The Netherlands
HERE WE GO! Wheels up and we've begun our epic adventure!! With all the excitement, we didn't sleep on the flight but somehow, after being awake for almost 24 hours, we were still functional when we arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport the morning before the tour began. The airport signage was in Dutch and English making it easy to follow. The bus ride to Haarlem was about 35 mins and before we knew it there were charming old Dutch buildings everywhere. We explored central Haarlem a little while we waited to check into the hotel. Once in our room, we unpacked and settled in and looked at each other with disbelief that we were actually in Europe!!
Day 1, We met at our first hotel in Haarlem for introductions and an overview of what to expect for the next 3 weeks. We picked our "buddy" (with whom we did countless "buddy checks" to make sure everyone was still with the group and didn't wander off after they found their "happy place"). We toured central Haarlem with a charming local guide then warmed up with a regional spirit and traditional dinner to get acquainted with our fellow tour members.
Day 2, We took the train to Amsterdam then toured central Amsterdam with a local guide learning about its history, topography, and culture. We then hopped on a canal boat for a lazy canal tour before making our way to the Rijksmuseum to view some classic Dutch artwork. We experienced firsthand just how prominent "fiets" (bicycles) are in the Netherlands.
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The next day we met Hilde as we stepped aboard her roomy and comfortable bus. There were plenty of seats to get some distance from each other, or from your mother, in my daughter's case. We cruised to the Dutch countryside to visit the open-air folk museum to experience a reconstructed traditional Dutch village.
The Netherlands
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