Amersfoort Netherlands - visiting an old friend

The train trip to Holland was not what I was hoping, then again, really when is traveling what you expect?

I departed Geneva on the TGV train (high speed) to Paris on Friday 1 April. Made it to Paris Nord station without a plan but my thought was to get out of Paris. With my Europass (the pass I purchased that gives me so many trips on the train in two months) there are certain trains that require a seat reservation (usually the TGV, especially in France). So I did not have a reservation for any train going to Brussels or Netherlands. I figured why not handle this in person. Well let's just say after the hour (or so) wait, and dealing with a lovely French lady that didn't speak English, I left the billet office no better off than when I arrived.

Frustrated and yet determined to get out of Paris that night, I did what any logical traveling person does these days, got online and booked a train myself (go figure). But the trains heading North out of Paris did not leave Paris Nord station but Paris Gare De Lyon, which means I needed to change stations. I decided to give the good 'ole metro a go instead of taking a taxi or bus. So I head to the Metro (got that far on my own), then walked up to the ticket machine and realized this was probably not going to go well since I don't read (or speak) French. So I politely asked a random person if he knew English and would assist me with my ticket purchase. YAY nice Frenchman.

Ticket in hand, I head to the D train, looked at the map (to make sure I was heading in the correct direction) and jumped on. Without knowing how many stops before I had until my stop, I decided to ask the men sitting near me. They, too, were very nice men (originally from Pakistan but have been living in Paris for 30 years). I followed them off the train to arrive at Paris Gard de Lyon. Mission accomplished. Now to find my train to Brussels.

While on the train, I booked an airbnb within 3 minute wall from the train station (you've got to love traveling with wifi). I arrived in Brussels about 10:15p, directions to my overnight place in hand (and Google maps) and away I went. I found the place and the lockbox (it was a multi-unit place) but not by myself. Had to give in to calling the host to make sure I had the correct place and that I was IN. It was dark, cold and starting to rain. Once inside (two different locked doors) the stairs to my room where windy and steep. Thank goodness I only have a carry on and my backpack.

The night was uneventful (thank goodness), waking up to SNOW! Marion (my friend I was on my way to see in Amersfoort Netherlands) also shared a photo of snow in her backyard. What the heck?? I was not to be deterred so without showering (yes, I did at least brush my teeth and wash my face) I headed out for an 11:55a train to Amersfoort, with a leisurely breakfast of coffee and croissant.

After changing trains in Rotterdam, I was finally on my last leg to see Marion. This is the highlight of my trip. I had not seen her since I was in Amersfoort sometime in the last '80's (or maybe early 90's). So crazy that this much time had passed. As I exited the train in Amersfoort, gathering myself and luggage, I hear my name in the great Dutch accent and there stood my friend. :)

Exited the station, into her car and head to her home. Frithjof (Marion's husband) was at the house with a big hug. Once I was settled in, we had a bit of a catch up then headed to the local bar (it was 4p after all). where everybody knows your name (well you get the concept). Marion & Frithjof are friends with the owners and knew half the people in the place. It was fun meeting their friends and hanging with all the locals. Did I mentioned we biked to the bar? Luckily one of Marion's bikes was able to be adjusted to fit my size person. They live close to town, and biking is the main form of transportation. I felt like a true dutch person. After the bar, we biked back to the house for a yummy fish pie with much catching up after so many years.

with Frithjof

Being a local at the pub.

Saturday morning Marion and I bike into the city to the weekend market and what a market it was. WOW! It fills the large square, with not only booths but vendor trucks. A meat truck, cheese truck, chicken truck, and many more. Flower and vegetable stands and all sorts of yummy stuff. Once finished with our shopping (and loading up my bike, since it had the saddle bags) we joined a couple of Marion's "regulars" at a coffee shop for a couple cups of joe. Once again, really cool to meet her friends and hang with the locals. Oh, and her daughter Julia met us the night before and at the coffee shop. She is an adorable 26 year old, standing well over 6'.

The meat truck at the market

Cheese truck at the market

Flowers at the market

tulips at the market

Sat morning coffee spot.

Our hall from the market, including flowers. Carried by yours truly.

A couple other stops on the way home (more goodies for my ride) and we head back to the house for breakfast and to meet up with Frithjof. The three of us bike back into town for a visit to an old church housing an art exhibit. Actually the exhibit itself was painted on the walls of the entire church. Pretty cool but a bit confusing on the actual message (modern art you know!). Then biked to another part of town to visit the library and the second half of the art exhibit, held in a different building. Then onto a local brewery, in a great old historical (I suppose the whole town is historical) building. Beer sampling complete, we headed to the pizza place, where Julia works part-time. YUM. Last biking for the day, heading home. Did I mention it was cold, windy and raining. Awe the dutch weather.

inside the church with the art exhibit

I find the dutch tend to be very tall :)

Amersfoort

Inside the library

The brewery

Marion explaining our beer tasting

Frithjof, Julia and Marion

Sleeping in until 8:30a, Marion had a breakfast spread (not the American kind let me remind you) which included: bread, butter, meat, cheese, a dutch meat spread, yogurt and fruit. Yum. Breakfast complete, we headed out in the car for a trip to see the tulips (and other fields of flowers) near the coast, about 1 hour from Amersfoort. Netherlands is really small so going anywhere in the country does not take too long. We arrive to many fields of flowers, with the daffodils and (I can't remember the other kind of flower, oh brother!) in bloom with some tulips but nothing like I am sure they will be in a couple weeks. We were very excited to see what we saw, so much color. Then they took me to the seaside where we had fresh herring and fried fish off the fish food truck. It was very windy and cold but we ate our fish outside on a bench. Didn't want to smell up the car for days with fried fish!

Dutch countryside

Daffodils (the small ones)

tulips

flowers

my attempt at a selfie in the fields

flowers

the fish truck at the seaside

partaking in some herring with Frithjof

The North Sea

After my nap on the way home (thank goodness I was not driving!), we ended the day relaxing on the couch. I was not feeling overly well (I think the herring, fried fish and the fact I was still recovering from Covid, all got the best of me). It was nice to just hang out and relax. We did watch some prime television. A show (same premise as The Bachelor) where a farmer is looking for a wife (or in some instances a husband). There were 5 different farmers (4 men, 1 female) featured where the wife/husband "wannabes" are living at the farm together, learning all things farming, and competing for the farmers attention. And, like the Bachelor, each week the farmer sends one of the women (or men) home. It was definitely real life people and not "bachelor" style casting. I even got the jest of what was going on even though I don't understand dutch. Great entertainment for the evening. Oh, and there were no commercials!

My visit ended on Monday 4 April. After a stop at Marion's office, to print some papers for me, we headed to the train station so I could begin my adventure in Amsterdam. As Marion was dropping me off, we came to the agreement that we were similar personalities (can you say type A?), handle situations similarly, and realized that's probably why we were friends in highschool in Kissimmee Florida (go Kowboys!).

Until next time....