Amsterdam

Evening 4th April, Amsterdam
We were not sorry to see the back of our grotty hotel in Brussels this morning. We found that the Trans Europe Express which we had intended to catch to Amsterdam was not running today so we caught an Inter City instead. The journey was flat in parts but lovely in others. Spring is late this year but it has nevertheless arrived. I keep reminding myself that another jersey will be needed in Scandinavia. We arrived in Amsterdam soon after midday, caught a tram to Hotel van Onna where we have stayed before, and so have Dorothy, Gerald and Elaine at various times. (Dorothy, as I struggles up the third flight of perpendicular stair I wondered how you had coped!) They had a room for us, which happened to be the same one as we stayed in last time. Ray stayed put while I went back to the station to get information about getting to Copenhagen. We had thought of getting couchettes tomorrow night, but they are not much of a saving and we have to change trains in the middle of the night anyway. Ray is not a good traveller and found even todays trip a bit much, so we decided to go in stages. Tomorrow we go to Hamburg and Tuesday to Copenhagen and we’ll play the rest by ear. I’m very conscious of Easter coming up. By the way, we haven’t seen an immigration official since we arrived in Paris. As I came back from the station I met Ray and we went back to the station to catch a train to Haarlem. Then by bus to Keukenhof where the bulbs are lovely, but not nearly as good as last time we were here – we are earlier and Spring is late.

As we walked to the bank to cash a cheque a voice from behind said “Hello” – it was Keith and Sander Kirkman. What a coincidence! They catch the 08.01 tomorrow to Copenhagen. Eventually we were back at van Onna’s, and what bliss to have a clean room with a comfortable bed, a tap that doesn’t drip, a basin that runs out properly and a shower two doors away. Ray’s gone out for a walk and I must wash up the supper mugs, so will leave this now.

6^th April, on train to Copenhagen
We went for a walk in the Vondel Park in Amsterdam where most of the bulbs were not yet in flower.

Joost van den Vondel in Vondel Park, Amsterdam.

We had intended to do a little shopping before catching our train to Hamburg, but time was against us and we just made it to the station in time.

On to Hamburg

 

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