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Published: September 30th 2005
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welcome to holland
one of the oldest still working windmills used to get rid of water. it first used back in 1642 so it quite old and fragile after a much shorter flight than we were used to we managed to touch down at amsterdam in the netherlands. as we walked through customs we were welcomed with the usual welcome by our fellow dutchie rellies. in total we new about four of the fifteen or so standing there so it was introductions after introductions followed by the typical three kisses on the cheeks. we split up into different vehicles and all clambered out a good half hour later at tante Hermiens home in Zoutewoude. Zoutewoude is a small town right next to Leiden which is half an hour from the airport. after a few rounds of drinks the now known rellies slowly dispersed untill there was only us and tante Hermien. we split from the lounge and headed into a deep sleep after an interesting day.
we awoke at some hour by a "leeza paula time to get up, breakfasts ready" we were back at home or with our parents rather.
after a good hearty breakie we clambered on top of the ancient styled twangy bicycles and were on a tour of Zoutewoude. i never new of such a town where all the rellies lived together without the usual
what a view
so of corse we had to see how sturdy it was!! by climbing one of the four brittle arms suspect of insest until we hit here. we cycled past Big Oma's, Big Opa's, Opa's and Oma's past life in holland. we stopped at local farm and had an icecream. mmmmmm ooh soo good. we continued on our way and ended up at a windmill. Tante Rita had worked her magic and persuaded a friend of hers to get outa bed and show some kiwis the insides of a working mill. completly intrigued in the mechanics of the mill we asked him to climb up one of the arms and open the sail. under instrution he did so, and it wasnt that interesting as we thought but full credit mate it was a cool insight thanks a bunch.
well back to Hermiens house for a meal or two as she wouldnt accept a "no thankyou ive already had seconds and now im full," before we drove around to tante Rita's and Oom Wim's home for a drink or two with more foreign rellies and a photo session. we walked back to tante Hermien's and fell into a deep sleep untill about 8am.
tante Toost and Oom Yoost were here to take us to a old huge cathedral. the longest in
Leeza, Roel, Bram and Paula
a relaxing evening with your new rellies around you and a drink in hand. the netherlands. when we were finally able to drag ourselves away from the place we had planned to meet up at a small cafe in the next town. becoz we were in two cars father Wim and tante Enika? decided not too stop and keep on driving. due to a lack of instructions it happened a second time so we just meet up at there home for ssome lunch. we boarded the vehicles again and went to these whispering boats. they are situated just out of a city yet youd think they were in the middle of the woop woops as you couldnt here a sound and just lay there basking in the sun while driving amongst reeds.
back to tante Toost and Oom Yoost's house for some kai before heading seperate ways to bedy byes.
again a short night as we were awoken by the usual voice at 8.30am ish. It was Bram's 28th birthday and we were heading to the dutch isles in Zeeland to neltje jans which explains about the flooding in 1953 that killed 1800 people and set in place Delta project. very interesting as it was a bit of history and millions of euros spent
stylish
our feet were getting cold being in jandles so they cranked out the cloggs. we just couldnt say no. (also nanny this is leeza's tie skirt) on the project. After educating ourselves to the fullest we headed off to Bram's house for a BBQ dinner and a couple of drinks to make the night more enjoyable and memorable. before long we had eaten up and drunken up and were walking down the road past some big band practicing there orchestra/marching band, by the sounds of it you would think it was a group of preeschoolers who have just worked out that kitchen pans make cool noises, towards the workshop of a cloggist. AKA a dude that makes cloggs. it took huge decisions on our behalf which color which design and which size do we want our klommpaas to be. the dude even custom makes them only one in 7 still working in holland so that quite cool. he touched ours up by taking bits out here and there till they fit us perfectly. before heading off he thought hed show us what he was made of and demonstraed a klommpaa in the making in about 5mins. we wondered back to Brams house and continued to eat and drink before me and paula got a taxi ride home on the back of Herrmiens and Roels bikes.
Karin
impressive dont cha think
This is the town hall in Gouda and Pieter arrived to pick us up in Pieter's bosses car. We managed to skip the rain in Zoutewoude by heading over to Arnham??? to visit a outdoor museum. it was fasinating to say the least and very mind boggoling that they still wore those costumes till recently. They must have got hot!! their living conditions left much to be desired as they were practically sleeping with their animals. today was also a sad day as paula had to head back to england for work and took the camera with her so we have no photos for you 😞
we were welcomed back to karin and pieters home for dinner and realised that pieters whole family live in the same area!!! I then ditched Zoutewoude with Roel and Bram as we headed to Leiden for a good old fashioned night out. In true style we cycled there and had a interesting ride home after. however,it was el cid week in Leiden which is the equivalent to student orientation in dunedin. all the students were out and they even had a live band playing on a barge. a wiked night out thanks boys.
then came saturday and it was our turn
to decide what we do. so in true kiwi style we just kicked back and relaxed in the sun in hermien's back yard after heading back into leiden to pick up a rental car for our folks and searching the streets for a shop that is just around the corner. that night we wondered over to Joke's house as it was a celebration for her. she was another year older or wiser depending on how you look at it. a few drinks and tounge twisters later we were asleep then in the airport flying back to england.
a huge thank you to all the dutchies for wiked day outings and the fun filled and eventful week. it was fantastic and amazing. CHEERS!!!
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