Saturday 10th Jan 2009
Another beautiful sunny crystal clear day in the Netherlands. Mark and Tanya cooked us bacon and eggs for breakfast – absolutely delicious and the first we have had since we have left oz, so much enjoyed by all. We then went off and visited a quaint little town on the sea shore known as Vollendam, while Mark stayed home and studied for his MBA, and Tanya
went shopping to replace the cupboards laid bare as a result of the Loechel invasion. Well, what a treat was found at Vollendam – the harbour was frozen solid and soon the boys were out racing around the boats, alongside skaters and other parents with kids on toboggans – the town itself was a real picture, all built well below the sea level. Tonight we went out for dinner at ‘Bazar’ a delightful Turkish style restaurant, with great food at great prices – the kids even enjoyed it – tomorrow we leave Mark and Tanya and head south to Zurich to hand back the van on Friday 16th, then we fly to Aberdeen, pick up a 7 seater Tarago 
type vehicle, and travel back to London, then fly home on the Friday 23rd, arriving Monday 26th!! Wow its gone so quick…yet it seems like ages since we left.
Friday 9th Jan 2009
Today dawned crystal clear and sunny – the fact the sun doesn’t appear until around 9 and disappears at 4:30 still means a very short day. So at the crack of 11am the Loechel family trundle off from Mark and Tanya’s apartment and amidst squabbling over who has the heaviest backpack a
nd the fact that someone’s hungry or needs to go to the toilet after just having done all that we eventually meandered our way through the markets, caught a magnificent canal ride tour and saw Amsterdam from a different level as the boat crackled it’s way through half frozen canals. We then caught the tram to the Central station, and the train to the Van and out to Zaanz Schaans, an open air museum of working windmills, clog making factory and cheese making demonstrations. Then headed back for a relaxed dinner of delicious pasta and mince (the boys favourite) at home with Mark and Tanya.
Thursday 6th Jan 2009
Mark took the day off today and gave us a guided tour of Amsterdam, careful to keep us away from the more infamous areas of town - we seem to have 3 children with antenaes for all that is not quite the best of Amsterdam. The day was cold and quite foggy most of the day, with the sun coming out only late afternoon, the boys went ice skating, while we had coffee – saw lots of interesting buildings, copious numbers of bikes, and lots of rubbish!! Tonight Tanya had cooked a magnificent spread of Roast Chicken, Roast spuds – wow what a treat for our holiday!! Stayed up late chatting and catching up.
Another beautiful sunny crystal clear day in the Netherlands. Mark and Tanya cooked us bacon and eggs for breakfast – absolutely delicious and the first we have had since we have left oz, so much enjoyed by all. We then went off and visited a quaint little town on the sea shore known as Vollendam, while Mark stayed home and studied for his MBA, and Tanya
went shopping to replace the cupboards laid bare as a result of the Loechel invasion. Well, what a treat was found at Vollendam – the harbour was frozen solid and soon the boys were out racing around the boats, alongside skaters and other parents with kids on toboggans – the town itself was a real picture, all built well below the sea level. Tonight we went out for dinner at ‘Bazar’ a delightful Turkish style restaurant, with great food at great prices – the kids even enjoyed it – tomorrow we leave Mark and Tanya and head south to Zurich to hand back the van on Friday 16th, then we fly to Aberdeen, pick up a 7 seater Tarago 
type vehicle, and travel back to London, then fly home on the Friday 23rd, arriving Monday 26th!! Wow its gone so quick…yet it seems like ages since we left.Friday 9th Jan 2009
Today dawned crystal clear and sunny – the fact the sun doesn’t appear until around 9 and disappears at 4:30 still means a very short day. So at the crack of 11am the Loechel family trundle off from Mark and Tanya’s apartment and amidst squabbling over who has the heaviest backpack a
nd the fact that someone’s hungry or needs to go to the toilet after just having done all that we eventually meandered our way through the markets, caught a magnificent canal ride tour and saw Amsterdam from a different level as the boat crackled it’s way through half frozen canals. We then caught the tram to the Central station, and the train to the Van and out to Zaanz Schaans, an open air museum of working windmills, clog making factory and cheese making demonstrations. Then headed back for a relaxed dinner of delicious pasta and mince (the boys favourite) at home with Mark and Tanya.
Thursday 6th Jan 2009Mark took the day off today and gave us a guided tour of Amsterdam, careful to keep us away from the more infamous areas of town - we seem to have 3 children with antenaes for all that is not quite the best of Amsterdam. The day was cold and quite foggy most of the day, with the sun coming out only late afternoon, the boys went ice skating, while we had coffee – saw lots of interesting buildings, copious numbers of bikes, and lots of rubbish!! Tonight Tanya had cooked a magnificent spread of Roast Chicken, Roast spuds – wow what a treat for our holiday!! Stayed up late chatting and catching up.
Hi guys, WOW what a white Xmas and New Year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun and makes our life seem very mundane!! Thanks so much for the post card, received it today, Mitch is in M'bro on the farm at the moment. He was pleased to hear we got a postcard!! He is doing flips off the house and a flying fox from one mango tree to another, so far no broken limbs!!!!!! Boys will be boys hey, looks like your boys are having a ball in all that snow. Pictures are great. Keep well and enjoy the rest of it as it will be all over soon and back to reality!!!
Lots of love to all the Zoib connection xxxx
Hi Grant & Lea,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see you're all having a fantastic time over there. You sure got a white Xmas! Thanks for the lovely postcard -
BTW it was Steve Dunnett who jumped off that bridge - it was way too foolhardy (terrifying) for me!
Sorry I've taken so long to reply but in the time it took to get your first blog I'd forgotten my original username & password and after spending days searching through old emails etc looking for it I gave up and started a new account!
Megan's father & brother were involved in an ultralight crash last Tuesday on Flinders Island which knocked them around fairly badly (lots of broken bones) however nothing critical thankfully and they are both now on the road to recovery.
All well here & envying you having fun in the snow!
Love
Bart, Megan, Annie & Flynn
Looks like you're having the trip of a lifetime....something for you all to talk about for years to come....how lovely that your boys are experiencing the true European winter...enjoy it while you can...it's been quite hot here....Travel safe
ReplyDeleteJust checked in and I can see that you have all been very busy and having an absolutely wonderful time! It looks great, all of that cool dutch stuff, frozen lakes, iceskating and windmills! We miss you...still wondering what to do with these boots and the wooden sword? The boys have been enjoying it very much in the meantime. Our first day of sunshine here...it is so wonderful...feels like spring. I wouldn't be surprised if the tulips are bursting from their bulbs underground in joy! Love Heidi
ReplyDeleteGot the ski gear back Lea, thanks for posting it!
ReplyDeleteWell we have been following for a little while and only just worked out how to add comments!!!! Wow it looks like you guys have been busy doing lots of exciting and interesting things. No doubt you will have plenty of stories to tell and we can't wait to hear them. See you in a few days time. Cheers from the Bryens PS We did blog you, see!!!!
ReplyDelete