"As Good A Place As Any To Change Trains" Apeldoorn by johngayton

I'm not sure whether I was supposed to change trains here on my journey from Hook of Holland to Oldenzaal but I was running early, the sun was out and my Stena Line "Rail-Sail" ticket valid for any Dutch station. As far as I'm aware the ticket is almost like a day pass which allows you travel any route so long as it's away from from the Hook and so I'd decided on Apeldoorn for my lunch break.

I certainly was impressed by this little city, particularly its laid-back pace and the quality of its bicycles (and some of their rather gorgeous riders).

Classy Cyclist

I missed getting a pic of the black and white lady (and yep she was a lady) who passed me in the park, but no worries as pic ops abounded. There is no sight better than a finely-tuned calf melding into a trim ankle and topped by a muscular thigh. To hell with the 15th century church and the hourly peal of bells from the 19th century Radhuis, both chiming synchronously - ach, a well-formed pair of pins gives this old man all the voyeuristic delights one could ever ask for.

Bread, Butter and Beer

There were too many pretty women and so my train connection became an afternoon out. Lunch beckoned and became three-course affair - a kas-salami tosti served as an aperatif at De Babbel , a nibble of raw herring from a stall, eaten on the hoof between bars, as my fish course and then bread and butter at Cafe de Paris as the finale for this poor-man's three courser.

This is a nice place.

• Pros:So Civilized Even The Bikes Are Looked After
• Cons:The Women Cycle Far Too Quickly ;)
• In a nutshell:It's Certainly Not Amsterdam!