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.
I wasn’t actually going to write about this trip because it was such a blur. Our trip to Belgium was hectic but we did get to do a little sightseeing. However this trip, was on-the-go from start to finish. We never got to do any sightseeing. We traveled Holland from bottom to top, and from west to east. We even nipped into Germany via – Ihlow. Basically we saw Holland whizzing past from the windows of our hired car.
Ibis Schipol Amsterdam
The reason I decided to write this piece after all is because I have included our costs which might be helpful if someone is keen to explore The Netherlands by car.
Our reason for going across to Holland was to view boats as my husband wants to buy a Dutch motor cruiser.
There is a lot more to Holland than Amsterdam. Holland has quaint little villages that are steeped in antiquity, beaches and inland waterways. Driving is a perfect way to travel through these charming towns and locations. I can’t even start with what goes on in each region so I will give you links to – wikitravel, lonely planet and Holland tourism to help you get a sense of what and where.
Europcar Schipol Amsterdam
Peugeot 107 Twingo
Holland’s border with Belgium is 450 kilometres long and the border with Germany is 577 kilometres long. It is possible to drive it in a day.
Holland is flat. Seriously properly flat. The only time there is any change is when you drive on a dyke and dykes are man-made. A lot of Holland is man-made. They filled up the marshes and promptly gave themselves more space to live. And that is something I really like about Dutch people. They make a plan. They are pioneering agriculture with massive green houses that can produce huge varieties of crops. My husband thinks they build the best boats. And when their country got too small, they simply made it bigger.
Another thing about Dutch people. They are down to earth, helpful and they all speak perfect English. Which makes it an easy country to visit. Lucky for me, coming from South Africa, I can speak Afrikaans which is a derivative of Dutch so I could understand menus and road signs.
Driving on the wrong side of the road
We arrived in Amsterdam late afternoon. My husband booked our first night at the Ibis Schipol Hotel.
A free shuttle bus comes to
collect you so that was one less thing to worry about. It wasn’t the most attractive location but since we were up early the next day to collect our car back at Schipol airport, it made sense. It’s an enormous hotel. Plenty tour buses were parked outside.
We had supper that night at one of the in-house restaurants and it came to €46 incl. tip for two. We shared a bottle of wine and had a main course each. Ibis Hotel was €115 per night for two including breakfast. It was an OK semi-continental breakfast. They have vast self serve sections with the same food repeated at intervals.
Hotel ten Wolde
After breakfast we went back to Schipol Airport where we collected our car for the next three days from Europcar. It was a little Peugeot 107 Twingo and cost €70 for the three days. Insurance was an extra €10 per day. We could have hired a GPS for €12 per day.
My husband bought a GPS from Currys in the UK before we left. If you paying €12 per day and you are likely to use it again, it makes sense to rather invest in your own.
I have say that TOM TOM pronunciation of Dutch place names is atrocious. They Anglicised words so they sounded nothing like Dutch people say them. And then street names like Marie Curie and Marconi sounded nothing like they would in English. Go figure!
Small canal in Lochem
Lochem
We stopped at the petrol stations for a sandwich and a coffee in the day so we didn’t lose too much time.
Our next night was spent at a place called Huis ten Wolde. This turned out to be a spa and organic farm in a rural location near Steenwijk. The rooms were lovely and large with a huge big bed and views of the cows grazing outside. We had supper in-house in the library as they had an event on the go in the dining area. It was a lovely meal. We shared a bottle of wine and had a main course, one desert and a ‘koffee verkeerd’ or a caffe latte with their home grown milk. Our meal was €80 for two. The room was €120 per night for two including breakfast. Their morning buffet was classy with a selection of home grown dairy including their yummy yogurt.
Our car was set to a station called Radio Veronica by the car hire company. Radio Veronica play classic rock hits from the 70’s, 80’s 90’s and noughties. All the best classics from Queen to Guns and Roses. We loved it. So one more thing to like about the Dutch people. Great taste in music.
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.
I’ve often wondered what it would be like to watch Highland Games. Scotland has many descendants living across the globe.
Making Arbroath smokies
Lassies being judged on their Highland Fling
Consider that 4.8 million Americans, 4.7 million Canadians, 800 000 people in England and even 250 000 people living in Russia consider themselves of Scottish heritage. And as many as 20% of all New Zealanders and Australians have links back to Scotland. Read more here.
There are Caledonian Societies and pipe bands all over the world keeping the traditions and customs of Scotland alive. Since I’m in Scotland for a while it made sense to go see what Scots get up to in their motherland. There are Highland games events all over Scotland – Highland Games. They have been happening for over 1000 years. Clan chiefs would rival each other with the fastest and strongest men. The dancers and pipers provided entertainment.
The most famous games are at Braemar, which Queen Elizabeth apparently always attends, and everyone flocks to see her – Queen Elizabeth and Braemar.
King Malcolm began the royal association with the games but Queen Victoria made them famous when she and Prince Albert first came to Balmoral in 1848 and started attending the games.
We went to our local Aberdeen Highland Games this last weekend Sunday 17th June 2012. The UK has had a cool wet summer so far this year. However as Scotland located in the north it’s almost always cooler than it is in the in the south. Add to that a fog that builds up at sea in the north east of Scotland called – “The Haar”. This means Aberdeen has it’s very own micro climate. What I’m saying is – this is one time you should wear a raincoat and Wellington boots.
Hammer throwers
So what happens? We arrived at Hazelhead Park and paid £6 each to go in. We were given a program with the events of the day which included bagpipe music events for various age groups, Highland Fling dancing for various age groups and athletic activities. Heavy athletics include events like stone throwing, hammer throwing and caber tossing. Light athletics are 100m, high jump and that sort of thing. And of course the tug o’war.
Tossing the caber
We went walk-about first. They had an amusement fair as well as various stalls selling food and crafts. We had been to the Outsider Music Festival some years ago and had an idea of what Scottish food stalls have on offer at public events. Sadly hot oats with cream and berries was not available nor were Stovies, not that a vegetarian like myself can eat Stovies, but it is nice when local food is on offer. What they did have were – Arbroath smokies – which are local smoked fish.
My husband decided to try a steak roll with Aberdeen Angus steak. We approached the vendor but no – the signage was designed to fool us – they didn’t actually sell – Aberdeen Angus. So we ended up having hot chips and a cup of tea.
Part 2 and the final of this piece is out next week – on this link.
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.
