Netherland friends and finding a nice room

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Dawn

We’re in a little town named Woerden http://www.brinkbedbreakfast.com/SIGHTSEEING.html that is outside of Amsterdam.  Everyone in Netherlands speaks English and everyone rides a bike.  It is so beautiful, with thatched roofs, geese and swans, beautiful gardens and blonde and blue eyed kind people.  The weather is just about perfect – maybe 70 degrees. 

I had arranged a bed and breakfast for our first couple of nights but when we got there it was directly under major powerlines  - so I passed.  We were so very tired because of the time change and lack of sleep on the long flight and needed a quick place to sleep. 

We ended up in a trekkerhut.  Which is about a 10 foot by 10 foot little hut with two sets of bunkbeds.  Pretty challenging to create a family bed in it – but we did it.  http://www.camping-batenstein.nl/

 This morning I found out the ship is a day late bringing our RV and we may or MAY NOT be able to get her on Friday – it may not be until Monday.  I knew we couldn’t live in the hut for that long.  We moved today thanks to our friends Monique and Remmy to a great bed and breakfast within walking distance of their home.  Way more money but really worth the comfort.  We actually have a full apartment – full kitchen, dining room etc.  But best of all – bath and shower.  http://www.boerbert.nl/

 Today we went and toured a real working windmill with Monique and her daughter Leandra and had an interesting lunch of food that we’re not quite sure what we were eating.  The windmill was very interesting and I also learned that the all the buildings here as well as the airport are about 15 feet below sea level.  The boats are above your head and you have to go up a hill to go over a canal.  You also have to check out the picture of their watertower.

 It’s pretty sad that I’m only here two days and I already have blisters from so much walking – what a wuss:)  I’m sure we will all get healthier with all this walking and eating food we’re unfamiliar with.

 The bed and breakfast is on a farm with tons of cows, sheep, chickens, rabbits and new kittens that have Marissa and Shane in heaven.  Monique and Rembrand have a son Shane’s age, Quinn, and a daughter Marissa’s age along with baby Micah and we have all become very quick friends.  Monique and Remmy and their children are truly sweet and interesting people who have huge hearts and adventurous spirits.  We are so grateful for their time and kindness.

 A bit embarrassing but we actually have 12 pieces of large luggage – packing for a year was a daunting task and I probably (ok…definitely) over did it.  Oh well, its here now.

 Right now I’m listening to cows moo (and smelling them:)), drinking a corona, (believe it or not I couldn’t find an Amstel lightJ) and listening to the children laugh and play.

 Gotta give Peter credit – he was a real trooper sleeping in that hut – LOL.  He was very out of his comfort zone.  I’m grateful he’s here to get our trip started – he continues to be our rock of support and the dearest friend we could ever dream of.

 It has been a bit of challenge to figure out phones and internet – but we seem to be doing ok.  I haven’t purchased a Netherlands simcard because I don’t think we’ll be here that long – so I’m paying 1.29 per minute – but a local call from a payphone will cost me about 2  Euros for a 2 minute call – so I might as well use my cell phone.

 We’re playing on the farm tomorrow and going out to dinner with Monique and Remmy and little ones tomorrow night.