Bikes, Bikes, Bikes and Cheese!!

Well the first week in the Netherlands has flown by!! Been a bit hectic trying to get all the right paperwork and what not filled out, but I think I can almost legally work and not just volunteer here now!

I spent the first 3 night of my stay in the beautiful city of Utrecht, which was much welcomed since it was a lot smaller than the 1 million people who live in Amsterdam. It has a bit more room to breathe and move around in, but it still boasts about 200, 000 people.

I think the biggest thing I had to learn the first few days is that even though I knew coming to the Netherlands, that it was a bike country, I hadn’t realized just how serious that was! The first day as I stumbled around the city with little sleep and food and a 7-hour time difference, I got a few glares from a few bikers. Then I realized that I was in fact in their bike paths and not actually on the proper walking area for the rest of the two-legged creatures.  Once realizing this, intersections and roundabout’s were a little less confusing, I said a little. Still trying to focus on all the lines for vehicles, bikes and walking added to the confusion. Like my new friend Paula says, “The Netherlands doesn’t lack any signage.” I don’t think I have ever seen a country that used signs at any chance they can get, but compared to some of our Canadian cities – it’s not a bad thing at all. Now if I could just understand the Dutch words on them (I think I got most of the symbols down – for the moment anyways).

Paula also warmed me that if you do get pulled over, that the Police car goes infront of you and no behind – so let’s hope if that happens, I clue in to get over!

Did I mention that I bought a Campervan in the Netherlands?! Yep – indeed I did!! The old 1990 Ford Transit with the high top for cruising around Europe. It’s actually quite nice and sleeps comfortably. Although I have gotten some honks on the highway, as the old beast doesn’t quite speed up like it maybe use to and it takes a bit to get to 120kms. Yep – the first highway I drove on was 120km/hour. I think they like to go fast here. But I have been warned by my mechanic that as he calls them “California Stops” (slow gradual roll more than a stop) and speeding isn’t as relaxed as back in Alberta and can be a big fine around here. But I don’t think I’ll have a problem speeding with the beast!

The city as you know if full of canals and old historic buildings. The architecture is still much in tack from days before and very well maintained. I think it’s one of the things I most enjoy. Many sections of the roads and walkways are still covered with brick, with only the busier and newer parts having concrete.

Walking along the canals, you can take in nature with the green grass, flowers and trees already in bloom (not missing Canadian winter at all!). They even provide a small trail in the bigger areas for walking dogs – perfect for Mocha! And they have done such a good job incorporating nature in their busy city. Even though not too many people have backyard or areas for growing gardens – there appears to be plenty of community gardens around.

I picked the right hotel, Beurs Hotel. It was the perfect location to walk to everything I needed to do and the staff were super helpful. I think there was even one night where it was just I in the whole hotel, even though there are only 10 rooms in the section I was in. 

Looks like I will have to get use to these steep and winding stairs, best to get some training in now before I have too much wine to drink and end up going backwards down them.

Paula; a lovely women from the Netherlands entertained me for diner the first night I was in the Netherlands. She is such a kind and welcoming women with a lot of knowledge of her country and more than generous to show me around.  She welcomed me into her beautiful home, where the true Canadian in me came out by asking, “How do you get rid of your snow?” in regards to her brick-walled garden area in the back. With her simply replying “We don’t get that much snow!” Aaaah yes, stupid brain was definitely on at that moment, ha ha!

But never the less, she has been very helpful and I hope to continue to get to know her further and be my temporary tour guide.

I have to admit, I think my first experience in the grocery store – was indeed the longest time I have ever spent in a grocery store – ever! Reading Dutch labels and comparing with products home, was very time consuming for this English only speaking girl. But everything I brought back in my shopping bag seemed to taste good, even the second time I purchased groceries – so far, so good!

Oh, and the cheese – so Gouda! A huge selection and perfect opportunity for a girl like me. Heck all the food here is pretty damn good and super cheap, including the wine in which you can buy in the grocery store and I think even gas stations from what I was told – but that might just be hard alcohol.  But at 4-6E ($6-8)a bottle – I will not have a problem indulging here!

Mocha and I picked up our campervan Saturday morning and headed out of the city to Leusden for my volunteer project on a Bamboo and Christmas tree farm. Maneuvering through traffic was made easier by James, my British speaking GPS dude. Thank god I bought him, I mean it! I think this may be one of the most helpful tools for me in Europe.

I spent my first night on Saturday night in the camper at Larik’s Hoeve a little campground, which I found out later, was only down the road from the farm. There Mocha met her first donkeys, I think they were more interested in her than I and she was a bit hesitant. I froze my ass of the first night, as the super thin blanket I bought at the store just didn’t cover the 5 degrees with humidity, but thankfully at the farm they have lent me some blankets until I find an electric blanket or water bottle. I knew I should have brought my heating pad, oh well.

I arrived at the farm in the late afternoon on Sunday and was welcomed by Irvin (owner) and his daughter Lova. As well as two Swiss volunteer girls, Jeanine and Marline.  I was quickly shown around before hopping on a bike to go to Irvin’s house just down the street; there I met his wife Kyra. A quick ride back to set up the camper and steel some extra blankets. Thankfully Irvin let me have Monday off to relax and settle. Apparently that cold sleep the night before left me sleep deprived and both Mocha and I crashed hard waking in the morning to a foggy brain at 11am.

But the fog slowly lifted as I watched the neighbor ride her beautiful horse in the pasture and listen to the sounds of birds singing. 

(and now some photo's of Utrecht)