Santje: The last few days in Holland

It has actually been too long now since my trip in Holland...
And I want to start posting about other things in my life, so I better get the last few days down on 'paper'.

Friday, 7th of September

We made our way to our next place to stay, which was in Egmond Binnen, near the coast.

We stopped in Alkmaar to do some shopping (same place that we went to fair a week earlier).
What we noticed is that the streets and shops are empty, a few shops were having closing down sales, and other shops were already empty.... The recession is definitely more noticeable in Holland.

After we spend some money, we made our way to the accommodation. This time we had our own private room, it was more a bed and breakfast. It was one of the houses in a row... a row-house. Sounds silly in english! It was 3 stories, and our room was all the way up the top. Lovely hosts.

That evening we had dinner at a friend's house, Tine. Tine has a lot of family living in New Zealand, and spent every year about 4 months between the North and South Island, and always stays with my mum for a few days. It was lovely to see her, and she actually had some family members over from Christchurch. It was so good to be with kiwi's again!

Always the first full weekend of September depicts the Jazz and Sail festival in Bergen. Bergen is a town next to Egmond, and we listened to some live music after dinner at Tine's.

Saturday, 8th of September

More shopping done in Bergen, this time it was my mum who spent the money :-)

We had biked from the accommodation to Bergen, 10 km, through the dunes, had a delicious coffee and apple cake. After the shopping, we biked to the beach, and walked to a beach 'association'. Every year, they set up a big circus tent, have bars on the sides, and a big stage. We have spent so many years there! Was funny to be there again. Said hi to some old members, lay in the sun, and then biked back to Egmond.

That evening, we drove back to bergen, and we went out for dinner for the first time this trip. And we had chosen the best restaurant, it was amazing! More live music in the town itself, there were so many stages, almost at every corner. Good fun.

Sunday, 9th of September

My last full day in Holland. We were going to spent the night at my uncle and aunt, in the Beemster. They live on the same road that we used to live. My auntie had invited some of other uncles, aunties and cousins. Was great to see them after 9 years. My cousin used to baby sit me and my brother, and now she is a mum herself. Two lovely daughters. It was a great afternoon, a good last day in my old home town. :-)

Monday, 10th of September.

Time to make my way to the other side of the world! I flew Amsterdam-Vancouver this time, to spent a couple of days with my friends Kathi. She did her masters at Victoria, and is now doing her PhD in Vancouver.

I spent 2 days there, before the long flight home to Auckland and then Wellington.

It was a great trip, one that I will always remember.