Travel Tips

Despite the date, there were plenty of people on our flight. The sky was overcast when we arrived in Amsterdam but the weather was pleasant enough for an autumn day.

We arrived in Schipol and easily found the train to Centraal Station. From there it was only a five minute walk to our hotel. We got checked in and then went out for a wander. I dragged GF to a market that sells coins and stamps in the hope of finding postcards but didn't have any luck. We went hunting for a restaurant that we knew would be too expensive but still wanted to see it. Along the way we found another restaurant and ended up eating there that night. After a long walk, we went back to the hotel for a snooze. We headed out again to de Luwte for a lovely dinner.

We decided to go for a walk, not heading anywhere in particular. We ended up neaer the Rijksmuseum but did not go in. I still have never been inside. Behind the museum is a park with a pond. We sat down and enjoyed the warm sun (19C). We headed towards Prinsengracht to the Pancake Bakery (recommended by a VT member) and had lunch there. Getting there was quite a walk but very pretty.

After lunch, we went back to the hotel for a snooze then headed out again. We walked to the Spuistraat and went for dinner in d'Vijff Vlieghen. It was a nice evening so we had a pleasant walk back to our hotel.

After breakfast, we headed to Centraal Station for the train to Haarlem. I have wanted to see the Grote Kerk ever since I saw a painting by PJ Saenradam in Edinburgh. The building has always really fascinated me.

Just as we arrived at the station, I took off my sunglasses and was about to put on my regular glasses when one of the lenses popped out, along with the screw holding it in. Amazingly, a man walking just behind me avoided stepping on the lens so I was able to recover it. I also managed to find the tiny screw as well. I put everything carefully away and we headed to the train.

When we arrived in Haarlem, I asked at the VVV where the nearest optomitrist would be. The very helpful girl found one only a couple of minutes away so we headed there. The optomitrist did not have much English but understood what needed to be done and fixed my glasses then and there. He very kindly refused payment as well.

We went for a leisurely walk around Haarlem, visiting the amazingly huge Grote Kerk and stopping for lunch in a bagel shop. It was very quiet and there were very few people about.

We headed back to Amsterdam and then went off to de Luwte for dinner. It was still quite warm and we had a pleasant meal outside, next to the canal.

Slightly overcast and it rained a little but was still mild. We checked out of the hotel but left a bag so we could walk around until it was time to head to the airport.

We went to the Stedelijk Museum, a lesser known and quieter museum of modern art. I really liked some of the paintings by Kazimir Malevich.

We headed back to Utrectstraat and found a bar to have a sandwich in. The Dutch seem to go in for delicious seeded breads and our sandwiches were really nice.

We had just enough time to go back to the hotel and then head to the airport.

We arrived back in Belfast to a gorgeous autumn evening.