We're leaving on a jet plane.
25 of April 2023
Who said airline travel is glamorous. It may have been in the past but now it’s like moving cattle. They herd you through barrier after barrier and eventually they put you on a cramped seat, to sit there for hours at a time. And just when you get your meal and they pour you a drink the plane hits turbulence and you are now wearing your drink. It’s a means to an end and without it we couldn’t explore distant places. So we put up with the queues, the waiting and the airline food and the outragious prices they charge at the airport just for a snack. So after 3 flights we finally arrived at Schipol airport , Netherlands.
Arrived in the Netherlands - s'Gravendeel
26th of April 2023
We arrived in the Netherlands at mid day and waiting for us were (cousin) Ewoud and his granddaughter Jana. It’s been four years since our last trip and Jana was a little girl and now she is a young woman of thirteen. We have our first Dutch coffee at the airport and Ewoud drives us back to his place.
The “Bunyip” is parked outside and yes is starting to show its age. We spend a couple of hours sorting stuff as other family members come and go. After tea the jet-lag kicks in and we have an early night.
Kings Day - Netherlands
On the 27th of April in the Netherlands they celebrate the Kings Birthday. We wake up early as in this part of the Netherlands people think that it is ok to ride motorbikes at great speed through the village at 5.00, we were warned about it but still a shock to the system. Apparently a Kings Day tradition. It is a public holiday and the village is set up for the festivities. Markets, car boot sales, food and drink vendors, bands playing, parade of truck rides for people with special needs, fireworks and people dressed in orange. Our dutch family took their unwanted goods and set up for the car boot sale, with the children selling crafts they had made. Our faithful companion Skippy has also gone to a new home.
Beween the festivities we continued to prepare the Bunyip for our trip. We found a couple of things to repair but so far everythings seems to work. Torches with 4 year old batteries still going, amazing. That night it was dutch croquettes, frikadels and patat [chips] for tea, typical dutch fare. Tomorrow we do the final pack and head off to visit our cousin Mike in Enshede 200 kilometers away.
Dutch things and paying our respects
Below are photos of two typical dutch foods. Haggelslag are chocolate sprinkels you put on bread for breakfast. This box also has small chocolate rabbits for easter. Vla is dutch custard but different, it comes in many different flavours and unfortunately is very delicious, not good for the waistline.
In the afternoon we went for a walk past the local windmill and to the cemetery. A sad but necessary visit to Martin’s grave site. It has been two years since he passed away and those following this blog will know that our travels could not have been possible without him. His connection with Australia can be seen on the gravestone with the coast of South Australia etched in. He visited Australia over 10 times.
I did take some drone footage and some video on the phone , this you will have to wait for a later post.
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Hope you a fabulous last waltz in the Bunyip and catching up with family and friends , cheers and safe travels mark and Mireille
Have a fab trip and hope Emerald Isle weather is kind to you!!!
Glad to see you’ve arrived safely if not comfortably. Back into the local delicacies once again !
Looking forward to your posts from Ireland.
M+P