Sunday, 2 August 2015

Saturday August 1, 2015 Hard to say good bye, happy to be home.

We got up at 7:00 am Saturday morning after listening to the guys in the courtyard party till 5:30 am. It is gay pride day in Amsterdam and the city promises to be full of people. It is also black Saturday, which means the highways across Europe will be full of people driving as everyone is on holidays. So we were a little worried about getting our of the city.

The 197 bus is a good way to get to Schiphol airport. At 5 Euros each it is a convenient shuttle bus in the middle of Amsterdam. You can take the train but the bus stop was closer for us. So at just after 8:40 am Saturday morning we dragged our suitcases for a 10 minute walk along quiet cobble stone streets to the bus stop. 

We were the first ones at the stop. Saying goodbye to Betty was hard. We are hoping to see each other again. But life never has guarantees. We have had such a good time in Europe that it is hard to say goodbye. First with Marja and George, then Viking cruises, then Maureen and Irene and finally Betty in  Amsterdam. 

But going home will be good too. To sleep in your own bed, to see your children and to cuddle with the cat and dog.

Besides it was time to do laundry,  lose the weight we had gained by eating everything in sight, and learn how to have one glass instead of the bottle! 

I found that the longer I am in Holand the more fluent I am in the language. Even Tony is learning to understand the words. He also has enjoyed the food. We ate patat frites with mayonnaise and sate sauce, croquettes ( deep fried) kibbeltjes, ( fish) ice cream everywhere, different coffee everywhere, fresh bakery goods in the morning.....croissants, feta spinach buns, chocolate croissants, ham en kaas broodjes. Just to name a few. And the beer and wine has been outstanding and so cheap!

Tony enjoying one last plate of poffertjes at Schiphol airport before we board. Schiphol airport is undergoing renovations. But you can buy everything there. It is also becoming more user friendly. Also the trains, terms and busses connect there. Just follow the signs. Much cheaper than a taxi.
We still think Vancouver airport is one of the nicest airports there is but not as well organized with regards to public transportation. Canada still has a lot to learn!

The most important items made it home in one piece.....Tony's new beer glasses from Holland. 

Peter picked us up from the airport.Tara popped by to say hello. But the happiest ones to see us were Patrick and Sophie. 
Patrick our cat.

Sophie our dog.
So Tot Ziens until the next time we travel! We have slept for 11 hours, so no jet lag. Just laundry, groceries and yard work. Bon Voyage......

From T&L Travels.       vandyklis1.blogspot.com


Thursday, 30 July 2015

Thursday July 30, 2015 the trip to Hoorn, Medemblik and Enkhuizen. Also a visit to the Zuiderzeemuseum.

We got up very early to take the train from Amsterdam to Hoorn. In Hoorn, we will take the steam tram to Medemblik. The we will take the boat to Enkhuizen.
The train from Amsterdam went through many fields with cows, sheep and well organized drainage canals and ditches. Everything was green and lush.
The train station in Hoorn.
In Hoorn we transferred to the steam tram. It was very full, lots of children on holidays and excited families.
Betty and Tony on the steam tram.
An old fashioned cheese wagon on the way to the market.
The front of the steam engine.

Tony had to order the little Dutch pancakes called poffertjes.
The scenes from the steam tram. Quaint orderly homes in small tidy villages.
A windmill on the way. There are also many modern windmills.
In Hoorn, we found a bakery for baked goods which we ate....sausage rolls, curried chicken rolls, ham and cheese croissants and gevulde cookies with almonds. A lovely lunch. Then we boarded the ship which would take us on our trip to Enkhuizen on the IJsselmeer , the largest fresh water lake in Europe.
The Dutch flag flies over the IJsselmeer on our trip.
Beautiful skies and water.
There were many children and schoolchildren on the ship.
Many families enjoyed the voyage.
On board the ship.
Coming in to Enkhuizen harbour .
The sailing boats followed us into the harbour. 
The start of the Zuiderzeemuseum. A wonderful,museum that is interactive and that you can tour. It is a village done in the style of a Friesen village in the turn of the 19th century .
We say goodbye to outperform ship Friesland. 
Washing day in the museum.
The old people knitting, drinking tea and sewing. Just like in the olden days.
The windmill  in the museum.
There was smoked herring and palling for sale. It was excellent. palling is smoked eel.
A school in the olden village. A little different than our Canadian schools.
The church in the middle of the square.
Lovely old scenes in this village.
The bridge over the little creek.
Lovely canals and boats.
Everyone has a boat.
The map,of the museum . I would highly recommend this museum but plan to spend the whole day here. 
The village of Enkhuizen, we had refreshments on a sidewalk terrace there.
The canal in the middle of the village.

When we came home home at 7:30 pm, we went for dinner across the street. It was a lovely day.

Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Wednesday July 29, 2015 The Trip to The Hague and Scheveningen.


Today we left Betty's apartment in Amsterdam and caught the tram around the corner to Amsterdam Centraal station. From there we took an intercity train from Amsterdam to The Hague. We are very impressed with the Dutch transportation systems. Vancouver and Canada has a lot to learn. We sat on the top level. We also had access to free wifi. No wonder everyone commutes to work.

Haarlem was one of the stops along the way. The route was very pretty. Clean, green fields with cows outside not in milking factories, clean water ditches and irrigation everywhere, well organized fields of flowers and vegetables. Right alongside were little villages of red brick houses. They looked strange next door to Burger King and Ikea.
The station in The Hague. It is well marked with clear signs. Even in Dutch they are easy to understand because they use a lot of symbols. 
One of the streets in The Hague that we walked down. It is a seat of international courts, ambassies and consulates. Beautiful homes on streets lined with large trees.
There were many different sidewalk cafés and terraces. The weather was sunny, windy, cloudy and coo list. Very Dutch weather.
The statue of Willem van Oranje. I think Tony took selfies of himself all over Europe.
A modern skyline with older buildings and statues.
The gate to the inner Hoff. Courtyard. Beautifully restored and kept.
A large square and beautiful buildings.
The fountain in the inner Hoff.
And of course Tony and Betty had to buy ice cream. 
I did not try any raw herring this time, but I was tempted.
The canal had flags from all over the world. It signifies that The Hague is a world destination for law and government.
The royal palace. We looked for King Willem Alexander but he was not home. Tony was very disappointed. Still a very lovely place.

The exhibition of modern sculptures on the boulevard.
Another selfie Tony? He can not resist!
The place where we had coffee and a bite to eat. 
After The Hague we took a tram to Scheveningen. We left the tram at the Kurhaus. A famous hotel that is still open. It is right on the beach. 
The wind was strong, the clouds rolled in and out. A typical Dutch day at the beach. Not warm at all but very wild and exhilarating. The sky and the water were moving all the time.
We had to walk on the sand. The shells are different than ours in Camada. They have little stripes. The whole from of the beach is lined with beach houses with restaurants, cafés and places to rent with chairs, umbrellas and lounge chairs.
The beach is large and clean, the tide was coming in.
Het Kurhaus from the beach side. 
The waves were large. Some people were trying to surf and swim. The water looked a little wild for that.
Betty and Tony in front of the Noord sea.
Lucy and Tony. I am glad I wore a sweater and my hoodie!
There were many sculptures on display along the promenade.
The view of the beach from the pier.
The other side of the beach from the pier.
The pier is being restored.
On the way home from The Hague .
This is the inter city train.
The platform of the train.

Getting ready to board.

The view from Betty's apartment.

The map,shows where we went from Ansterdam to The Hague. Tomorrow we travel from Amsterdam to Hoorn.

Dinner at Betty's house was groente soup with bread and a glass of wine as we watched the Ajax  Rapid Wien soccer game. Another lovely day.