Roy and I in readiness
I arrived in Renkum, which is just west of Arnhem on the Rhine, yesterday. It was a leasurily trip up from south of Nijmegen with the last bit being on top of a Rhine levee with a bit of head wind. I have been very lucky with the weather since arriving in the Netherlands four days ago.
Cycling in Holland is so easy. It is generally flat, although winds sometimes make up for the flatness, and most of the larger roads have completely separated cycle paths. On the smaller rural roads it doesn't matter as there are very few cars. Also, the road surfaces are immaculate. One of the ironies of Holland is that it has perhaps the highest concentration of cycle paths and freeways of anywhere in the World.
I am staying a few days with Anke and Roy who are the sister and brother-in-law of Linda Hansen. I have to leave after a few days otherwise I will get too used to their magnificent hospitality! Life wasn't meant to be this easy! Today, it is raining so I am also fortunate from that score.
On Saturday, we will go to the Hague and visit a fine arts museum with the odd Dutch Master including Vermeer's the Girl with Pearl Earring which was the subject of a recent film which I haven't seen, although I am a fan of the old Scarlett.
On Saturday night we will watch Holland play Russia in the quarterfinals of the European Cup. Russia has Guus Hiddink as coach so whichever way, the Dutch will get a win. It is compulsory viewing here as Anke is a bit of a football tragic. Well, the whole country is a bit tragic in this regard. Holland is playing well and everywhere there is orange bunting and the national flag with the expression "hup hup" hung out on flag poles which most houses have. It is about as anarchic as this country can get.
On Sunday, regardless of the result I leave for the north and hopefully more sunshine. The immediate destination is Groningen and old university town and then into Germany on the way to Denmark.
Cycling in Holland is so easy. It is generally flat, although winds sometimes make up for the flatness, and most of the larger roads have completely separated cycle paths. On the smaller rural roads it doesn't matter as there are very few cars. Also, the road surfaces are immaculate. One of the ironies of Holland is that it has perhaps the highest concentration of cycle paths and freeways of anywhere in the World.
I am staying a few days with Anke and Roy who are the sister and brother-in-law of Linda Hansen. I have to leave after a few days otherwise I will get too used to their magnificent hospitality! Life wasn't meant to be this easy! Today, it is raining so I am also fortunate from that score.
On Saturday, we will go to the Hague and visit a fine arts museum with the odd Dutch Master including Vermeer's the Girl with Pearl Earring which was the subject of a recent film which I haven't seen, although I am a fan of the old Scarlett.
On Saturday night we will watch Holland play Russia in the quarterfinals of the European Cup. Russia has Guus Hiddink as coach so whichever way, the Dutch will get a win. It is compulsory viewing here as Anke is a bit of a football tragic. Well, the whole country is a bit tragic in this regard. Holland is playing well and everywhere there is orange bunting and the national flag with the expression "hup hup" hung out on flag poles which most houses have. It is about as anarchic as this country can get.
On Sunday, regardless of the result I leave for the north and hopefully more sunshine. The immediate destination is Groningen and old university town and then into Germany on the way to Denmark.
4 comments:
Bernie
if you have time, some of my favourite things to visit around Renkum are the Arnhem zoo, the three amazing modern buildings (vintage 1920s) on the hill above the Rijn on the way to Wageningen (one of them is called "de schip van blau" (Roy will direct you), the Kroller Muller museum in the Veeluwe national park and then just riding along the Rijn watching the boats.
Amazing effort to get that far.
Linda says it was Vermeer who painted G with the PE
Regards,Bill
Of course you are correct Linda. Sorry about that.
Hi Bernie
You know by now I guess that "the girl with the pearl earring" is by Vermeer, your mind is on Scarlet too much I think. Say hello to The Hague from me, my home town. Things are not going well for the Pies, going from bad to worse, now your favourite Leon is out and also Fraser and Cloak, it is going to be a massacre agains the Doggies I fear.I cannot watch anymore soccer on SBS here because they have no t.v. rights for the remainder of the matches apart from the final, bummer. Still for me the Pies are the all important team. Have a look at hotel De Wereld in Wageningen, it is where the German capitulation was signed in May 1945. You will be so fit when you come to Pilates again it will be embarrassing. Good luck in the deep north, Linda
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