Going Dutch

We’ve just got back from a fantastic weekend to Delft in Holland, where we stayed with Neil’s cousin Mark and his gorgeous girlfriend Liliana.

Delft is like a mini version of Amsterdam and personally we think it’s prettier. Canals, bridges, cobbled streets, soaring church towers (most are leaning over), a big public square surrounded by bars and resturants. I just wish we had some like it in England.

To top it all we had fab weather. Three days surprisingly warm sunny skies. We were able to sit outside eating out pancakes and drinking our beers whilst actually getting a little sun burnt! Neil had to put factor 50 on his head!

We even took a trip on a tram through Den Hagg to the beach. Can’t pronounce the place let alone spell it. Something like Skegness, but with a Dutch accent. When we got there we couldn’t believe how busy it was. Everyone out enjoying the unseasonal weather.

We’ve actually been to this beach before several years ago with Paul and Di. On that day however, it cold, grey and rather damp. I seem to remember us being the only people on the promenade. But Paul insisted he knew a good pancake resturant, so off we went. And it was good.

Anyway, our last day in Delft, we really decided to go dutch and all four of us hired bikes and headed off into the country. Considering how many bikes there are in Holland, it’s surprising how old fashioned even the new bikes are. Most don’t have brakes, those that do, don’t do much apart from make a horrible grinding noise. Quite worrying when your cycling along a path 2 foot wide with canals either side, and then you meet another cyclist coming the other way. The Dutch on bikes don’t slow down for anything.

After several miles we found ourselves at an old windmill, converted into a resturant. Good apple pie to be had.

Then unfortunately it was time to head back and catch the train to the airport. All over far to quick. Wish we could have stayed longer as there were so many bars and resturants that needed investigation. 

Definately a place we want to go back to.

 Many thanks for a fantastic weekend to Mark & Liliana

Neil & Jen x

This entry was posted on 12/02/2008 at 12:33 am and is filed under Holiday. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.