Part 1 of this article was posted last week. Find a link – is here.
Hotel Dux
While we driving we got to thinking who the Dutch president is? One sees news about the dramas and riots in Greece or Silvio Berlusconi’s shenanigans but we never see anything about Holland. Even Angela Merkel is in the news apparently fixing the EU or Sarkozy living the good life but Holland seems to carry on minding it’s own business getting on with things quietly.
Roermond
Roermond
Our next night was at Hotel Dux in Roermond. Roermond is the sort of place that I was talking about before. We went out for a meal, which didn’t go well. I will elaborate. But first we had a drink in the old town square. Huge big cathedrals and gilded buildings surround this square. At some point a collection of bells range out a tune and mini statues rotated around the steeple.
Trying to find a vegetarian meal was useless so we ended up at the local kebab take-out. The best they had to offer was a stodgy white bun with feta and wilted lettuce.
Roermond
Our hotel cost €130 per night for two including breakfast. Breakfast here was also a classy affair. We were offered a glass of prosecco to start with. We probably should have eaten at the hotel but we wanted to see more of this picturesque town. The room was seriously swanky. We had our own espresso machine and an extra large bed with thick plush sheets.
Carlton Oasis Hotel Rotterdam
Our last night was at the Carlton Oasis Hotel in Spijkenisse in Rotterdam. It was comfortable and our in-house meal that night was good. The decor is a little Las Vegas meets Benidorm. We took a drive to Zwartewaal but not much was happening and we soon gave up. Carlton Oasis Hotel was €80 per night for two including breakfast and that was the best breakfast of the lot. Supper was similar to the previous meals and came to €66 for the two of us.
Fuel prices June 2012
The next morning we returned our little Twingo to Europcar and walked across to Schipol airport. Outside the airport I noticed the smell of cannabis and while I’m aware it’s legal to smoke it in coffee shops in Amsterdam I wasn’t sure about at the airport. There was a young boy sitting outside with his backpack having a last smoke. I watched two young policeman walk over to him and quietly stand in front of him. He looked up and they motioned for him to stub out his smoke. And he did. And they left. No drama, no shouting, no guns at the ready. That sums up the Dutch people to me. They just quietly get on and do things where the rest of the world make issues.
Farewell Schipol
I also loved the refreshing lack of warning recordings and signs that occur in some parts of the world. One wonders what sort of people need to see horror and danger in everything from playing with a toy to drinking a warm drink. Ominous warnings day in and out kind of spoil things a bit after a while.
We’re back to The Netherlands again this weekend. Same story. A bunch of boats to look at. We’re looking forward to finding the right boat and slowly meandering along the canals exploring the towns and cities in Holland.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
To read Part 1 of this feature in last week’s post – click here.
Craft stall
I love pipe bands and can listen to them forever. Lucky for me they had pipe bands from various regions competing so I got to do just that. I wondered what criteria the judges would look for in a pipe band. We noticed that around 30% of the band members were ladies. Good on them. The drummers manage to do amazing flicks and twirls with their drum sticks.
What does a Scot wear under his kilt?
Then we moved on to watch the big strapping blokes heaving and hurling heavy things about. The UK is painful in enforcing pathetic health and safety measures but here we stood watching hammers and logs being flung about right in front of us. And no one was injured.
The heavy sports seem to be a big attraction and are sponsored by Glenfiddich. Turns out tossing the caber is more than flinging a big log. The men have to ensure it flips and lands facing toward 12 o’clock.
I noticed one of the senior competitors was Polish but he wore a kilt. Perhaps he has links going back to Scotland or maybe he wore a kilt from the area he is living. Read about – clan kilts.
Pipe band
The lassies danced the Highland Fling in their outfits while a piper played music. Between that piper, pipe bands, individual pipe players competing and the rest of the pipers practicing for their turn, there were a lot of pipes playing. But like I said, I love pipes and just as well.
Toward the end of the day came the Tug o’war. Local teams of eight per side geared up to battle it out. I wasn’t expecting to find it nerve racking. Boxing, yes that could be stressful to watch but Tug o’ war? Hardly?
Pipe band
Actually yes! Two of the teams were evenly matched in terms of strength and they hung in. And hung in. We were watching for signs of fatigue or for someone to slip but these guys just held on. Finally one side managed to get the upper hand and won. My nerves were shot and I needed a break.
Then the rain came down and the competitors in traditional clothing put on these cape coats that look like the sort of thing Sherlock Holmes would wear. I think they might be called Inverness Coats. Come to think of it, a lot of the outfits looked a bit Sherlock Holmes. This is the sort of occasion one can wear a Deerstalker style hat and not look out of place.
Tug o’war
I wanted to see the massed pipe band finale but we had been hanging around for a good few hours and we were cold and wet. We can tick Highland Games off our list of things to do. I wouldn’t mind visiting a country show along the lines of the Keith Country Show.
It’s an occasion for farmers to show off their animals but tractor racing and sheep races could be fun to watch. Who knows? I might be writing about that next.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
Part 1 – of this series covers a walking tour of Aberdeen city and shopping. Part 2 – is about the highland tourist route and driving. Last week in – Part 3 – I spoke about our road trip via Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms National Park to Edinburgh.
Royal Mile Edinburgh
After a French style breakfast we hit the ground running. We had one day to see all of Edinburgh on foot. The must-sees I planned for us (grouped together by location) are: –
Start walking down the Royal Mile plus museums along the way such as The People’s Museum.
Scottish Parliament
Holyrood Palace, Scottish parliament and Dynamic Earth Centre at the bottom of Royal Mile.
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Elephant house on George IV Bridge where Harry Potter was written for a quick bite, Greyfriars Kirk, and down Candlemakers Row to Grassmarket area.
Edinburgh Castle and down to Princes Street Gardens.
Holyrood Palace
Finally Charlotte Square, a UNESCO site and we wandered back along Princes, George and Rose Street. We had a late lunch at Henderson’s, a vegetarian restaurant in Hanover street.
Greyfriars Kirk
We never made the Dynamic Earth centre but we still squeezed in a visit to Real Foods in Broughton Street for a health food shop-up. By now I was tired. We headed back past the theatre area to our hotel in Pilrig Street. It was a long day yet somehow my friend still
mustered up more energy to go for a run up Calton Hill. I have walked it before and highly recommend it for breathtaking views across the city. I was just too tired to join him.
Elephant House where Harry Potter was written
I thought I had lost him as he took forever to return but he did eventually, and after a quick shower and a change of clothes we went back into town and ended up at Q Bar for supper. The food was OK but they had great music blaring out and we ended up having far too much fun before walking back to the hotel and sleeping like the dead. A meal out for two with two glasses of wine and a tip costs around £40.
The next day wasn’t even half a day as my friend flew out at 11.05am and had to be at Edinburgh Airport with time in hand. The lengthy queues at the check-in counter meant he grabbed a coffee and sandwich and the next thing he was gone!
Candlemakers Row
Much as I enjoyed Edinburgh, my favourite city in Scotland is still Glasgow, which we sadly never got to see. Edinburgh is
predictable and pretty. Glasgow is sassy. I love, love the vibrant and loud art and music scene in Glasgow. The architecture is full of Charles Rennie Macintosh art deco influences. There is a disproportionate amount of fun going on in Glasgow.
Edinburgh Castle
Glasgow also has far more shopping options. And the best bit? The extra, ultra friendly Glaswegians. No need to fear asking directions from a Glaswegian, they love to chat and help. Only thing is, I can’t understand a word they say. They have the thickest, broadest accent called Glaswegian patter which is incomprehensible to most English speakers. I love listening to them anyway.
Although Scotland is part of the United Kingdom they have their own parliament, their own currency and their school and work holidays are not the same as those in England. It’s cheaper to hire a car from Scotland than from England. We’ve used Enterprise Car Hire so many times and have been happy with their service. Just make sure you triple check the car for chips and chinks coz if they find any when you return the car, you are liable for them.
Last week in – Part 2 – I spoke about driving the coastal and highland tourist routes. The week before in – Part 1 – I spoke about the city of Aberdeen.
Vintage bikes in Banchory
We gave up on finding stone circles for a while and made it in time for a quick cup of coffee with the biker friend in Banchory – before heading off again. Along the Royal Deeside route are yet more gorgeous villages such as Braemar, Blairgowrie and Pitlochry. In the cooler months the mountains in the Cairgorms are covered with snow and there are – ski resorts. The last two winters in Scotland, 2010 and 2011, have seen plenty snow. In summer people come to climb the munros, cycle the hills, canoe up and down the River Dee or go fishing – read more – here. What is a munro you ask? Follow – this link – to find out.
Balmoral Castle
Look out for indigenous – red deer along the way and of course the cutest ever shaggy – Highland cows which are farmed in the area.
River Dee
One of the must-sees on this trip was Balmoral Castle. It was apparently Queen Victoria’s favoutite home and still much loved by the current Queen Elizabeth. It’s only open April to July when the royal family aren’t in residence. Read more – Balmoral Castle. I would allow at very least two hours to walkabout and watch a plethora of presentations. Avoid the cafe if you can. My Swedish friend had the very worst burger of his entire life there. A floppy white bun with a mingy piece of meat. That was it! He was bitterly disappointed.
Croft Moraig Stone Circle
At Braemar we popped into the tourism office and asked where we could find stone circles en route to Edinburgh. The young lady was somewhat surprised by our request but she found info on the internet and set us on the road to find – Croft Moraig. Happiness!! We found a stone circle. Unfortunately so did another party of other people together with a bunch of children. They spread themselves all over the place and these kids were charging and leaping about the stones making it hard for us to get a
picture. But we did. We ticked stones off our to-do list and headed for Edinburgh.
The smaller roads in Scotland and the UK are mostly narrow, windy and single lanes. There are few emergency zones or places to pull over. We got stuck behind tractors, slow cars and trucks most of the time and our journey took a lot longer than we anticipated.
Croft Moraig Stone Circle
We finally got to Edinburgh at 18.00pm. Fortunately in summer the sun goes down very late in Scotland so we knew we could afford to take our time.
I booked a budget hotel in Pilrig Street in Edinburgh with – booking.com – as it had parking for our car and also because it was walking distance to town. The room cost £52 per night. When we arrived at this place my heart sank into my stomach. The reception area looked dreadful. Fortunately the room wasn’t bad and the bloke at reception was well meaning and helpful.
By now we were starving hungry and we took a walk to Port of Leith which was about 2 kilometers away. There are lots and lots of pubs, cafes and restaurants in the area. Mostly seafood and steak type places. ( a vegetarian sigh!) However, I had a nice meal at The Kings Wark – read about it – here.
North Bridge Edinburgh
I always skip breakfast at hotels if I can. Eating out is usually cheaper than at hotels and it’s another way to explore the city. The next morning we went in search of breakfast and we found a French Style Cafe along Leith Walk. A meal for two with coffee came to around £18. Then we hit Edinburgh on foot to see as much as we could in one day. Read about that next week.
Next week in – Part 4 – and the final part I talk about what to do in Edinburgh.
For more on Scotland visit – here.
For more on my other destinations and a few travel horror stories go to the Travel Archive Page.
Last week in – Part 1 – I talk about doing an Aberdeen city walking tour and shopping in Aberdeen.
River Dee near Duthie Park
Carrying on from last week and where to get healthy vegetarian food – Pret-a-Manger do great take-outs – see their menu – here. There is a big one in Union Street and a smaller one in the Bon Accord Centre.
Walking along the old railway line
Marks and Spencer also do healthy, tasty take-out salads and meals. Plus you can pick up a great bottle of wine to go with. Read more – here. Find Markies in St Nicholas Shopping Centre.
What you absolutely have to do is visit a pub and try one of the local ales. There are microbreweries all over the UK and I would argue that the UK produces some of the best beers. Visit – CAMRA – to find out if there are any beer festivals when you are visiting. Some pubs can be a bit skanky and full of bar flies but I kind of like seeing life from all angles and hey, a great beer is a great beer, quirky company makes having it that much more interesting.
Greenie and Swedish friend
The Tourism office also gave us a printout for a walk which starts at Duthie Park and runs along the River Dee. Read about it – here. Duthie Park has a free indoor garden that grows just about everything. We intended to
do that walk the next day. But we had a slow start and decided to rather walk along the
– old railway line – from Duthie Park in Aberdeen to Cults which is about 6.5 kilometers. Fitter people can walk all the way to Peterculter [pronounced Peter Cooter], add another 6 kilometers. The walk allows you to see the outskirts of Aberdeen and villages like Cults or Peterculter, but also to see trees, birds, farms and natural scenery of the area.
Stonehaven
At Cults we had lunch and then we walked back in the drizzle. I have to mention that Aberdeen is not a sunshine destination. Even when the mercury is reaching 27’C in Glasgow, Aberdeen is significantly cooler, and often cloudy. This has to do with a coastal fog that occurs in eastern Scotland known as The Haar. In essence the east coast of Scotland has it’s own little micro climate. Read more – here.
The upside of this is that the east coast has less of a problem with midges. Coming from Africa where we have deadly mosquitoes and insects, I scoffed when the Scots moaned about midges. Until one hot day I got eaten alive and had a bad reaction to them. Read more – here
Dunnotter Castle
We hired a car from here on and the next full day we drove the coastal route taking in old fishing villages such as Stonehaven, Montrose and Arbroath, finally finishing in the fourth largest city – Dundee. Whether you drive north or south, you encounter these picturesque little villages, castles, ruins, harbours with fishing boats and rolling green hills as far as the eye can see. We stopped at – Dunnottar Castle – and walked along the cliffs. It’s a full day out. Read more about the area – Coastal Route. Golf lovers might want to squeeze in a game at the home of golf in St Andrews. If you miss out, fear not, Scotland is crammed full of golf courses as you will see – here.
Arbroath
The next day we headed out to take in the – Cairngorms National Park – and the – Royal Deeside – area. I was determined to find a stone circle or two as they are of interest to me and there are plenty circles, henges, cairns, barrows and all sorts of prehistoric monuments in Aberdeenshire.
The plan was to go via Inverurie to see the – Easter Aquhorthies – and then head toward Banchory to meet a friend who was doing a motor bike rally. Somehow we missed the turn-off and unfortunately stone circles are often not sign posted. Have a look at these sites before your trip to make sure you locate the stone circles before you leave for your journey – stone circles Aberdeenshire or – historic Scotland
Part 3 – next week deals with road trips via the Cairgorms National Park and Royal Deeside
and in – Part 4 – I talk about Edinburgh.
Belgium is bi-lingual so all signs and notices are in Flemish and French. Since I can speak Afrikaans I was more or less able to figure out the Flemish words.
So, what to see and do? We only had a few hours at the end of each day. Heading out to the Atomium wasn’t an option. That’s the structure that looks like a huge big molecule, Google Antomium to find it. We did see it in the distance from the train when we went to Antwerp. We also saw a red light district just north of Brussels from the train window. They have windows with girls in them, exactly the same as the ones in Holland. Who knew?
Belgian chocolatier
Fortunately our hotel gave us a map so we could find the key attractions. Once we got close to Grande Place/Grote Markt we encountered hoards of tourists, all with the exact same idea as us. The square is really impressive. It’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful and gilded old buildings I have ever seen.
Belgian beers in matching glasses
Grand Place/Grote Markt
Mannekin Pis is not far away. He is much, much smaller than I was expecting. Trying to get a pic of him without other tourists posing is impossible. We wandered around this area finding pubs and shops. We noticed frescoes of Tin Tin and other cartoon characters on the buildings.
Brussels has signs pointing you to the various attractions. If you can follow the signs you can see quite a bit, even at night, as we did.
Grand Place/Grote Markt
The following evening we went walk-about in Avenue Louise area via the Palais du Justice. I guess Avenue Louise is the Brussels version of the French Champs Elysee. All posh and pretty. Then we walked back to a Lebanese restaurant we found the night before, near the Grand Place/Grote Markt area.
It was cold, raining and we just wanted to relax and eat. After a Belgian beer and Belgian chocolate of course!
Mediterranean food area
What we did do – because we were viewing boats – was catch a train to Antwerp and then another to Bruges. A train trip is around €7 one way. Because Belgium is so small, the ride doesn’t take long.
The great thing about getting out of Brussels was observing ordinary everyday Belgian life just outside the city and seeing the countryside. Both Antwerp and Bruges are different in character to Brussels. We had to make a detour via Ghent due to an accident on the train line. I wish we had been able to stop and see Ghent. It looked lovely.
Although Brussels is the home of NATO and plenty other international headquarters, it’s a relaxed country, free of pomp and ceremony. I loved the juxtaposition of comic characters alongside awesome architecture.
It’s as safe a city as you can get, and strolling about, working off beer and chocolate, is a great way to explore the city.
Up around the posh Avenue Louise area
Just don’t forget your umbrella.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
