20 May - Sunday
The alarm was set for 4.15am and the taxi booked for 5.00am, ready to join the Insight Tour departing at 5.45am from London bound for Amsterdam. Beautiful clear skies in London after a fairly noisy night with football fans either celebrating or drowning their sorrows! A pleasant drive through the Kent countryside with its green fields, fruit trees, hops and cereal crops before arriving at Dover for the Channel crossing. Fortunately, the sea was like a millpond J and Pauline was very happy. Our tour coach and driver were waiting for us at Calais, unlike another group who had not only lost their coach, but guide as well. A long drive through the flat fields of France, Flanders, Belgium and the Netherlands, with rain for the last half of the journey.
Overnight at the Sofitel Hotel, a very night room with a bed with “a mattress, feather over-mattress, duvet and pillows. All designed to create a delicious new experience when you go to sleep. Slip between down comfort and plump plumettes into the heart of your nest. Soft, fluffy…” We may never be seen again!!!
21 May – Monday
Leisurely start this morning, especially after all the feathers! First port of call was the diamond factory, much to the delight of all the ladies – a couple even made purchases while the rest of us just wished! A quick visit to a Gouda cheese factory (very smelly, Emma) and a clog making demonstration before a lunch stop at Volendam – a very pretty fishing village, but also very touristy. On our return to Amsterdam, we strolled to Anne Frank’s House – very moving and emotive. Whilst there were a large number of people there, no one spoke. Whilst a large part of the original warehouse have been restored, the actual annexe that Anne lived in has been left as it was, but without the actual furniture. Even the cut out pictures and postcards she pasted to the wall of her room are still in place.
Afterwards we continued a walk around the canals and centre of Amsterdam, a pretty city marred by graffiti, grime and its sex and drug industry. Luckily, the weather today has been mild, although very hazy and cloudy.
The alarm was set for 4.15am and the taxi booked for 5.00am, ready to join the Insight Tour departing at 5.45am from London bound for Amsterdam. Beautiful clear skies in London after a fairly noisy night with football fans either celebrating or drowning their sorrows! A pleasant drive through the Kent countryside with its green fields, fruit trees, hops and cereal crops before arriving at Dover for the Channel crossing. Fortunately, the sea was like a millpond J and Pauline was very happy. Our tour coach and driver were waiting for us at Calais, unlike another group who had not only lost their coach, but guide as well. A long drive through the flat fields of France, Flanders, Belgium and the Netherlands, with rain for the last half of the journey.
Overnight at the Sofitel Hotel, a very night room with a bed with “a mattress, feather over-mattress, duvet and pillows. All designed to create a delicious new experience when you go to sleep. Slip between down comfort and plump plumettes into the heart of your nest. Soft, fluffy…” We may never be seen again!!!
21 May – Monday
Leisurely start this morning, especially after all the feathers! First port of call was the diamond factory, much to the delight of all the ladies – a couple even made purchases while the rest of us just wished! A quick visit to a Gouda cheese factory (very smelly, Emma) and a clog making demonstration before a lunch stop at Volendam – a very pretty fishing village, but also very touristy. On our return to Amsterdam, we strolled to Anne Frank’s House – very moving and emotive. Whilst there were a large number of people there, no one spoke. Whilst a large part of the original warehouse have been restored, the actual annexe that Anne lived in has been left as it was, but without the actual furniture. Even the cut out pictures and postcards she pasted to the wall of her room are still in place.
Afterwards we continued a walk around the canals and centre of Amsterdam, a pretty city marred by graffiti, grime and its sex and drug industry. Luckily, the weather today has been mild, although very hazy and cloudy.
1 comment:
Mmmm, so Dave didn't ask you to look at diamond earrings for me then?? Shame as I'm sure it's a lot cheaper at the factory. Would loved to have look at Diane's dresses too. We got your postcard. Grandma called, she got one too. Jack has yet another cold, but still pretty happy.
Shan
Post a Comment