The Reinkenstraat, our shopping street

The Reinkenstraat is a typical Dutch shopping street. This is the front door of the Boot family hardware and handyman store. There are two flower shops, two butchers, a shoe repair shop, two bakeries, one laundromat, four cafes, one bar, one clothing repair shop, two pizza restaurants, one Indonesian restaurant, a cheese and milk store, two gift shops, one leaded glass workshop, two real estate agencies, an upholsterer, a bookstore, and a late night snack shop. The only store missing is a fishmonger, but on two days a week, a herring cart is brought out and we buy fresh herrings, or smoked mackeral sandwiches. The Reinkenstraat used to be a workers' neighborhood, but now has been yuppified and gone up market. There is also a bicycle repair shop around the corner and two tram stops at the end of the street, so this is one of the most convenient streets in the city. We have loved living in this neighborhood, especially because the people are so friendly. Judy teases me that I am the "mayor" of the Reinkenstraat becuase I say hello to everyone. Our dream would be to find a street like this in Miami when we move.