We woke up around 4 and try as we might, we never got back to sleep. The excitement of my birthday treat day trip was tangible. Pete went out early hunter gathering croissants and pain au chocolate-still warm from the bakery. With a freshly ground coffee, it all felt very continental!
A day of delights was ahead of us, windmills, cheese, and a boat ride. Meeting at Central Station, Pete upgraded us so that we could have even more fun packed adventures.
When the links are sent to Facebook, I am unable to select the image to go with it. So apologies to the faint-hearted if I put you off your tea, breakfast, supper etc!
We followed Josie dutifully, dodging the cycles. A population of 800,000 and 2 million bikes between them all. During rush hour outside the station it felt like all 2 million were rushing past us. Careful! Shouted Josie, they are ‘killings’. So for the rest of this trip I will think of the bikes as killings! In 2022 291 cyclists were killed up by over 80 from the previous year, so maybe the danger works both ways.
A ‘luxurious’ bus awaited us. Free headphones dished out, so we could benefit from the whole experience. A voice of a woman, not too dissimilar to those heard from the 1950s. A voice so plummy!
The couple in front of us looked like father and daughter enjoying quality time together. This assumption was soon dispelled when we were treated to a floor show by them that involved vigorous snogging. So much so that they didn’t come up for air. I was glad that we had eaten several hours earlier and that it was pretty much digested. It made us both feel very queasy!
Augustine was our main tour guide. The patter much the same the world over. Introducing us to the driver, Nick…..comic pause Schaumaker! Such an absolute card.
Our first stop was Marken, a picturesque village that is encompassed by the largest artificially made lake in Europe. We were heading for the Klompenmakerji. The clog museum. The only place that still makes clogs using steam power. Sebastian showed us how clogs are made. Still widely used across the Netherlands, apparently but I haven’t seen anyone yet….
ISebastian even went as far as to say that since wearing his clogs his gait had improved and made him even more good looking.
After this we walked through the museum, which took all of 5 seconds and into the gift shop.
Pete was quite giddy and found ample photo opportunities.
Although many looked laughable, clogs are naturally water resistant, making them excellent for protecting feet from the wet Dutch climate. There are lots of clog related idioms reflecting their importance. Nu breekt mijn klomp, breaking your clog, meaning you are very surprised as clogs are so solid they can’t break!
After the delights of clogs we walked through Marken to the ‘harbour’ to catch a boat to our next destination. Since 1933, the Marken Express has been sailing daily to Volendam every 30 to 45 minutes. The walk through the village was lovely.
We were first in the queue to embark.
A drink and slice of apple cake. Layers of apple chunks cooked in layers of batter.
By the time we had chomped through this we had reached Volendam and were ready for the next stage, a visit to a cheese factory.
It was interesting but disconcerting as after each sentence she punctuated it with the words ‘my friends’. She explained the cheese making process and why cheese on the Netherlands is round. All the easier to roll onto boats. After this we got to taste 40 different cheeses, as well as mustards. Cheese with nettles, chillies, pesto etc. At eye watering prices.
After scoffing lots of cheeses, buying presents we were given free time. Volandam is like a chocolate box image of Holland, picture perfect.
We found more photo opportunities.
Today was a day of food and lots ot it. Having been to one shop after the other stacked with the same souvenirs, we opted for more food. Poffertjes, pronounced puff ur his. Little pancakes of deliciousness.
Ours were made by an award winning establishment. We watched as the little yeasty circles cooked before us in the cast iron devices. Opting for the traditional toppings of icing sugar and butter. As they were being assembled in a box I commented on how many there were. The owner said I could have 18 and Pete 2, or I could have one abs Pete 19, he continued with this numerical banter fir a bit. That said they really were delicious
And now more food…. A display of how to make stroopwafels at Woltje’s bakery. All of this you can now gather is a not so subtle ploy to buy lots of over priced products. The original owner had been forced to diversify in the 1800s as her fisherman husband had drowned and she had 9 children to feed. Volendam is a Catholic enclave within a protestant region. I did learn something w hilst watching the demonstration, I had always thought it was two pieces made separately and then put together with caramel. I was wrong they are split whilst still warm. Then we got to try lots of types, accompanied by hard sell. The baker looked quite grumpy.
Back to the coach and onwards to the windmill village. Apparently the Dutch started building windmills as early as 1,200 AD. Out of a village of windmills we were visiting the one that grinds peanuts. Built in 1607 and still going strong. From afar they looked covered in concrete but the closer we got I could see they were thatched. The grinding wheel, which started life in the 1800s as 5 tonnes is now all these years later 2 and a half tonnes, but still looked massive.
We did more shopping and had more photo opportunities.
By this point I was glad to be going back on the bus and heading back to Amsterdam. I was quite tired. I was glad to see that the couple in front of us looked suitably knackered as we didn’t have any more heated displays of tonsil gymnastics. August in however was still full of energy and treated us to a Dutch lesson. We were all pretty hopeless and the noises we made were akin to exaggerated phlegmy coughs, not what it should have sounded like. Still, it kept us awake.
A break in our flat and then off to meet Jane and Karl at a food hall. We took a while getting to grips with the transport system. It was a lovely night, fantastic company and even better no sign of a QR code in sight. So getting food and drink was seamless,! It was definitely the best one we have ever been to. The Vietnamese food was a winner!
Random Acts of Travelling 