Brussels & The Netherlands

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We left Toronto late due to a thunder storm, had a bumpy flight to Montreal and then on to Brussels where we arrived in the rain. We attempted to hop on an open top bus to see the main sights of Brussels, but it poured with rain so we sought cover in the bus, which then leaked like a sieve affecting the electronics so all in all our time in Brussels was not great.

The following morning, Tuesday, once again in pouring rain we collected our car, a peugot 5 door hatch, and with much stress & cursing and a defective GPS we managed to find our way to the Netherlands. Driving on the right side of the road is an experience, but it did not take Dave long to master the art. We drove to the beautiful village of Wijchen to stay with the lovely parents of Stephan van Haren, a teacher at Daves school. What a delightful couple Theo and Annie are. We spent the next 2 days with them and we managed to communicate through the medium of Afrikaans which is similar to their dutch. We met members of the family who all speak English and we really loved the area.

We watched the canal boats coming through the lock and went to a carnival in a nearby village. Over the 2 days we fulfilled one of Dave's bucket list wishes by following the Battle of Market Garden route through to Arnhem. We went to war museums, cemetries and war sites in the towns of Arnhem, Overloon and Oosterbeck. We had an amazing time and would love to return someday.

On Thursday we arrived in Amsterdam and met up with our dears friends Mike & Maria Cole, who are also on an extended holiday and spent Friday exploring Amsterdam together. The thunder storms seem to have followed us and once again we awoke the thunder and torrential rain which thankfully did not last all day. We took a canal boat ride to see the sights of Amsterdam by water, the
Rijn Art Museum and walked around the narrow streets in the town. Amsterdam is full of beautiful old buildings. One aspect that has amazed us is the number of people using bicycles as their main source of transport. You don't have to worry about being run over by cars, the chances are the bicycle or tram will get you first!. One has to keep remembering to look left as we are so used to looking right. Bicycles and scooters have seperate lanes to cars, trams and buses so you have to be very focused with driving or walking.

Tomorrow we start our Rhine cruise and doubt we will have great internet reception so you may not hear from us for the next 9 days. We do stop for excursions so will find an internet cafe if possible and make contact.

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Photos

Airborne memorial
The Dutch people really look after these sites to honour those who died in the liberation of the Neatherlands

Theo and Annie
Stephan's wonderful parents who spoilt us rotten with their hospitality and took us around the battle sites. Theo was 7 years old durung the battle.

A Bridge too Far
Finally at the Arnhem bridge battle site after many years of reading.

Airborne Cemetery
A humbling experience. Found some New Zealand pilots here too.

Beautiful Amsterdam
Very beautiful and very friendly city

Comments

[Keith Your Father]

Message from Father
Hello there you two, I am in your study with Penny's Mike and he is typing this for me. I am fasinated by this technology, but I have no understanding of whats going on!!!! It was good to talk to you the other day on the phone and to hear your voice. I am well now and although I wasn't 100% last week, I am fine now and being well looked after by the girl that comes in. (Note from Mike: She vaccuums, cleans, tidies and is a real honey. Father wishes he was 40 years younger . . . . . He took her for coffee the other day to Sosskys and the staff were intriged). Alex is fine, she has been very good but still as mad as ever. I walk her every day - twice, one long walk and one short walk in the evening. Mike has put the chainsaw, weedeater and the cantelever umbrella on Trademe to see if they sell. You look as you are having fun seeing as we can see you in the photos, I was touched by the one of Dave at the Bridge to far. Wonderful! Enjoy the rest of your trip, love you both, Dad