Another visit to Etten leur

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Our visit back to Etten Leur had to do with a visit to family in Kalmhout, Belgium. Our Cousin Ronald was over and we promised him that we would be there on the 13th of August. There was also a birthday of the twins at the same time. We had not been there for five years, when the kids were in their school years. We were welcomed back by Jola & Hugo in Etten Leur on the Friday. Kalmhout is just 30 kilometres away from Etten Leur, that made it easy. That Saturday we set up the Tom Tom to Kalmhout. It is all so close and before we knew we were there. The kids had partied the night before so we were lucky that Ronald was up to open the door. There was this warm greeting we also had in Dubai. Apart from Ronald we were greeted by their two dogs. All the others were not available as yet but that did not take long. They all made their appearance, when they had heard that we had arrived. Elly was very happy to see us, She follows us on Travelblog and knows exactly where we are. Now we were introduced to Laurence, Daphne, Anouk and partners. All adults now, and looking very nice. A very happy family. Coffee and cake appeared, while we told about all the things that happened in the last five years. Pity we are all so far apart with little opportunity for them to see their cousins in Australia. Later that day Elly prepared a nice meal. The time came for leaving. We spent a very nice time with family we do not see very often and thank them very much for that. On the Sunday we visited in the afternoon an old city called Willemstad. It lays on the edge of Hollands Diep. The defence works were built by Napoleon who was frightened for an English invasion. Very nice old Dutch town with houses built around the 1300-1600 years. Some of them are restored to their old glory. On the way up there, we passed a place called Oudenbosch. We saw the St Peter church, an exact copy of the St Peter in Rome, just 15 times smaller. Started in 1865 it took 27 years to finish .Amazing to see the inside, how good a copy was made of the original. The sun was out when we arrived in Willemstad. Also the place where the inland river boats go through locks to reach Antwerpen. A real pleasure to walk through those small streets. Close to the harbour we enjoyed a good cup of coffee with some nice bitter ballen. That went well and had to last till we were home for our evening meal. Next day Hugo had another splendid idea to visit another place that was built for the defence of Holland. We left after lunch and the weather was beautiful. Sunshine and good company took us to a place called Heusden. It is close to the Bergse Maas. Around the place are bunkers and dikes to defend it from enemies. It did not help for in 1944 the German army destroyed most of the city, what was a pity, but most of the churches and houses were rebuilt what is good for the tourist industry. With the rebuilding of the church a stone was found that gave the year of the church, 1387. Very interesting years you find on the front of houses. Again we found a nice place to eat something. And what!!!! We found poffertjes. As long as we are in Holland we looked for poffertjes and here it was. We each had a plate of them so nice with icing sugar and real butter. They melt in your mouth. It was a very nice day and just to show Hugo, we put on the Tom Tom on the way back. He usual shows where we have to go but this time he just sat there. While driving back the taste of the poffertjes was lingering in my mouth, they were so nice. We do have further plans but will tell you later. Bye for now Liz & Allan

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