Sunday 15th May
Start of the tour – and what a start. 3:30am wakeup call, 4:30am breakfast (cold buffet – not even the English cook at 4:00am) all for a 5:00am start.
It is a group of 26 with people, coming from Australia, NZ, India, Mexico and the US (subset California, Florida, Arizona). Our guide is Stephane, a Frenchman from Lille, and he seems extremely pleasant, friendly and organised.
The drive through Kent to Dover took about an hour and a half through fields lush and green, apart from the continuous fields of Canola flowering yellow.
I have heard of the famous white cliffs of Dover in songs, on TV and books. Never has it crossed my mind that one day I would be standing looking at them, and even less likely to be taking a ferry across to Calais.
On the top of the cliffs is a huge castle – both a front-line defence, and a lookout to give early warning of anyone approaching – and it has been effective.
From Calais we took the expressway through France and Belgium and on to the Netherlands.
Flat would be a good word to describe the landscape, certainly cannot gush about ‘the rolling hills’. Nearest thing I have seen to a hill is the overpasses over the freeway. Despite the plentiful cows roaming the fields, I am pretty sure that they did not record the sound of music here.
Lots of wonderful cottages along the way.
Just over the border into the Netherlands we stopped at a Roadhouse for a bite to eat. Dutch sausage in a roll and a cheesestick – first taste of Dutch food in the land of the Dutch. This makes 4 countries in 1 day. (Well sort of – technically we stood on French soil in getting from the ferry to the bus, and I guess sitting on a bus with the wheels touching the ground and breathing the air of Belgium should count)
As we passed by Rotterdam, we started to head into dark clouds and eventually rain. On the approaches to Amsterdam was the ‘Pure Markt’ – a food market with local and international organic foods.
Note all the bikes
Arrived around 4:15 pm, quick checkin at Steigenberger Hotel near the airport, then back on the bus to go to central Amsterdam.
First part was an orientation walk (with chance to buy dinner, then scenic cruise on the canals, and finally a walk through the red light district (sorry guys, photos not allowed)
Cruise
Amsterdam is city built around canals. As much of the Netherlands is below sea level, canals are an integral part of the city, and like the streets, are quite narrow. The canals are also home to many houseboats, and residents can take long term leases on a ‘parking spot’, and since many are now connected directly to electricity and the sewer system, the canals are a lot cleaner.
Our cruise
Our specialist guide for the cruise and walking tour was Roland. A very knowledgeable and funny man, who made sure all his stories were ‘clear’. His interplay with Stephane was also extremely amusing.
Did I mention the bikes? 4 story Bike Park!
Our trip is blessed – a double rainbow over the Central Railway station!
