Home Again

Yesterday was a long day but everything went so smoothly. Not even any air turbulence, while flying. We took a taxi to the Den Helder train station where there was only an automatic machine for tickets. A kind lady helped us with this and soon we were on a relaxing train ride to Amsterdam. We had to transfer at Slotermeer (something like that) to get to Schiphol airport. That place is a zoo. After lots of walking and a long wait we were on our flight to Heathrow. More waiting and walking there and then boarding that huge plane again for YVR. There was a lot of pushing and shoving with at least 500 passengers on that flight. Without sounding ungrateful, standards are slipping. The meal was not great. An unappetizing pasta concoction. Nice wine, though.

The following are some of my observations of the last few weeks, in Holland:

1. Holland has beautiful natural areas which are fiercely protected, yet available for anyone to enjoy.

2. Dutch people are generally very friendly and helpful.

3. Smoking is alive and well over there.

4. The sea is a great landmark (if that makes sense). When it is on your left you are going north.

5. Holland's coast is an endless beach (discovered by German tourists) , with well placed eating establishments overlooking the surf.

6. Restaurants serve the exact same menu wherever you are. On offer is tomato soup, onion soup, and mustard soup (who came up with that, anyway?). There are bitter ballen and croquettes (same thing but different form) and fries with everything. A tasteless version of apple tart with a huge blob of whipping cream is served everywhere. There must be a factory somewhere.

7. Bread is a staple and it is astoundingly fresh at breakfast. 

8. Signage was mostly good but not everywhere. Jeff's cell phone GPS got us out of a pickle more than once.

9. It is important to stay single file on one side of a bike path because more than bikes come whizzing by. 

10. Toilet facilities are not always where you expect them to be in a hotel room. So a small flashlight is handy at night, in case you forgot to take note before you fell asleep.

11. It does not always rain in Holland nor is the country consistently flat.