Another day, another country

Post for 15 August

Its raining again this morning and after yesterday's mammoth effort (that totally knocked me for six last night). I have come down with a cold and have been coughing like crazy. Thank goodness for Donna's Ventolin. At one point I woke Donna to ask her how to turn the electric blanket off. Hmm, no electric blanket on the bed - I was just burning up.

We decided to have a bit later a start and eventually checked out just before 11 am.  Once in the car and out of the weather, we decided to head for Utrecht en-route to Schipol Airport. There is a cathedral that is supposed to be beautiful.

The tree lined avenues and streets make Utrecht a lovely place to visit and no doubt to live.  We are taken down very narrow one way streets where the pedestrians just amble along in front of the car. Guess no-one is in too much of a hurry to go far. And then the GPS stops working. Trouble was, we didn't realise it straight away and just kept following the directions on the screen,so that we were getting deeper and deeper into the Old Town centre.  In the end, we ended up in the market square and then had to reverse out, what with the plethora of bikes leaned one against the other and the vendors vehicles.

Its about now that we realise that the GPS had stopped and can only surmise that was because we were in the middle of narrow streets with tall old stone buildings. We can see the St. Martin’s Cathedral or Dom Church in Utrecht. In fact, if we had opened the windows we could have almost touched it. BUT, there is no parking and after negotiating the backstreets more times than we care to admit, we finally give in. I think that we had drive through the city for more than an hour!

We are trying to find a through road, something a bit more major than the ones we are one, we spy a police car. Surely he must be going somewhere as he is heading out of the inner city, so we tail him!  At some point, the GPS kicks back in again and points us to the motorway towards Amsterdam and the Airport.

When we hired the car, Robby suggested that we fill up before we return the car because otherwise there is a 20 euro fee on top of the (price premium) fuel.  No matter how we search, we cannot find a bloody petrol station (except one abandoned Shell one) and after finding ourselves almost 40 kms from the Airport, I admit defeat and we head back to pay the fee. It wasn't all a loss though. As we come down one of the back streets that connect to the motorway, we turn a corner and there is a windmill spinning frantically in the wind.  So yes, every cloud does have a silver lining. 

We arrive at Schipol Airport a bit after 3.  We are famished and sit down to a caprese bruschetta, a sausage roll, a tall glass of fruit salad and two stunning fresh juices - orange and banana; and kiwifruit and orange. The rain continues outside from time to time, and we are glad that we are inside. 

As we are flying internationally, we head over to the gates to check in. Very casual, I had forgotten that we are in the EU now and borders are a thing of the past. So simple.
I'm really flagging again and sleep for the 1.5 hours on the plane to Oslo.

Its getting dark when we land after 8:30 pm, so we don't see much from the taxi ride. Our taxi driver comments that Oslo is very quiet and comments that it is because it is so expensive.
It is a 50 km trip into the City Centre and I hear Donna quietly asking me if I have enough cash for the fare. It cost us 1,796 NOK (Norwegian Krone). That is just under AUD$300. But we are dropped to the door - some things are just worth the money!

Looking at the DK Eyewitness Guidebook, we soon realise that we are very central to most of the tourist attractions. So the next couple of days will be very busy and exciting with a walk of less than 300 m to the closest.
But first, we will do some washing. I booked an apartment knowing that we would be wanting a washing machine about now.

Its after midnight, I am sick of fighting with the touch pad on the computer to download the photos, so I will try to add them tomorrow. Nite all.

From magnificent to miniature - a world of contrasts

Its a lot cooler this morning.
We have booked breakfast in the restaurant and apart from that awful artificial orange juice that you find all over the world, the breakfast offerings match the dinner from last night. Scrambled eggs, bacon for Donna on toast,lots of fresh fruit including one of the palest pineapples I have ever seen - but so deliciously ripe, to the customary European cheeses and meats and salad ingredients.

We plan our day out before we set off. We will start in the Gouda Markt Square. The cheese markets are not on until tomorrow, but a local flea market is set up with the sellers doing a roaring trade - not dissimilar to our markets back in Maryborough - minus the fruit and vegetables.


There are a number of historic buildings we want to see. One of the former civic buildings houses a chiming character moving clock, donated to the City in 1961 to commemorate the granting of the City status to Gouda in 1272.

the Cheese guild building now houses the Tourist Information Centre.  You should see the crowd in here!  You ca purchase cheese, buy souvenirs, watch a Gouda making workshop and more.  Too bad we cannot bring the real McCoy back in to Australia with us.

But the building we are really here to see today is the Sint-Janskerk  with its 72 magnificent stained glass windows. (I am just realising that the word of this trip is magnificent!)
We buy tickets from a man who worked in Gladstone in the metals market, its a small world . . .  You can choose to do a self guided tour or a follow the numbers tour. We plug our headsets in to the guide tablet, choose self guided and promptly primarily follow the

numbers.  This church and its windows are (wait for it) M A G N I F I C E N T.  This is the longest church in the Netherlands and at 123 meters it is also the tallest church in the Netherlands. The building is so large that it is impossible to get the whole of it in amongst the tight little streets around it.  No problem - there is a scale model inside!

Dating back to 1530, much of it was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1552. Shortly after the disaster, the directors commissioned to build the most spectacular church in Holland. Initially built as a Catholic Church, after the Reformation it became a Protestant Church and survives as this today (c.1579). A magnificent pulpit was put in the church and the catholic alter relegated to a back corner of the choir.

But the real claim to fame are the 72 splendid windows and the burial stones - the oldest one I found was 1561.  All the windows tell stories, with most of them being biblical, but a few are historic. They have to be seen to be believed. During WWII, the windows were dismantled and stored in strong boxes across the City.

After a number of hours staring jaw-dropped, we left Gouda (after a Cloudy home-made lemonade) and buy some siroopwaffles for later.

We programmed the car for Kinderdijk (Kinderdyke) about an hours drive. Here there are about 20 windmills lining one of the canals, some working, others not, and in a variety of styles and ages and the vista is very popular.  The locals have a 'magnificent' view and there are lots of Porsches in the narrow streets. We are wowed again and again.

BUT the day is not yet finished,

back in to the car we go and head for the miniature world at Madurodam which is found in The Hague. We left this until last, hoping to stay until the lights are turned on. Again we are moved by the story behind this 'magnificent' miniature world.  All structures are constructed to 1/25 scale and include historic monuments, many of which we saw in-situ today, through to modern operations including Amsterdam Airport and the Hoek de Hook port.  About now, the temperature plummets and the light drizzle starts to get heavier.  We have rushed through much of the site and now head for the souvenir shop and the restaurant to wait for the lights. About 7 pm we decide to leave and beat the traffic that will all leave at 8 pm when they close.

It rains all the way back to the hotel and we are happy to pull in to the parking lot just before 8 pm.
Rain is expected tomorrow so we are planning a day with indoor visits, although we are hoping to get to the Gouda Cheese Market. We need to be back at Amsterdam Airport about 4 pm to get our flight to Oslo, Norway!

Blog is now up to date!

Today was Blue and White with a whole lot of love thrown in

This blog post relates to Tuesday 13 August (but was posted on 14th)

It was an interesting start to the day, hauling suitcases along the cobbled Overtoom Street in Amsterdam from the hotel to Europcar and all the time having to keep your wits about you in terms of avoiding the cyclists rushing at speed to work.


We were upgraded to a Renault Megane for the same price as the much smaller Yaris. Rather nice to have the extra space. As we leave Robby at Europcar, we ask for directions towards Delft and he says "turn right" but when we turn the GPS on, it wants us to do U-turn.  And of course,we do (after having to cross into the tram lane to pass the double parked Europcar tow truck!  A 'Uie' at traffic lights here, when you are in the car on the 'other side of the road' for the first time in years is a little daunting. And half a dozen blocks down the road, the road is shut for roadworks.  We lost about 20 minutes in and out of tiny back residential streets to get passed this.
Finally we are headed out of Amsterdam and towards the west-south to Delft. The journey will take just over an hour.They are transluscent and quite hard to take a good photograph of.

I'm more than little excited as Anne Blyth (Zenz) is flying in from London to have the day with us!  I haven't seen here since we went to her wedding in Germany two years ago. Rather than us negotiate the Amsterdam airport traffic, she will train it to Delft and we will collect her there. Anne's train is due in at 10:15 and we end up parking in what we thought was a quiet little shortcut to a new estate (road very poorly constructed) only to find that it is a major traffic route. As Anne walks on to the footpath, we pull up.

She is looking fabulous and has very generously got out of bed at 4 am to come and meet us. Hugs all round and a catch up on immediate family and friend news while we drive the short distance to the Royal Delft factory and museum. As none of us had had breakfast, we headed to the coffee shop for some brunch before we explored.  More chatting and catching up. Anne sends love to all and sundry back in Australia.

And then we are off. The museum is a beautiful history not only of the company that dates back to 1653, and the social history of Delft (and The Netherlands to a degree).  The displays are of a very high quality with much of the dialogue that describes the items and events not on board, but on tightly stretched, screen-printed very fine nylon panels.

The company employees are all very proud of the company that they work for and genuinely share their knowledge.  A piece of Delftware is made across three stages. The blank is cast in mould with liquid clay which, when dried is painted with a white glaze and then decorated with metal oxides, in particular the cobalt oxide that gives the usual blue, and can withstand high firing temperatures, allowing it to be applied under the glaze. Interestingly, that metal oxide is painted on black and only when it is fired, does the stunning blue emerge.  It takes 10 years to train one of the painters.  There were two working while we were there and they happily chatted with us all.

Royal Delft China was only for the wealthy during the Golden Age in the Netherlands in the 17th Century.  A comparison of the value is:

However, we soon learn that the real status symbol is having your portrait done in Royal

Delft.  This was the way to show your wealth and prosperity.  Even today, you can have your portrait painted on a plate.  Thankfully, i'm not that important, nor that vain!  There are lots and lots of examples - from guild groups to families and to individuals.
We wander through the museum and eventually in to the factory when we see staff fixing a problem with the clay sludge, lots of moulds, pieces in various phases of production and some special orders.

Back through the Company timeline and out into the souvenir shop. Be nice to me - I might have just bought a little something for you as a memento! I chose to have it shipped to Australia - no chance of me losing it, or breaking them.  I did make a little indulgence - one of the Proud Mary's.  I had looked these up before I left home.  Th only ones available now are the medium sized ones - they are stunning and the large one in the historic garden is so beautiful!

Anne must be on the 4:15 train at the lastest to make her flight connection back to London Stanstead. Before we drop her off at the station, we have a light lunch and toasted the friendships with a prosecco.  And finally it is time to say goodbye for the moment.  I will ever be grateful for the love she showed me by making the trip as she has to work

again tomorrow. She took home with her the obligatory Tim Tams and a copy of all the photos we took at her and Steve's wedding.

Donna and I had not yet decided where to stay tonight, and given the time, choose to drive across to Gouda (Gowda not Gooda).  We pull up in the carpark of the local McDonalds and made a booking at the Campanile Hotel Restaurant.  It is nothing fancy, but we really only need to put our heads somewhere for a night. Instead of going out to dinner, we decided to try their restaurant

and were so very pleasantly surprised.  Donna order a rare Rump Steak while I ordered Chicken Satay. Not only was the food as ordered, moist and tender, but young Victor was an attentive but not overbearing server.

A fabulous day of love.

CCC - Culture, Cocktails and Canals

Today dawned wet with the promise of more rain. We left the hotel about 10 and dashed across the Overtoom Street to the Starbucks Cafe and ordered us some brunch. Cappuccinos (huge in a mug) with a tub of fresh fruit salad followed by a shared ham and cheese croissant and a pastrami pretzel.  Nice and fresh while we watched the rain from one storm to the next drip down outside, getting heavier and windier from time to time. Trying to put off the inevitable - going out in to it.

Eventually we set out when it abated a little. We are headed to Europcar to arrange a hire car for the next two days so we can head away from Amsterdam and go to Delft and Gouda. It is only two (long) blocks down, and even though we were wearing jackets, we still managed to get pretty damp. But no problems,car is now booked all ready to just go back in the morning (towing our luggage over uneven cobblestone paving) and collect and go.

We have decided that today we will try to limit the walking a little from yesterday.Could be helped by more careful navigation methinks! The public transport in Amsterdam is actually very good and we take a Number 1 tram towards the Old City to see the Amsterdam Museum. Once aboard the tram, the very helpful conductor at his desk on the tram told us we could go all the way to Dam Square on the No. 1. We thought that we would have to change lines.


So into the Dam stop we go and walk over to the Amsterdam Museum. While not free to enter, the entry price of 15 euro was well worth it. Set in a building that formerly housed a Monastery until 1578 when it became an orphanage. 

The building takes you on a journey through the interesting history and development of Amsterdam when it was one of the leading cities in the discovered world. There are maps that chart the growth of the City as land was gradually reclaimed from the water. One thing that I never knew is the Amsterdam is built on timber piles driven deep into the soil beneath. They range in depth and age. The grand Central Station has 8,657 piers of 11 metre lengths supporting the building. And as we learn later today, the sound of the pile drivers is still a common sound in Amsterdam.  Who knew?!

We see examples of the wealth of some of the citizens and the artistic excellence of others. There are two amazing globes with maps of the know earth and heavens. There is a model of the new Town Hall constructed in 1648 to show the carpenters what was wanted. The actual building was completed in 1655 and became known as the Eighth wonder of the world.  From the  17th century, an exquisite goblet etched with a view of Amsterdam and a falcon shaped spice storage box in carved silver with garnet eyes. Such workmanship was a beauty to behold.

Supposedly a 45 minute self-guided tour, we took a couple of hours to really delve into this fascinating place. The museum caters to all - short and tall, all languages, all interests.  They even had Donna steps to allow shorter people to fully see all the exhibits!

Following our exploration we went down to the Museum Cafe and decided that while lunch was not needed, coupes (ice-creams) were. Donna had Salted Caramel with rum raisins and cream, while I settled for the Malibu with Coconut Ice-cream, toasted coconut and Malibu foam. OMG so good and timely with the heavens opening again.

From here we got back on the tram and went around to the Musuems Quarter, admiring the lovely gardens of the Rijksmuseum before wandering (because my feet are beyond rushing!) to the Bols Museum.  Everyone would love this one, dedicated to the Bols liqueur story.

Again, dating back to the 16th Century, this is a story of ingenuity.
The visit is very interactive and fully customer friendly. The first experience is all about measuring how your surroundings influence taste. You enter a small room (behind Door 1, 2 or 3) that goes dark and then drink from a small bottle you are handed when you pay for your ticket.  Sound and light bombard your senses in a psychedelic experience. The alcohol in your mouth seems to become tarter, then sweeter and then even tangy. So I guess, yes it does. From here you enter the flavours room where there were 35 different bottles to smell from.  Some were easy to pick such as the chocolate, coconut, watermelon, kiwi fruit while others were impossible to tell. And then into the distilling room where the aromatics were on display.

We ended the visit with a visit to the cocktail bar. Neither of us can remember the name of the actual cocktails that we chose from the taste wheel (and conveniently they don't include them on the webpage), but Donna's was strawberry based while mine was citrus and coriander. Both very yummy and moreish. Didn't dare to have more than one as there were about a dozen steep stairs we had to negotiate to get out of the building. Once out the line to go to the Van Gogh Museum as it was now past 5pm. En-route back to the tram we pass the Diamond Museum, Watches Museum and plenty of others. Later today we see the Bag and Purse Museum and the Cat Museum (sorry Gen, it was shut).


Back on the tram to Leidersplein to the Canal Boat wharf.  Another interesting hour seeing Amsterdam from the water.  Gentle back canals to the main boating waterway (called the IJ) where we were just a little alarmed to see two ferries bearing down on us at speed. The stunning canal that you can look down to see seven bridges in a row.

Amsterdam is its waterways in so many ways.  Lots more seen including architecture new and old, but I'll have to share more when I get home. I have seven minutes to finish here and get to bed (i am told!) Dinner very light - cheeses and crackers and a bottle of shared chardy, in our hotel room.

Nite all.  See you again soon.  Off to catch up with Anne Blyth who is flying in from London in the morning. We are meeting her in Delft.

Its a long way on a full load plane

Well so much for the first blog on Friday!
For those who haven't heard, the weather in SE Australia went to the wall on Friday and after some serious doubt about whether we might need to make a dash for Brisbane, or worst still for Sydney, our flight finally took off from Hervey Bay 2 hrs 30 mins late.  A very 'chunky' flight with an almost empty plane (could spell a danger if that becomes a regular occurence), and a landing at a much higher power level than I think I have ever expected into a nasty cross wind on the ground.  A challenging start to the journey, but nonetheless, it was a start!

So got in to Sydney about 4:30 pm and by the time I had collected my luggage and got a cab to Donna's it was about 5:15. She finished work at 7 so at least I had time to catch my breath!  By the time we had eaten dinner and decided what cameras and chargers, adapters, power sources we could share, midnight was beckoning and so was bed.

And now I am truly on holidays.  Slept in until 7 am! Pure bliss. The wind continues to rage and I was very thankful for the electric blanket on the bed last night, even though I can't normally sleep in one. Definitely no longer in Kansas Toto, and nor am I in Queensland.  The day is miserable in the wind and Antony tells me that snow is falling in Canberra today.

While Donna packs, I re-pack and end up leaving few items of clothing at her place. My suitcase feels a little lighter and when we way it, I have lost the grand sum of 1 kg! Garry has a mate who drives a Silver Service Taxi and so at 11:30 we call for George. We are at the international terminal just before 12 noon, ready to queue to book in and seats allocated. 

Chloe tells me that this flight is often full and sure enough it is a full load with not a single empty seat.  Luckily we are seated on the right side of the plane. Donna in the centre and me on the aisle. The lady at the window is Jennifer from New Lambton in Newcastle - about a 15 minute drive from Mum's place. It's a small world I often say.

We are away about 30 minutes late, again due to the wind in Sydney and all travellers are glad to be off.  It is a 13 hr 50 min flight to Dubai where we have a 4 hour stop. Service on the plane is good,and although Emirates offer seats with extra pitch and width, sardines still feel like sardines in a can. The aisles are narrow and when inconsiderate people fully recline their seats,it is still impossible to lay down the food tray. The 12,039 km trip feels every minute! Food is good, despite all the comments people make about airline food. With no where to stretch and too many people needing to get up and down to loos,there is no opportunity to walk the aisles,so a very long, cramped flight. 

With very little sleep under our belt, we were glad to touch down in Dubai at 00:15 am to a hot and steamy 37 degs! Thank goodness we are staying inside and not venturing ot in that! Unlike many other airports, this truly is a 24 hour operation. You can buy just about anything here. The gold sellers aren't too expensive with 24 carat gold selling for USD$65 per gram. Interesting, but truly, nothing appealed!
Did you know that Dubai's main Terminal B where all planes arrive is shaped like the wing of a plane? And it is the longest terminal building in the world. We seemed to have to walk forever to get from or entry point to our next gate, but in reality, only walked half the length. Oh, and that was before we are bussed out to the plane, into the heat, and have to climb a mount everest of stairs in front of us!

Our departure is also delayed 15 minutes, so at 4:00 am we push pack from the deck. When I asked if the flight was full at check-in, I am told it is overbooked. Bugger.  This flight we have two centre seats in the middle of the row.  And the same deal with inconsiderate people in front.

HELLO AMSTERDAM.  It is 17 degs heading for 21. A beautiful late summer morning. We join the never-ending congo line of passengers weaving towards passport control under the watchful eye of security. Plane after plane seems to disgorge its load on to the end of the line. Once at the front, Donna and I face no delays, no questions and walk through in seconds. The baggage claim area is frenetic (remember all those passengers). It doesn't take too long before we claim our suitcases and head through Customs. As there is no staff at the 'Something to Declare' gate, we just join the 'Nothing to Declare line with one man casually asking random people what they have in odd shaped packages. Again we just glide on through.  Starbucks and a coffee are calling. Mmmm.

We try all the sim providers, but the cheap ones are only offering local calls. So over to Telecom where I manage to get UK based sim that will cover all of Europe, but not calls to Australia.  If you want to send me a message, do so through Messenger or Facebook.
Finally it is time to go over to the Hotel. As we have dragged the luggage enough (and not to mention being dog-tired), I decide to shout us a cab. Donna just about wets herself when she realises we are getting into a Tesla. As a cab! And like all cabbies all over the world, he owns the road - across lanes, ignoring speed limits. 20 minutes later we pull up at Hotel Espresso which is just outside the old city area.  AND, showers had its in to bed we go for a couple of hours.


Definitely refreshed and with feet and ankles that have lost some of the swelling, we head out about 6 pm to start exploring. We have bought a 24 hour tram ticker as we are a short walk to the closest tram into Dam Square, the main square in Amsterdam. We hop off and head off on foot. How I hate the 'cats' we are walking on (in french, cobblestones are referred to as 'la tete de la chat' - the head of the cat). They are at times uneven and I have to take extra care not to trip.

The Square is quite stunning, although the amount of litter is amazing. Lots of people out. The are numerous little lanes and streets fanning out in every direction.

Tram lines criss-cross the streets and run very frequently. between them, crazy cab-drivers and the millions of cyclists, pedestrians (who if I remember correctly have the right of way, take their lives in their hands.
It is after 7 pm now on a Sunday evening. Many of the retail stores are shut, but the ubiquitous Coffee Shop (not to be confused with a Cafe) are doing a roaring trade and so are all of the adjoining eateries, from pizza slices, to pommes frites, to sitdown restaurants - all catering to people with heightened appetites!

Donna manages to be dwarfed in a pair of clogs outside a Cheese Shop where we sampled the wares including some amazing flavoured gouda, only leaving after bu a sample pack to take with us.

All the way we are heading for Anne Frank's House (or are we Donna?) up alleys and down streets first north then west then east. We cross canals, climbing up and then down the cobbled bridges. We are nearly collected by a car coming at speed around a corner, with more passengers than should fit, jumping out and taking off at a run - a pub Crawl is on! Oh to be that young and have that much energy again!!

We eventually reach Anne Franks House. No photos and I wait because of all the steep narrow stairs.  Looking across the canals and down the streets we see the fabulous architecture that the city is known for and manage to get photos of quite a few - small selection here.

I peep in through the grilled of a closed museum door but still lit within for another perspective.


Finally we are really flagging and our feet still somewhat swollen and sore. We have dinner at 9:45 pm just as the light is falling in to the dark of night. A cosy little pancake restaurant where we celebrate our arrival with a Prosecco, have a savoury pancake apiece (Donna = spinach and goat cheese, me = cheese and ham) and share a plate of Poffertjes, mini Dutch pancakes.

Then its off to the tram for the journey back to the Hotel.
More walking and a canal trip tomorrow.
Night all, I've had it and its time to crawl into bed at 1:40 am here!  See you on the morrow.