Blogs from Netherlands, Europe

Not having had children, I would think that flying must be similar to giving birth. You endure 30 hours of being a pretzel in every imaginable position to try to find comfort, there’s little sleep to be found, we wonder why we’re putting ourselves through this and noting not to do it again any time soon. And yet, the pain quickly fades once it’s all over and before you know it, you’re planning the next arrival. That’s how this journey felt. Garuda were good between Sydney and Jakarta with a new plane and most of it empty. They also provided complimentary lounge access in Jakarta for our 4hr stopover, which was most appreciated. We also discovered that you could enter for $11 if you don’t have complimentary access, which I think is more than reasonable. I’ve ... read more

Day Date Arrive Accomm Fri 25-May Fly GA 713 @ 1200 Sat 26-May arr Amsterdam @ 0850 www.wimdu.com.au/offers/2UAG9ZGQ Sun 27-May Amsterdam Mon 28-May Amsterdam Tue 29-May Bruges www.cordoeanier.be/en/index.php Wed 30-May Bruges Thu 31-May Lubeck, Germany Fri 1-Jun Copenhagen, Denmark Kat & Ken Sat 2-Jun Copenhagen, Denmark Kat & Ken Sun 3-Jun Copenhagen, Denmark Kat & Ken Mon 4-Jun Berlin www.tc-apartments-berlin.de/en/ApartmentDetails-152.aspx Tue 5-Jun Berlin Wed 6-Jun Berlin Thu 7-Jun Dresden Fri 8-Jun Prague www.airbnb.com/rooms/169662 Sat 9-Jun Prague Sun 10-Jun Nuremburg/Wurzburg... read more

Saturday 19th May 2012 We spent the morning on the boat, leaving some of the others to cycle into Amsterdam. As we travelled through the Amsterdam we spent our time getting the blog up to date and generally giving our bodies a rest. On our return to Amsterdam, where we moored close to where we were when we departed, we set off to the Jordaan area which is now considered to be a bit of a yuppee area, once it was a slum. The weather was sunny and mild and we wandered down interesting little shopping streets alive with people and wandered through a market before deciding to head back as our feet had grown weary. We saw people sitting out in the sunshine outside a bar, so decided this was best for tired feet and ... read more

The last day at the Flower Expo was at hand. Hans and Tiny from camping Heiderust were driving by car and I begged aride. We drove to Venlo and from there tookthe Floriade Express for 3.50euro. The tickets were bought at the Station Kiosk, the bus was packed and we were there in no time. It was a sunny day and the place was teaming with visitors. This wa the day for the gondola ride. The system has been rented from Austria whence it will return to serve as a ski-lift. A pavilion from Japan offered ideas about how different tastes are attained,what food assembly machines can do and how tools for fast food restaurants are used. This in combination with sustainable food distribution around the world and who produces GM foods and by how much: ... read more

Sights seen .... facts read ... trivia learned ... All the pictures are from day three at Floriade, spent at Villa Flora where the competition flowers are housed and where other international countries displayed their seeds, desalination methods, happiness quotients, the availability of herbal spas and festivals celebrated with flowers The animals observed up to now include, at the camping, in a small enclosure include a mule, some brown chickens with feathers right down to their feet, and two goats. It was at the entrance of the campground on the first day that I saw the sheep being herded into a transport container by two border collies. Have since learned that the sons of the owner of the camping and their wives all have outside jobs. On the way to the Floriade can be seen the ... read more