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Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam September 9th 2022

As noted in an earlier post, we learned Wednesday that our train to Amsterdam was cancelled due to a train strike in the Netherlands. We booked a bus (Flixbus, very impressive) with reserved seats for 1:00 PM today. The adventure began when we tried to get a taxi to our apartment on Grand Place which is on a street for pedestrians only. We picked a likely intersection and used the "Green Taxi" app (Taxi Vert) to get a ride. The first driver called us after we noticed he was seeming to get further away from us but he did not speak any English. We gathered that our location was not accessible. He cancelled without further comment. A second driver (a true gentleman) worked with us for about 20 minutes to get a mutually convenient rendezvous. Got ... read more

Europe » Netherlands » North Brabant » Raamsdonksveer September 5th 2022

"Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man marches on " Swami Sivananda. I am standing in front of a locked gate outside the marina at Gertreidenberg in the Netherlands. I can see motorhomes inside but there is no sign of life. No-one about to ask how to get inside .I look at the gate and the numbers on it , two keypads , one to open the big gate and the other the pedestrian gate but no clue how to get in. A lady appears . "Hello " she shouts . "Are you wanting to park up ? " " You need to ring the number on the gate " But then she opened the gate and let us in. "Go over to see the harbourmaster " " Down the steps, pay him for one nights ... read more
The Dutch really do have a funny sense of humour
The Market Hall
A proud flag flying

Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam September 2nd 2022

FRI, 02 SEP 2022 – Day 21: Amsterdam: Optional Free Day - You have a full free day to experience the delights of Amsterdam! There are numerous museums and art galleries to choose from - why not visit Anne Frank’s house, the Van Gogh museum, take a bicycle tour or simply wander the streets and canals? Alternatively, you can join your Expat Explore tour leader on a Dutch countryside tour optional excursion, or indulge in modern and contemporary art at the MOCO Museum followed by a history lesson on Dutch Gin with a rewarding cocktail at the end! Overnight – Hotel Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - Schiphol... read more
Clara Maria Cheese Farm & Clog Factory – Amstelveen, Netherlands
Clara Maria Cheese Farm & Clog Factory – Amstelveen, Netherlands
Clara Maria Cheese Farm & Clog Factory – Amstelveen, Netherlands

Europe » Netherlands » South Holland September 1st 2022

We woke this morning to find the ship has left Amsterdam and we are about to dock in Kinderdijk. We both had a great nights sleep and have recovered from any jet lag. We are ready to take on the world or at least the Netherlands and begin our vacation in earnest. After a quick breakfast, we were ready to begin our walking tour of the Kinderdijk windmills at 8:30. Our local tour guide Ben is a volunteer for a windmill preservation group, and is very knowledgeable about these water pump type windmills. There are other windmills in eastern Netherlands that are used as actual mills to mill grain, but these windmills in Kinderdijk are water pumping windmills used to reclaim land that is below sea level since about 40 percent of the Netherlands and 100 ... read more
First Sighting of Windmills
Ben Showing the Geography
Kinderdijk Cradle, Cat, and Infant

Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam September 1st 2022

THU, 01 SEP 2022 – Day 20: Berlin - Amsterdam - This morning, we’ll say our goodbyes to Germany as we journey on to The Netherlands, where you will notice the landscape change to windmills and waterways, as you approach the city of Amsterdam. This evening we’ll enjoy a canal cruise, and is accompanied by interesting commentary about the city’s development and history. After seeing the bridges and city from the waterside, we’ll sample local cuisine at an included dinner and then, you'll have some free time to hit the cafés, bars and coffee shops! Overnight – Hotel Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - Schiphol... read more
On the Way to/Around Amsterdam, Netherlands
On the Way to/Around Amsterdam, Netherlands
On the Way to/Around Amsterdam, Netherlands

Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam August 31st 2022

This is our first river cruise – my mom was always a big fan – and we thought we would give this travel mode a chance. We’ve been on lots of cruises, mostly in the Caribbean, and a couple of bus tours of Spain, Portugal, and Italy, so this time we thought we would try to see how the river cruise compares. We looked around for cruise companies and decided Viking is probably the best, and a 15 day tour from Amsterdam to Budapest is probably a good representation. Viking is more “all-inclusive” than typical cruises, as it includes shipboard wi-fi, beer, wine, and soft drinks (but they’re only free with meals, if you want a drink in the lounge, there is a charge). The ships are small, with 95 staterooms and about 190 maximum guests. ... read more
Our ship, the Viking Lif at the dock
Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam Canals

Europe » Netherlands August 26th 2022

Another day heading directly east. A day of great variety, through the Veluwe Forest, riding on the tops of dykes, quiet lanes and in and out of villages. Mainly through crops of maize, potatoes and orchards. There were some Dairy cattle and even belted galloways. Lots of fabulous horses too. We stopped at a restaurant at lunch time, essentially to use the toilets but decided to have a coffee as well. A rare treat. Living the high life on a low budget. This pushed lunch back to two o'clock but that meant we had more miles behind us and less to do. Always good psychologically. It was cloudy today and cooler but a much better temperature for cycling. We are heading west to east so the prevailing winds will help us. Mmm so why have we ... read more

Europe » Netherlands August 25th 2022

Another day heading east across the Netherlands. Very hot today and very little shade. Lots of riding on the top of dykes through lots of orchards and agricultural land. We resumed our practice of buying picnic ingredients before leaving town so we don't need to go looking for supermarkets later and having yoghurt and nuts for elevenses. Our elevenses today were sat on a village bench in the shade. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for our lunch as we had to go miles to find a bench and it was in the open sun. So we didn't hang around for too long but while we ate it we watched a large colony of Canadian geese on the side of the river. We agreed to stop and rest at the next bench in the shade but ... read more

Europe » Netherlands August 24th 2022

After a rude awakening at 5.30 over the ship's tannoy it was breakfast and then preparations for leaving the ship and beginning our journey. We were off the ship for nine o'clock into glorious sunshine. Getting through immigration consisted of showing our passports at a small kiosk and out of the Terminal we went. Paul had plotted a route along the Oude Maas river, a distributary of the River Rhine. There are lots of cycle paths in the area but some take you right through the docks and we have done this for the first eighteen miles of a trip. Not the most scenic route. Our route was through the Biesbosch' National Park, a protected nature reserve and the largest freshwater tidal area in Europe with lots of wild willow tidal forests and creeks. There were ... read more

Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Amsterdam August 3rd 2022

Great trip to Amsterdam on the Eurostar, just over 4hrs, even with going through the black tunnel etc the time just flew, arriving in Amsterdam at 4.11pm bang on time! Our NEW hotel was probably a 400 metre walk from Central Station so that was easy but were very lucky to get in somewhere after we were defrauded with the apartment we had booked six months ago, it just didn't exist, but thank God we just didn't show up, John had been trying to contact him for about 2 weeks but no answer to anything. STAYZ were NOT easy to get hold of, their contacts were hidden, many conversations, logging everything it took a few days but they eventually refunded our money in full and delisted the apartment! Over the years with all the apartments we ... read more
AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM




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