European Adventure - Day 3

European adventure - day 3

Jet lag still effecting my sleep, was up most of the night, partly the jet lag and partly the excitement of seeing the tulips once again.  Was up early and went to the breakfast, very disappointing, but it did come with the room, so my expectations weren't high, good thing.  Some meats and cheeses and breads.  After breakfast I was able to take a nap before heading to the gardens.  The taxi arrived on time and I was at the gardens before the gates opened.  

I'd been spending a lot of time with several different people learning more about my camera, I wanted the best photos possible this trip, and it was time to learn more.  Couldn't wait to use my new knowledge!  I walked into the gardens and my heart just dropped.  The flower beds that had been so colorful the year before, we're still green, no tulips.  I talked to a lady in the cheese shop and she guaranteed that there were some tulips blooming further into the gardens.  The hyacinths were lovely, and filled the air with their delightful scents, but they aren't tulips.  There were more types of daffodils than I ever could have imagined, but the weren't tulips. Further into the gardens there were many tulip buds and some were open, but not many.  I wandered, sadly, photographing what I could, and being thankful that I'd seen the gardens the year before in full bloom.  It was an overcast day, and cold and windy.  I went to the windmill and it was a barren scene in the cold, last year there were crowds of people milling about everywhere, and that is where I met the two young, kind people.  There were people waiting for the whisper boats to take them on the canals through the tulip fields.  This year, just a handful of people about.

Luckily for most people I talked to, it was their first visit and they found it lovely, they had nothing to compare it to.  And it was lovely, just not with tulips. My friend, Jenny, went a week later and the hyacinths were gone, replaced by blooming tulips.  I'm glad she saw it in all its splendor, many arriving that late in the season, don't.

After wandering for a couple of hours, perhaps a bit longer, and taking a couple thousand photos, I headed back to the hotel.  Last year I took a nap and went back to the gardens, this year I'd seen all there was to see and decided not to return for the afternoon.  

Last year I'd read about the Pilgrim Museum in Leiden and my Scottish friend Jon had told me about the very nice antiquities museum too.  So I got directions and off I headed on the local bus.  Three days and three buses so far.  What an adventure, me and the Dutch people headed to Leiden.  I arrived at the main bus station and no one knew of the museum or even the address where it was located.  Finally two people told me where to take the bus that was close to that address.  The Portuguese lady was a visiting professor there and the most helpful.  Seems like I find kind Portuguese people everywhere.  I got off the bus and started my wandering and asking directions.  Leiden is a lovely little town, charming canals and  cafes.  Finally I walked into a bakery and asked where the museum was, I knew I was close.  A young lady in the bakery said she had just seen it a few days before and could take me there.  So we headed out and less than a block away she stopped in front of an old door, and said that was it.  I wasn't too sure about it and then the door opened and a young lady, perhaps college age, said that she heard us talking and I was at the right place, it was indeed the pilgrim museum.  Hmmm...so in I went.  I entered a small dark room,and after taking the admission donation, she told me the 'curator' would be back shortly, he was doing a tour of the house next door.  Then she proceeded to tell me that no pilgrim had ever been there!  I was expecting to go back to school with stories of where the pilgrims met in Leiden, but no.  She said that the large portrait over the mantle was one pilgrim who might, at sometime, perhaps have walked past the place we were.  Hmmm...

The room was small and had period pieces in it.  Things that were part of pilgrim life.  A tiny closet door opened to a bathroom, a toilet, similar to an outhouse indoors.  Soon the curator returned and was told I was a school teacher so he said he would show me which books were correct and which weren't.  He pulled out a couple of books by scholastic and said they were accurate.  He showed a couple of older national geographic books and explained why they were inaccurate.  And then he sat down and just looked at me.  I was waiting for a tour of the building next door, or something, but finally I realized I was done.  Strange feeling.  So as we sat and just looked at each other I said maybe I would head to the antiquities museum and he kindly offered to show me the way and took me to the corner and pointed the directions.  

So off I went, not terribly impressed with the pilgrim museum, but decided I was glad I finally found it, and at least I'd been in one of the oldest 'houses' in Leiden.  I walked quite a ways and asked directions along the way, so many helpful people there.  I arrived at the museum 10 minutes before closing and wasn't allowed in, but at least I saw what was in the lobby and browsed the gift store.  

I was leaving and asked directions to the closest bus stop and one of the young men working there said I should just walk to the main bus station, it was a lovely walk.  After some thought I decided the weather was nice, there was plenty of daylight left, so why not?  I felt so brave and like such a good traveler, and off I went.  Wandering on streets so far from home, so far from anything familiar, is truly exciting for me.  I savor the 'safe' risk, and take it all in as I wander.  After passing several restaurants advertising pancakes, I finally decided to choose one for a different pancake experience.  As I was reading a menu a hostess asked if she could help me, I said I was just seeing if there were any pancakes I would like,  she seemed quite put out with me as she replied that they had over 100 kinds so surely I could find one I liked.  Actually the problem wasn't finding one I liked, it was trying to decide which I wants out of all of the choices.  I sat down and had a delicious one, similar to the one the night before.  Loved watching the local people around me enjoying their pannenkoek, I felt much more the traveler than the tourist.  After enjoying dinner I continued on my journey through Leiden to the main bus station and after a short wait, I was headed back to Lisse.  

I was glad that was my last night to spend in that hotel.  I had dinner there, it came with the room and even though the reviews were not good for the restaurant, my dinner was delicious.  I went quite late since I'd had my pancake 'appetizer' and my hours were still a mess from the jet lag.  I made very sure that the front desk knew I needed a wake up call the next morning...wasn't too confident about it, but my alarm clock was broken, so I had to depend on them.

I had a taxi driver, the very nice man from a nearby town who I'd had last year, coming to pick me up at 8:30 the next morning to drive me into Amsterdam to catch the train to Brussels and on to Bruges.  I was going quite early, decided I'd feel better being near the station and I could put my luggage in a locker and wander there for an hour or two.  This was a splurge, but I knew I would be in good hands and looked forward to seeing him again.  And since my ticket was on a high speed train, I'd had to make a reservation for a reserved train and time, so I didn't want to miss it.  

And so I settled down for a nice nap, I didn't sleep long that night and spent hours awake reading.  I went to breakfast at 6:30 AM, and then made sure everything was packed and went back to sleep, AFTER calling the reception desk to be sure they had my wake up call for 8 AM scheduled.  No problem I was told...

Looking Back - Day Two

Home...Looking Back

I finished the former entry at home, time passes so quickly that it got away from me.  But I have to share the trip details, so I will keep writing...And perhaps you will keep reading...

So, after an afternoon and night in London, it was time to head to Amsterdam.  It was actually easier and cheaper to fly there than it would have been to take the Eurostar, so I was booked on a British airways flight.  It was the first time I've left from the new BA terminal at heathrow.  Beautiful terminal.  There were several choices for lunch, I didn't choose the restaurant that belongs to a famous Scottish chef, but the one I choose did have delicious fish and chips, so good choice to enjoy that before leaving england.  I would not be returning, my flight home was from Brussels, using miles to upgrade results in creative planning.  

Before having lunch I saw a very unusual sight, a young man had his hair and body died to look like a leopard!  Truly!  Hair bleached and body a light tan color and black spots all over...from his face and hair, down his arms.  It was so peculiar, I just had to talk to him.  I decided it wouldn't be polite to ask about the unusual look, so I discussed the restaurant menu with him instead, he seemed like a nice young man/leopard.  Ahh, travel and the experiences it brings into our worlds!

After enjoying my fish and chips I headed to the plane.  I ended up sitting to a fascinating man.  Unfortunately the flight is short, just over an hour I believe it was.  Well, the Dutch man and I started talking and he was delightful, and I have to admit it, very nice eye candy too.  He was returning to holland from Venezuela where he had been for two months with his girlfriend.  What a story he had.  I told him that Colorado was following holland since we had legalized marijuana.  What a conversation that was.  He told me there were so many problems with that and I shared that I was not at all for that even though I do consider myself a rather liberal person.  He said that for many years it wasn't politically correct to discuss the down side of the legalized pot industry but now people are coming out with the negatives and the country is having to face and deal with the problems.  Very interesting, and not so encouraging as to the direction we are headed.  

Then we got to the subject of travel and he explained that he had gone to school until he was 25 getting advanced degrees.  He said his brothers started working younger and made fun of him for being in school for so long.  He had a job making big deals for very big companies and at 37 he retired with enough money to live the rest of his life leisurely, traveling when he so desires.  Now that is a man I wish I could have talked to much longer.  I was flattered when he said he wished I'd been next to him on the flight over the ocean because I was so interesting to talk to.  Quite the conversation and I do wish we would have had longer and I'd have gotten his contact info, I think my future would be different with more advice from him, but that was not to be.  I did use a bit of his technique with my job when i got back and the two new schools were actively agreeing to pay me anything to accomplish what i offered, but the restrictions and visions and greediness of schools and the people who run them, put a stop to my success.  I didnt find out enough to be able to get past the reality of schools.  

This gentleman explained that he is a voracious reader and when he travels he ships books ahead.  He likes the hard copies, not the electronic books.  He said if he is reading an interesting book, he will very often fly to wherever it takes place to experience the setting in person!  Oh my!  Such interesting people in the world!  And travel is the way to meet many!  Later I wondered if his story was true, and I do believe it was, he looked the relaxed young retired man.

With some help, I found my way out of the airport to the correct bus stop for the bus to Lisse, Netherlands, where the famous keukenhof gardens are.  I was going to be there on the exact day I was there last year, and last year the tulips were in full bloom.  Now as the bus headed to Lisse, I was disappointed to see fields and fields that were brown and green, fields that were a palette of color the same time the year before.  A late winter prevented the tulips from blooming at that point.  There were some fields of hyacinths, huge pastel expanses of blooms, but that wasn't why I as there.  

Oh, I forgot to mention that to make this trip happen I had to lower my class of hotels along the way.  I do love luxury, but those days are gone for now and this trip was one of economy, 1,2 and 3 star hotels were the norm now.  It did take some adjusting on my part, but I did it.  And so this was my first lower hotel, and it was a far shot from the lovely one I stayed at there last year.  But the entire stay, including meals, 2 nights, and a ticket to the gardens was less than one night at the other hotel, this is the time for deals for me.  So with lower expectations I walked the block to the hotel from where the bus let me off.  Good thing my expectations were low, that is what was waiting for me.  The girl who checked me in was nice enough, but very overworked, she just couldn't seem to keep up with everything going on.  That hotel definitely needs to hire more people!  My room was only 3 doors down from the reception area.  I went in and got settled and then asked for a taxi to take me to the wonderful Dutch pancake restaurant I'd found on my last trip.  I couldn't wait to enjoy a dinner and dessert pancake again!  The taxi driver gave me his card to call his company when I was finished so I could get a taxi back.  I sat outside although it was a bit cold, and enjoyed the occasional person walking by or bike rider go past as I enjoyed a delicious bacon, cheese and veggie pancake.  Delicious!

It was quite cold by the time I finished so I moved inside to have my dessert.  My bananas foster pancake, with sliced bananas, liquor, ice cream, powdered sugar and whipped cream was divine!  I hated to finish it!  I think the belgian waffles might be replaced as the # 1 food in Europe for me!  As I was finishing the nice waitress called the taxi company and they said they would be there in 20 minutes.  Well after over 30 minutes she called again and they said a few minutes.  After another half hour another call resulted in being told they would be there in 10 minutes.  The taxi NEVER showed up!  That was a big problem because they were the only company in town and it was dark and the town empty and I was stranded.   Luckily for me, the kind owners felt badly for me and after they cleaned up, got ready for the next day, did the books, there I still sat so they offered me a ride to my hotel.  Thank goodness!  It was actually a delight to chat with them and when I got to my hotel I was livid with the company they use.  I was told there were no options there.  

I went to my room, set my alarm so I would be up for breakfast and at the gardens as they opened...and my little pink travel alarm clock I've had with me around the world was broken! The time stopped and there was nothing I could do.  And so, with a bit of sadness over losing my trustworthy little alarm clock, I called the front desk and asked for a wake up call.  Sweet dreams...and the end of day 2!

Looking back...

Heading home...looking back

What a two weeks it's been!  Seems like two months really, I'm exhausted, but content, I did almost everything I'd wanted to do and so much more!  The spontaneity I was able to enjoy added so much to the trip I'd planned.  There was a trade off, the time I would have spent writing was instead spent making plans as I went along.  It worked.  Thank goodness this wasn't the busiest time in Europe, so it was possible to get last minute reservations as I went along.  I do love that I took advantage of the time and extended my stay.  It wasn't a long time, but enough to see and experience a bit more along the way.

And now I am sitting on the plane home, for the final leg of my journey, the big adventure is over.  What mixed feelings I have, a bit of sadness that the adventure is over, but a pride of my accomplishments.  Traveling alone is no easy feat for me, but it works.  I've lived alone enough to be used to the freedom it allows me.  Commitments along the way get more difficult each trip. I know me well enough to know I have no idea when I will need to sleep, when my feet will wear out and I'll need to stop, when I won't feel well and need to spend some down time, etc.  Alone  means I don't inconvenience anyone, don't disappoint anyone, and don't push myself to follow anyone else's agenda.  

If you know me, you know how much I enjoy the free spirited way to live, and especially travel.  I do need to plan ahead, I need to know I have a place to lay my head at the end of the day.  I have learned I can solve problems that arise along the way, and if I can't I know I can find someone who will help me.  I like changing my mind, being open to experiences along the way.  I don't mind doing things that just might not make sense to others, if someone wants to judge me, they can.  No one has walked in my shoes, lived my life or been in my head.  My decisions make sense to me, right or wrong, they are my own.

Sharing this 'bit of me' might help make sense of the really not so 'crazy' things I do.  They make sense to me, and that is what matters when you journey through life alone.  At any time I would trade this freedom for a wonderful, loving relationship, but if that is not to be, you wont find me sitting home waiting for it.  And every now and then I cross paths with other like minded, usually, but not always, solo travelers, and it is always fun to share our adventures.

So now looking back, I'm hoping I remember the highlights, and there have been many!  What a trip!  I know my entries were sketchy, a little time here and there, and with no chronological basis.  Random happenings...now random no more...

My trip started a bit earlier than planned.  I was doing something I never do, making the entire trip in a day.  Because the overseas flight left at 10pm from DC, I decided to break my own rule and leave that same day from Denver.  I planned a 4 hour layover, which I felt would be sufficient, and better than spending the entire day in DC waiting for such a late flight.  Well, as my departure date got closer, the sequester started causing so many problems with cancelled and delayed flights.  So I decided the stress of wondering if I would make the connection was not worth it, and found if I called 24 hours before my flight and there was availability for the same ticket price, I could pay $75 to reserve a standby seat sooner.  At the right time I called and even though there hadn't been availability earlier, there was at that moment for me to depart at 6PM that night, so with just a couple hours notice, I was headed to the airport a day early, and had already reserved my room at the Marriott in hopes it would work out.  It did and I was able to relax, knowing all worked out.  The only problem was that the flight to London was an hour late due to the sequester, something easier to deal with, no more connections.

I have developed some travel patterns, and one is that I rarely ever book the advance payment rooms, too much can change, and the up to $20 that you save isn't worth it if plans change, which mine tend to do. I do purchase the nonflexible fares on trains though, they usually save a great deal of money and aren't so expensive that it upsets me to miss one or two along the way.  My own reasoning, others wouldn't agree I'm sure.  

I arrived in London, late, but no problem, no connections to make.  It was a quiet flight, no one chatting, which is more the norm than the exception.  I just loved the trip last year with my fun seat mate Dana, who made me laugh a lot.  We are still in touch and I always let him know how much I appreciated the trip with him.  He's now living in Hawaii, so who knows, maybe one day we will meet again.  But I regress, back to my arrival in London, oh, how i love to hear the British accents when I emerge from the plane.  Customs was a bit of a wait, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I retrieved my little suitcase and walked out pulling my two small suitcases, purple purse attached.  I always take a taxi to the hotel.  There is a bus that costs about 1/2 the price, but the 9 GBP isn't much for the ease of that luxury!  No hauling my own suitcases inside, or making other stops.  And as perhaps I've mentioned before, getting into one of the british taxis makes me feel like I've walked onto a movie set.  Before I knew it I was walking into my familiar renaissance hotel!

I don't have any love of the hotel, as I believe I've mentioned, but the concierge staff treat me like a VVIP and that warm welcome and care means a lot, especially so far from home.  The greeting was as wonderful as ever and I started up to the room and the handle on one of my little suitcases broke, it wouldn't go down!  First problem, and not a small one.  I couldn't travel around with that, so my afternoon turned into one of shopping for a suitcase instead of a nap and visit with a friend.  I was given directions to uxbridge, a town I went to by bus, so I would have some choices.   Before I knew it, i was on a city bus to Uxbridge, the first of many bus trips this time.  I believe it took longer than 20 minutes, but I was enjoying the experience of a local bus.  Many stops later I reached the destination and climbed off and started the luggage search. As I was walking i saw a little cafe offering belgium waffles, directly from belgium.  Well, why not?  So i stopped in and ordered a white chocolate caramel waffle.  Not the waffles i love from the street vendors in belgium, but something dipped in melted white chocolate and drizzled with caramel just has to be good.  So after that snack, much needed since I'd not eaten since breakfast on the plane, I started shopping.  No success, nothing I liked, so what was there to do?  Well, on my way to the bus stop I saw a pub that advertised the Best Fishh and Chips in England.  So I tried them, I have to say that I've decided that anywhere that advertises themselves that they have the best of something, just keep walking!  in every case the place is far from the best...lesson learned!

The trip back on the bus was much more interesting, it was time for the schools to be out.  At each stop, for several stops, school children of all ages climbed on.  Mostly teenagers, chatting animatedly with friends.  There were moms with their elementary aged children and babes in their arms.  Every child was wearing a uniform, something I wasn't used to.  I talked with some of the middle schoolers who were adorable.. They said they loved my accent, funny.  They explained that all schools require uniforms, public and private.  They had so many questions about America that it was fun to chat with them.  They were kind, respectful, and appreciative of all my information.  When they got off they kept looking back at me and waving.  I would guess that they shared the story of meeting the American lady on the bus too.

Arriving back at the hotel, no suitcase in hand, was disappointing.  I ended up buying a great purple one at their gift shop, which I later returned because it wasn't big enough.  While packing it I saw that the spring of the handle kept the metal peg from retracting, so I realized that if it was taped it would work.  So in the middle of the night after a nap, I went down to my wonderful concierge guys and the kid on duty got out the duct tape and taped the peg in.  Voila!  With care the handle would go down as long as no one pulled on it too hard.  I could then sleep and know I would be okay on my forward journey.  

In London I'd tried to call a friend but my cell phone wouldn't work.  The company I've used changed their global sim cards and apparently the new one doesn't work with my old phone.  I emailed back and forth and none of the solutions they gave me worked, so finally I resigned myself to the fact thT the only way I could communicate was by Internet or my Colorado phone with the roaming costs.  Two things broken, but the holiday continues...