Holland April 2003 On April 8, we left our truck in Concord, NH and rode Concord Trailways bus to Logan airport arriving at 3:30 to check in. Our flight to London was at 6:00. The time difference to London is 5 hours and one hour to Amsterdam. Arrived in London about 5:00 and got a plane at 6:30 to Amsterdam…in at 8:30. April 9: Our bags were retrieved, went through customs and used the ATM. Schipol airport is very big. We were to meet Marike who is the Idyll rep. at 10:00 at the “Meeting Point” which was where the big red and white cubes were. We found this with no problems. We had to wait for five others who were coming in later and were on our way about 12:00. We took the train to Leiden which was about a 15 minute ride. A reserved taxi took us all to our apartments – 144 Hogewoerd. The cost of the train and taxi was included in our package. Our apartment was the Van Gogh that is on the first floor of the building. It consisted of an adequate kitchen, living room, bath and shower and the bedroom. We were happy and very comfortable with the apartment. We decided to take a walk around our neighborhood where we located the bus stop, the place to meet for orientation, the outdoor market place, canals and boats and checked out the restaurants. Seven of us got together for supper at Sorrento’s….pizza. This was within walking distance of the apartments. Leiden is a university city and the apartment building we were in was for students but that changed. There are 5 apartments for Untours and other non students. There are thousands of bicycles and they had a lane for them to use. One lane was for cars, one for bikes and one for walkers. Not only were students riding the bikes but also other people doing errands, going to work. We watched one bicyclist go down the street holding a window and another had a child in her basket along with her groceries. If we happened to get into the bike lane, we got tooted at but good! April 10: This was the day for Orientation with Marike. She explained the train and bus schedules and events that would be taking place. At 11:30 we all took the bus to Central Station. We were told that you flag down the bus that you want to take. At C. Station we boarded a train to Amsterdam after buying a lunch to eat on the train. Marike took us on a walking tour – The red light district, the canals, the Rijksmuseum which was excellent. Actually, we walked by the red light district – not through it! Some Idyllers bought the museum card that gets you into other museums. We were about last in line so couldn’t buy the card because they were out of them. We paid for one which was 9 euros for the Rijksmuseum and Marike took care of the other one. We also found them to be out of the cards at another museum so we ended up not buying this museum card which was ok because we didn’t go to many museums. Bert and I decided to walk back to the train station which turned out to be long and very cold. There was a little freezing rain also so I popped into a store and bought a headband. We took the train to Leiden and rode the bus to our apartment (we usually walked back). Supper was at the Greek Delphi Restaurant. First, they came to the table with a shot of ouzo. We had musakas and for dessert baklava and really enjoyed the meal. Dinners were very slow and relaxed here. In fact, we thought we would never get waited on so that is a custom that we need to get used to and that is not a bad thing! April 11: We were up at 6:30 and left about 9 to go to Delft to buy porcelain pottery. I bought a blue and white plate euro 92.50, a saucier for Molly euro 33 and a pitcher for Jeannie euro 26. They will be shipped at 30 euros. It will take 3 to 4 weeks to arrive because of the war. We did not know what that meant but everything that we shipped came through with no damage, etc. We could watch the pottery being made which was very interesting. It was all hand painted. At an outside café we had lunch. I had a very thin pancake with pears and whipped cream. It was so good that I ordered another one of powdered sugar and apple jam! I don’t recall the name of the pancake. We wanted to see a couple of churches but they were closed. There were lots of people eating, shopping and sightseeing. The weather was nice but a bit chilly. We took a train to Hague and transferred to Leiden where we walked back to the apartment and then shopped for groceries. We stopped at Kick in the Pot for Dutch suppers of sausage and potato mixed with saurkraut. It was ok but we wouldn’t have it again. April 12: We went to a huge Market Day here in Leiden - veggies, fruits, clothes, fabrics, watches, etc. We bought Greek olives and feta cheese, cashew nuts, strawberries, grape leaves stuffed with rice and some shrimp made with olive oil and spices. Lunch was down by the DeValk windmill at an outside café. The name of the restaurant was De Goede oude tyd and was very good. Bert had a cold salmon sandwich and I had a pork sandwich with peppers and onions. We also watched boat racing in the canal – the beginning of it. We visited the Devalk windmill which is a working windmill. Bert climbed as high as he could and I only went so far (to where you could go outside). Then it was off to Noordwijk by bus. Saw tulip fields and some windmills. When we got there we walked the beach and then got on a path for walking (there was a path for bikers also) and went to Katwijk. After, we asked for directions from a Dutch couple and then from another for the bus stop. We finally found the bus stop and went to Leiden. Had a beer at an outside café and then “home”. Ate some of our goodies from the market that we went to in the morning. Then we went for pizza. I had fresh tomato and mozzarello and Bert had tomato and cheese and anchovies. Very nice day and the weather was warm and sunny. April 13: Usual walk down to the train station. Sun! 10:14 train to Amsterdam. We were going to go to the Van Gogh museum which was free this day but the lines were too, too long so instead went to the Modern Art Museum. The guides couldn’t decide if we could use our video camera. One said yes and the other said no pictures allowed. This weekend was a free museum weekend for everybody. Lots of people and weather was warm and sunny. Lunch was at an outside café near the canal rides. I had Irish stew and Bert had fish and chips. At 2:00 we took a canal ride eu 9 each for 75 minutes. Went by Anne Frank home, houseboats, picnickers, boaters and paddlers. Many rich homes, apartments and more canals. Saw large fields of flowers on the way but not as many as when we went by Haarlem to Amsterdam. Today we went via Schipol airport. Took train back to Leiden and found our way to the apartment by 7:00. We did lots of walking this day. Monday, April 14: We walked to the Central Station for a bus to Keukenhof which is a garden of millions of bulbs and all kinds of flowers. A combination ticket for bus and entrance fee is eu 15,50 each. We were there about three hours and took many pictures. I did a slideshow of this for Unpoints. Returned to Leiden for lunch at Annie’s at 2:30. Annie’s is on a deck that is over a canal. Greek salad for me and nicoisse salad for Bert. Grocery shopped for some cheese and wine. At 6:30 we Untourists all got together on the outside porch of the apartment building to talk about what others have done and, of course, there was cheese and wine. We will get together again on Friday evening. Weather is really fine – warm and sunny and a bit windy. April 15: Travelled on the 9:18 train to Dordrect and headed for the VVV. The woman there did not speak very good English but she got us to Albrasserdam on the bus. We had to ask for directions again so we asked a gentleman on the street and he took us to the VVV. There the clerk was very pleasant. Showed us how to walk to Kinderdijk where 19 windmills are. We walked on the dikes and what an experience that was. A picnic lunch we had within sight of the windmills. Had a hard time finding a bus after but another gentleman showed us the way to Rotterdam. Come to find out, he was from Nevada! Seemed to know his way around. A loud bunch of school kids also got on the bus. When leaving Albrasserdam we saw a car accident – car rolled over and was smoking. So the bus driver just maneuvered his way around it on the wrong side. In Rotterdam we walked to the waterfront and back to the train station where we took a train to Dem Haag. Got off Dem Haag HS instead of CS but we got another train to Leiden ok and right away. While in Rotterdam we stopped for a beer and portie Bitterballen(deep fried meat balls). I don’t think we liked them very much. Returing to Leiden we walked to a restaurant called Hadi Gani which was a Turkish restaurant. The food was spicy. We could not use our VISA because the machine was broken. People were sitting outside their apartments eating and drinking. Some had chairs, couches and tables outside. I believe they were out because the weather was very warm. It was in the 80’s at least. We got back “home” about 8:30. April 16: Went to 40 Global Telecom to email Hilda, Arthur, Marie, Rick, and Chris Kidder. Eu 2,50 for an hour to use the computer. Took the 11:51 train to Dem Haag and tram to Schevingen which is a huge resort and beach. Lunch of weiner schnitzel for both of us at Mr. Cocker. We walked the beach…….. topless beachgoers. We went to Delft to buy more pottery eu 92 which we had shipped home. Stopped for iced tea and pancake with ice cream and whipped cream. Trained “home” to Leiden where I ate a bowl of cereal and went to bed. Bert had a salad. April 17: Slept til about 9. We planned to stay in Leiden today. Had lunch near The DeValk Windmill again (DeGoede oude tyd). Visited the Museum of Natural History eu 8 each. Saw Molly and Bill who are cloned twins and also Herman the bull who was genetically modified by adding a gene. Then we had a beer and iced tea, did a little grocery shopping and then home for a sandwich and I also had chicken soup. April 18: Another nice weather day. The Flower Auction Aalsmeer was amazing. Millions of flowers from around the world going though the auction line. Euro 4 each to enter. Aalsmeer is home to the largest flower auction on earth. The building is 160 acres. Rode the bus to Haarlem and walked around. Lunch was at the Grande Café Doria in the town square where there was a carnival going on. We took the bus to Leiden at 14:28 and home about 4. At 6:30 we Untourists all got together again for wine and cheese and chatting. As it was cold on the porch we went into Jeannie and Bill’s place. Came home 8:30 for omelet and bed. It was nice to get together with the other Untourists. April 19: We walked to the outdoor market in Leiden and bought another big, beautiful bouquet for eu 3,00. Grocery shopping was also on the agenda as Easter and Monday are holidays. Then on to Amsterdam to the Concert and Indonesian dinner with Marike. The dinner was Idyll sponsored but the concert was optional which we paid for. Marike made the reservations. Concert – Rhapsody in Blue, Duke Ellington music, Harris. It was an excellent time. The dinner was very spicy and we had to eat a lot of rice to counteract it! We gave Marike a card of thanks plus eu 5 each. We took the tram and train and went Haarlem way to see all the fields of flowers. April 20; Easter Sunday and the stores are closed. We took a train to Enkhuizen. Lunch at Desimir – eggs and cheese on bread; carrots, beans, bowl of goulash. Must have been a name for this but I don’t recall. Bert had fish and French fries and a salad. We walked around the boats and waterfront. The weather was great and there were many walkers and bikers out today. The trip was long, the village beautiful. Returning to Leaden, supper was spaghetti with sauce of gorgonzola cheese and a little milk. This recipe was from another couple that we met on the Rhine Untour. This couple is from New Hampshire also and we keep in touch by going to lunch every once in awhile. After supper, we took a walk around the canals. It is pretty at night. April 21: Monday is a holiday that goes along with Easter. We took a train to Voorhut to rent bikes to ride along the bulb fields. A gentleman walking his dog walked with us to find the bike shop only to find it closed. He was very apologetic. We decided to walk. What choice did we have except to go back to Leiden? There were lots of bikes, roller bladers, scooters, etc. Beautiful fields of flowers and the weather was great. Returning to Leiden we got together again at Jeannie and Bill’s place because it was windy and chilly on the porch. Then we, Jeannie, Bill, Marky and Mary went to supper at the “Exclusive” Restaurant. We all had spare ribs. We had heard that it was the place to go for spare ribs. It was all very good. April 22: Up at 7:15 to a sunny morning. This was our last day before we had to leave Holland. We left on Wednesday, April 23. I have no more notes so guess that is the end of a wonderful trip. We enjoyed this trip to Holland very, very much and will return again with Untours.