Experiencing the Best of Europe
Day 3: Guten Tag Germany
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
Best Moments
1. Morning walk in Haarlem before leaving for Bacharach
2. Beer tasting and film dubbing at Arnhem
3. Fatima's funny jokes and amazing hospitality
4. 700 year old hotel in scenic town
5. Seeing earplugs on my side table and not understanding why I would need them
6. Realizing why they left earplugs on the side table
Daily Recap
*I woke early to see Haarlem one last time before we moved onto Germany. What a treat! The lighting and clouds created the most reflective scenery. I love going out in the mornings and seeing the towns at their best. People are getting ready for the day and the beauty of the town seems to peak.
*After loading the bus we left for our next destination. On the way we stopped at Arnhem to visit an open air museum. The museum provides a glimpse of pre-industrial Dutch life. You walk through history as you see the trades of the time, and view the wind mills in the distance. We had an organized lunch of Dutch pancakes. They offered several flavors and I think I can say I've had my fill of pancakes for awhile.
*Once the afternoon approached, it was time to cross a border. We reached Germany. What a genuine experience to be able to stay in such an old hotel on the Rhine.
Personal Connections
*Today we met one of the most integral people of our trip: Rene our bus driver. He woke up early to meet us in Haarlem and whisk us away to the next adventure. One of the great things about the tour is the limited time we can spend on a bus. Our driver can only go about 2 continuous hours before having to take a break by law. The road seemed so much shorter because we had little excursions along the way.
*The people that stand out the most today are Fatima and her husband. They are the owners of our very old hotel. Fatima is extremely interpersonal, and wants to talk to you about everything. She is charming and a great host. Her husband plays a role that is more behind the scenes. We saw him for about 5 minutes tonight, otherwise we mostly know him by his hand passing on the delicious food dishes.
*I'm finding myself getting closer and closer to my fellow tour partners. Life is good.
Stub Hub
I went on one of the most amazing walks before leaving Haarlem today. The town was quiet and the sky full of picturesque clouds. As an amateur photographer I know that the best light is in the morning and evening. These are also the best times to avoid tourists. On my morning stroll I observed true Dutch. So many of them were on their bikes, headed towards work. I also got to see the amphibious view of the town. I love the houseboats and canals that provide such an ambiance for the city. One of my favorite photos of my trip was taken this morning.
Before leaving the Netherlands, we had one last stop: Arnhem. While here, you get to visit an open air museum that takes you back in time. Jennifer offers guidance and freedom. Several of the tour members joined her, but I decided to venture on my own. My camera captured a lot of the historic view.
Visiting the open air museum is like visiting living history. It is similar to Williamsburg back home. While walking through I saw typical homes, trades, and gardens of the time and place. I enjoyed watching the animals and walking past the enormous wind mills.
During our visit, a few of us made our way to the brewery before returning back to the bus. I am not a beer drinker, but while I'm here, of course I have to do the tasting. I love how one moment I'm hanging out with one couple, and the next I'm interacting with a new group. I've known these people for three days, and yet I talk with them as if they are my closest friends.