Hello Holland!

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Geo: 51.8442, 4.63889

Up at 5.15am. Out of the Clarion hotel by 5.30. At the train station by 5.45. On an express rocket train to Oslo airport at 6. At the airport by 6.25. Checked in, and aboard an SAS 737 bound for Amsterdam by 7.50am. Everything went according to plan. Being too early for breakfast, our hotel even presented us with a packed breakfast bag at our checkout. A lovely gesture. If only the food had been edible. The bread was so dry, I feel dehydrated just thinking about it.
We touched down in Schiphol around 9.30am. We collected our bags, eventually, and came through customs to a warm welcome from Jan and Marielle who were kind enough to collect us. Before the drive home, we made a tourist detour for a stop off at the Zaanse Schans Open air museum by the river Zaan. Here a brief introduction to Dutch culture and historic lifestyle. We strolled by the river, six windmills, cheese tasting, souvenir and antique shops. Nat even helped out with a chocolate making demonstration.
From here an hour or so drive to Jan and Linas, in Hendrik Ido Ambacht.
We enjoyed a casual afternoon and some Delicious food, before welcoming some unexpected guests, well at least unexpected on my part. We were fortunate enough to catch uncle John and cousin Jeff, over from Australia and per chance here the same time as us. Jan and Joke also joined us for dessert. We were all up chatting until 10.30, before turning in to sleep, exhausted.

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Photos

Jeff me and John
At Jan and Linas