began to notice a change in landscape.  The countryside became more hilly, and we passed some gorgeous ravines and valley views.

There were a bunch of wind turbines, fields, and cute little towns along the way to Vianden.  It was neat to spot the castle in the distance before even getting into the city.  We snapped a few shots from the side of the road and then went in search of our hotel.

Checking in was a little different.  We kept looking for the entrance, but it turns out that the bar also serves as the front desk (the butcher from the shop next door ended up checking us in).  The hotel was lovely, but be warned – air conditioning or fans are not common in the area.  Isaac ended up spending part of the night sleeping on the tile floor in the bathroom to escape the heat.

Cochem Castle

The next morning we went for a walk in the forest above the city while we waited for the castle to open up for tourists.  The highlight of the castle was the view of the town below, and a room which showcased all of the old books.

Next, we set off towards Germany.   The drive was spectacular!  The rolling fields of wheat and lush countryside was picturesque (literally – we took a picture).  We had a hard time following the Google Map directions, so we just followed the signs to different towns along the way and used those as waypoints.  When looking for directions in Cochem we spotted…  ANOTHER CASTLE!

In a moment of spontaneity, we deviated from our plan in a hunt to find the road to this new castle.  Our little car struggled to climb the steep hillside, but it was worth it.  Cochem’s castle ended up being the highlight of our trip.  The castle is surrounded by vineyards, and has a fabulous view of the river and valley.

Vianden Castle

One we got our second fill of castle visiting, we set off to find our hotel in Ernst.  While the hotel lacked AC and fans like the last, the generous servings of Bitburger beer, and great food made up for it.  We spent about four hours on their patio appreciating the scenery.

On Sunday, we went off to find Burg Eltz (the final castle).  We ended up parking our car in Moselkern and hiking up through the surrounding forest.  The castle itself was under renovation, which detracted a bit from the otherwise epic view, but we still had a great time. The “Treasure Chamber” was full of neat weapons and old items too.

Overall the trip was a success (especially considering what we put our little rental car through) and now we are happily back ‘home’ in Leiden.

Our tips:
- Driving on country roads in Germany & Luxembourg is not for the faint of heart
- If it’s hot bring a travel fan or make sure your hotel has AC
- Explore.  If we had just stuck with advice from travel sites, we wouldn’t have seen the castle in Cochem

Carly in the Green Heart

We can hardly believe that we’ve been in Leiden for over a month, and so far we have been pleasantly surprised.  Although Leiden is much smaller than Amsterdam and The Hague, it’s bustling with activity.

Two days after arriving we purchased our stereotypical Dutch bikes.  They’ve definitely had some use, but they have gears, brakes, and best of all – a cuff lock (it’s a lock attached to the back wheel and immobilizes the bike with one quick lever push).

We’ve taken our new bikes on many adventures.  Holland’s fantastic cycling network is a cyclist’s dream.  Check out this map and you’ll see what we mean.  So far our cycling adventures have taken us through the dunes, to three different beaches, and The Green Heart.

Hooglandse Kirk - across the street from us

The other aspect of Leiden which we love is all the food options.  Dutch multiculturalism flourishes here with fantastic cheap food.  We’re determined to try it all.  So far our favorite joints in Leiden are:

• Jackets – (baked potatoes with fancy toppings)
• Canteris – (pitas, doner, and fries)
• Maoz – (fantastic falafel – get it with hummus and aubergine)
• Anywhere that serves Turkish Pizza (you must try it if you ever visit Holland)
• Asia 2 Go (Vietnamese and other Asian dishes)
• Eazy (noodle & rice bowls)
• New York Pizza (fast delivery & yummy)

If you visit Leiden, you’ll realize that most items on our list are street food / fast food.  We both feel that this is where you get the best value, and usually the best tasting food anyway.  We usually take advantage of the Saturday market when we want a more elaborate dinner.  The fresh veggies, fish, and cheese are wonderful.  Plus, it’s a great way for us to practice a little Dutch.

Lakenfeest

We have one more month in Leiden, and will try to keep up with the blog.  After that we’re off to Amsterdam which will be a whole new experience.

Our tips:
- There is more to Holland than Amsterdam.  If you like biking, rent a bike from a train station and explore some of the other Dutch cities.
- Trust us… try some Turkish pizza.
- Don’t expect a waiter to check in on you like a restaurant back home.   It’s protocol to give them a polite wave to signal that you’d like something.

As one of our wedding gifts from Carly’s family, we were scheduled for a week long bike trip along the border between France and Germany. Since Carly was going through the immigration process in the U.S. we weren’t sure if we would be able to travel by the time our trip was supposed to start. We actually ended up waiting until about 10 days prior to our flight to learn that everything was approved and we were free to travel – talk about last minute. Luckily, we found a little apartment in Leiden, Holland and plan to stay there for the time between our flight and the bike ride (we pushed the bike reservation back since we weren’t sure that the immigration approval would come in time).

This post is actualy being written while we are on the train from Paris to our new temporary homeland, The Netherlands. After a little chaos when first arriving in Paris, our trip is back on track; and no better time to do a little blogging than on a 3 hour train through the French countryside….

The craziness began last week when we reviewed our flight to Paris and realized that there was an airport change in New York. In the end, getting from one airport to the other was no big deal, although checking in and going through security again was a bit of a pain. It definitely had us a little nervous about missing the international leg of our flight. I am glad that this was all in the evening with less traffic.

Once we arrived in Paris, we called the hotel and arranged for the shuttle to pick us up. We waited and waited until finding out that we were at the wrong airport! It turns out there was another airport closer to the hotel and they were sending the shuttle there. We asked at the airport information desk about the best way to get to Orly (a suburb where our hotel was located). The attendant said that a shuttle would be 40 euros to the Orly airport and a taxi said roughly 60 euros direct to the hotel, so we opted for the taxi. In the end, they both ended up being the wrong choice – more info below.

Isaac is hungry after all that walking

Eventually we made it to our hotel and quickly crashed, but woke up early the next morning and took a train into the city center. The attendant at the ticket office was very friendly and helped explain how things worked.

Our first stop was Notre Dame, where we snapped some typical tourist photos, and grabbed a fantastic breakfast (an omelet & crepe). The omelet that Isaac got had potatoes, cheese, and mushrooms – it was awesome. We happened to leave the restaurant right when it started to rain. Initially we thought we could make it to the Louvre and hide inside there, but then it just dumped on us and we had to find cover. After trying to hide under some trees (and failing), we ducked into the police headquarters, and were greeted by some friendly French police. We hung out there for few minutes before braving the rain again in search of an umbrella. Unfortunately none of the shops were open (not sure if it was because it was Sunday or because it was still pretty early), but we eventually made it to the Louvre and found out it was free since it was the first Sunday of the month! We got there before 8am and there wasn’t any line to get in, but by the time we left there was a line of probably several hundred people (at the rate it was moving I wouldn’t be surprised if it took over an hour to get through).

The Louvre itself was incredible and probably the best part of Paris – we spent close to 5 hours exploring and saw around 2/3 of the exhibits. Carly’s favorite was the Pacific / Americas sculptures. There was one room that we got a kick out of – it was probably the fanciest room as far as how the walls and ceiling were carved and painted. Along the walls were paintings of what we assumed were the architects and painters who worked on the Louvre (including the royalty that lived there) – Carly said something like “the credits are better than the movie.”

It's funny how the room showcasing The Louvre's artists and architects is the most ornate

Lunch consisted of coffee and yummy sandwiches. Isaac is now addicted to baguettes with butter, salami, and pickles. Overall the coffee we have had in France has been really good compared to what we are used to from cafes in the U.S.

We ended up seeing Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triomphe, and more – all in the first day. The next day we had this train to Holland, but spent the morning exploring the area around the main station, and reading in the garden for a nearby Cathedral until our train took off. We ate lunch at something like “Pizza from Mario” which ended up having some great food. Isaac’s cheeseburger came with some unique fries (probably what Americans would consider homestyle) – thick and crunchy on the outside, but cooked puffy on the inside. The guy next to us got a pizza which the waiter set on fire (intentionally) – hadn’t seen that before.

Speaking of pizza, Isaac’s dad claimed that he had sampled pizza throughout Europe and that French pizza was his favorite. We had pizza twice while in France – once at the hotel (overpriced) and once on a main street in central Paris (this pizza was good – but different than what we were used to). Lots of the pizza options came with egg on them, and sometimes tomato sauce on top of the cheese.

So back to our train ride, we’ll arrive in Leiden to look at our potential apartment for the next 2.5 months. We’re incredibly excited.

Our tips:
- The train / metro are a good transport option in Paris. We could have paid 9 euros to take the train instead of the 90 we paid for a taxi (to get from the airport to the station within walking distance to our hotel).
- Skip the Starbucks – French coffee reigns supreme.
- If you’re in Paris at the beginning of the month, check out the Louvre on the first Sunday (but get there early).

Do you own a business in Brighton, Summitt County, or heck… anywhere in the greater Denver metro area? We’re happy to meet with you to discuss web development, or more generally – strategy to increase visibility of your business overall. Gives us a call and we’ll make a recommendation. Even better, join us for a day on the slopes – we’d be happy to have you.

1. iStockPhoto
   Pros: iStockPhoto maintains strict standards so that you don’t have to sort through junk to find what you’re looking for.
   Cons: Because of their strict model release standards, the same models are used for most photos -  you might see the same model on many other sites.
   www.istockphoto.com
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2. Shutterstock
   Pros: Great subscriptions for high-volume usage.
   Cons: Pretty much the same selection as iStockPhoto, but a smaller library.
   www.shutterstock.com
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3. Getty Images
   Pros: Extensive selection of quality model photography, and the ability to grab editorial content.  Getty often posts images of relevant news events within a day or two of it happening.
   Cons: Photos sell for 5 to 10 times the price of average content.
   www.gettyimages.com
   
   
   
4. Corbis
   Pros: High-quality creative and editorial content (similar to Getty Images).
   Cons: More expensive than Getty.
   www.corbis.com
   
   
   
5. Crestock
   Pros: Crestock is climbing the ladder in quality.  Their strict standards, and fresh content are a welcome surprise.
   Cons: Crestock’s search capabilities and interface are still catching up to the other guys.
   www.crestock.com
   
   
   
6. Fotolia
   Pros: Fotolia’s relaxed model-release policies have opened a larger variety of model photography than other stock sites.
   Cons: You might need to sort through some lower quality files to find the golden shot.
   www.fotolia.com
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Runner-ups
While they aren’t our first stop, we still use them every once and a while.  Here are a few other stock photography sites you should bookmark: www.dreamstime.com, www.stockxpert.com, www.canstockphoto.com, www.bigstockphoto.com.

In the process of building your website, you’ve probably heard a lot of web mumbo jumbo – it can make anyone a little dizzy.  Fortunately, there are some universal standards that can help you determine if you’re getting your money’s worth out of your site.

1. W3C Compliance
   I may get some phone calls from some angry web designers on this one. The W3C is a governing body who began creating standards for the code behind websites. Gone are the days of taking your web developers word that your website’s code is clean. Now you can go to http://validator.w3.org/ and copy the url address of your site to see if your site passes or fails.
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   You may hear some excuses when you bring this up like “many websites aren’t complaint.” While it’s true that even some big companies don’t have compliant code, there is no reason your site shouldn’t. Adhering to standards means our beloved Googlebot will have an easier time finding content on your site.
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2. Cross Browser Test
   Your website may look great on your computer, but what does everyone else see?   A number of great tools have recently been released to help you in your quest for consistency.   One of the best is Litmus App.   They offer a one week free trial, and you can test your site on nearly every browser.  They also have an email testing tool for various email clients, so you can see if your HTML emails are rendering properly as well.
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   Screenshot of Litmus App

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3. Avoid table based layout
   Tables can make it difficult for search engines to read your content.  I wish I could provide you with a handy little tool to test whether or not your site uses a tabless design, but the best way to find out is to ask.  A great resource is the AllExperts.com.  They have several web design guru volunteers who will answer any web design question you may have free of charge.  You can also shoot me a quick email, and I’ll be happy to let you know.
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4. It’s the little things that count
   Many web development groups will skip the small things that can significantly increase your site’s visibility, since most of their clients don’t know to ask for it.  Here are a few things you should look for:
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   • Title tags: At the very top of your browser window you’ll see some text with the title of your page.  These title tags have a lot of weight on what keywords Google associates with your site.  Each page title should be unique, and should relate to the content on that page.
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   • Alternate Image Text: This text provides a description of what that image is to the visually impaired and Googlebot . Every image should have alternate text that preferably uses relevant keywords.  To read alternative text in Internet Explorer: hover over the image.  To do the same in Firefox: right-click on your image, and select “Properties”.  You’ll see “Alternate Text” on the bottom of the window.  (This only works for non-link images)
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   • Text as images: Sometimes we want a special font in certain areas of our site and need to embed that font as an image.  However, for Google to index text it needs to be in plain old HTML.  If you’re not sure, try selecting text on different areas of your site.  If it’s not selectable, it’s probably an image.

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Have more questions? Send me an email.

Get the most bang for your buck with your website. Here are free services you should look for.

1. Free hosting
   Don’t overwhelm yourself with the technicalities of setting up hosting.  Your design company should be able to provide hosting for little to no cost.
2. Get  Googled
   • Google Apps will host up up to 100 email accounts for free.  Your email will be sent and received at your domain while allowing you to use the Gmail interface, or your favorite email client such as Outlook.
   • Google Analytics is pretty much a no-brainer.  You can view traffic, conversions, location, referring sites, and trends.
   • You can also see what keywords your site is listed under, using Google Webmaster Tools. The Webmaster Dashboard also displays inbound links, indexed pages, and page rank.
3. Blog
   Blogging is an easy way to keep your site up to date without incurring cost for design updates. In addition, a well maintained blog can do wonders for search engine ranking.

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Looking for more ideas to save some cash?  Send me an email, I’d love to help.

Have you ever noticed that some of the best web designers don’t have websites? Even the pros struggle with common roadblocks when launching their new site.  We debunk website procrastination’s top excuses:

1. “I’d rather get it all done at once, than just get something up there.”
   Just get something up there! Stick to the basics if you’re limited on time or money. For example: if you’re a new coffee house in town, start off with posting your menu, hours, and contact information.  You can always add additional pages down the road.  In addition, Google factors the age of your hosted website when designating page rank.  Launching a couple pages before you get the rest of your site together will help provide a search ranking base for your full design.
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2. “I don’t have the budget for a new site.”
   Websites can range in pricing.  Be upfront about your budget when hiring someone for a site design.  There are a number of options which could work for you. As stated above, a simple site can be effective.  While it may not be right for every site, you can help pay off your design by adding Google’s AdSense.  These are ads related to your site’s content and displayed on your page, bringing you recurring income during the lifespan of your website.
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3. “It has to be perfect.”
   I’ve fallen in the trap of thinking that every paragraph, image,and title has to be exactly right from the get-go.  This isn’t print advertising -there are no penalties for revising text after going live.  Search engines love updated content.  So, go ahead and change your mind.  It’s actually good to mix up the wording and images after you launch.  It will help you climb the search engine ladder.
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4. “I don’t know where to find the right web designer”
   Search for “Web Designer,” and the results can be overwhelming. Instead of relying strictly on search engines,  take note of the web sites you like.  Most sites will have a web design credit on the bottom of the page. Great resource for finding well designed sites are website galleries such as: CSS Snap, Best Web Gallery, and Nice Stylesheet.  If you would prefer someone local, contact your local Ad Fed.  Let them know your website needs and budget, and they will steer you to a trusted studio in town.
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Still not convinced?  Shoot me an email for more information, questions, or web launch motivation.

• The big idea. Many ad agencies contract out design work, because their strength lies in big creative picture.  If you cut them out of the process, you may be limiting yours creative options by doing away with those team brainstorming sessions.
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• They’ll help you find your niche. Many new companies are still testing the waters, and can’t name their target audience.  Ad agencies can help you determine your target demographic, and the best way to reach them.
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• You have options. Agencies work with various designers to establish different looks.  If you’re not feeling comfortable with the design direction, ask if you could have another designer work on the project who can provide the style you’re looking for.
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Designers

• Less is more. Sometimes there’s just too many chefs in the kitchen.  Customers who have a good sense of what they want out of their design often find it easier to work with one designer who really understands their vision.
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• A smaller price tag. Working one-on-one with a designer eliminates a number of additional costs.  Internal brainstorming sessions can be pricey.  In some cases, an agency’s project can be subcontracted numerous times before reaching the designer.  These tiers of overhead add up in the final bill.
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• You need a specialist. Let’s say your company needs 10 Flash animations for their new website. Finding a Flash animator to work with directly would allow them to provide technical insight and guidance on practical limitations.
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Still have questions?  Feel free to shoot us an email.  We’ll be happy to help you out.