Well where to begin?
I wrapped up the final few weeks in Lobith
at the apple farm by mid October and was happy to be heading south out of the
cool, wet and windy weather of the Netherlands.
The last few weeks of work were picking the
last few different kinds of apples and then onto pruning the lower branches of
the trees with some sorting on the side. The days were getting shorter and
colder and made for long nights in the old Camper van and both I and Mocha were
in need of warmer and dryer weather.
The
adventure was off to a bumpy start and I was hoping that that was all I would
see in the travels. On Saturday I went to do a few final things and laundry and
what not before leaving the next day for Amsterdam, but the van had different
plans in mind. I had planned to go to the next town to pick up some of Mochas
dog food, but the van didn’t start so well and I thought maybe I should stop at
the mechanics just to see, I was just around the corner from the shop when the
van died. Good thing I decided to go there first!
I walked around the corner and the super
helpful mechanics came and gave me a boost and to the shop we went. After a few
of the mechanics hovering over the engine, they narrowed down the situation.
They decided they would charge up both batteries (one for the inside of the
camper and the other to run it) and take out the part that takes the power from
the motor to the batteries because it didn’t seem to be conducting enough power
for the batteries. Now the hopes was that the next town would have the right
part and that the problem would be solved. Unfortunately for me, this would
mean about 2 hours for the batteries to charge and not being able to do the
things I wanted before leaving the next day. However the mechanics were super
great and where they had to pick up the part, was where Mocha’s food was – so
they let me tag along and picked up the dog food! Don’t think I have ever had
that great of customer service before!! A few hours later I swung by and the
camper was good to go, thankfully.
The
next day I was all packed up and ready to head off to Den Bosch for a year-end
party with the first crew of apple pickers I had worked with in Bokhoven. But
for some reason my GPS didn’t want to charge on route, so fingers crossed that
I would make it to Den Bosch and then to Amsterdam on the little battery life
that was left. At first I thought it was the plug in the van, but on closer
inspection it was in fact the cord for the GPS.
I
made it to Den Bosch and the beautiful park with the restaurant placed in it. I
met up with everyone I had worked with and we had a great catch up. Fist we had
an edible talk and walk around the park from a guide and then for food after.
The food was good, but the waiting was long and everyone was hungry by the time
it showed up. After a lovely afternoon, I said my farewells and was on the road
to Amsterdam – even with the GPS battery life draining, so while on the highway
it stayed off until getting closer to my campground at Gaasperplaas on the
outside of the city.
Thankfully I turned the GPS back on in time
before turning off the highway to the campground. Situated at a perfect
location outside the city with only a 5-minute walk to the Metro that takes you
right downtown in 20 minutes. A quick walk before the rain settled in and into
the camper for the night to stay dry and get ready for the next few days of
adventure in Amsterdam!
Rain
through the night and onto the next day; this was going to be the weather
forecast for Amsterdam for the next few days while I visited, yay!
I quick hop onto the metro the next morning
and getting off at the wrong location before the city center I wondered the
streets through the market and made my way in my crappy shoes. The city is lined with old
historic buildings kept up to date and tons of canals as you make your way
closer and closer to the center and soooo many coffee shops (places to buy and
smoke marijuana). There was lot’s of things to see and take in along the walk
and it is a beautiful city until……
Wondering
through the streets and knowing that I was getting closer and closer to the
center but not a 100% where I was, I emerged along a canal with unusual
buildings. Well not building, but windows lined in the front with these empty
chairs and stools planted in front of them. Then it finally sank in to where I
had wondered into, the “Red Light District!” And it hit me just in time as I
turned a corner and seen one of the “workers” standing in her window. It was
quiet depressing as I wondered through the street and the only thought I had
was to get out of there. Even more depressing was seeing the expressions on the
poor ladies standing in there windows. I don’t think I fully grasped just what
the “Red Light District” was before then, just thinking it was a place to see
pretty girls do there thing was waaaay off! But at the same time, I have no
idea how these facilities are run and what happens exactly, so is it better
that there in a facility or like in Canada on the streets with high risk of
abuse, drugs and poverty and far worse things than that?
After
getting through the “District” I continued my walking tour through the streets
and over the canals before arriving to the end where the main transportation
center is just off the ocean. Although I don’t think this is what they would
consider the main square in Amsterdam. The main square was where I ended up
next with the Kings Palace, museum of horror and a few other major buildings
and monuments. Then over some more canals past the Ann Frank House (museum)
which was closing, so I couldn’t pop in but the plan was for the next day as it
was a must do. Then I made my was back
to the Market I first stopped at to take a look through things before catching
the Metro back to the campground, well almost to the campground – another miss
calculation and not paying attention to the correct stop as everyone else
seemed to be getting off, I thought it was the last stop – not so much! So
another 10 minute walk at the end of the day in my dreadfully uncomfortable
shoes and my feet and eyes were done for the day!
The
next day I actually made it off at the right downtown metro and made my way to
the Ann Frank House, where the line continued to go down the side of the church
and around the back as the rain poured down, so it was one thing sadly I didn’t
get to see. As I wondered through the streets as the rain came down, I found a
very interesting little store that I popped into with glass eye balls, spare
false teeth and “Vegan” cardboard wall hanging of animals. Then I wandered onto
the flower market and after a few minutes of back and forth to find the right
street, onto the antique and art street before reaching the end at the Reik
Musuem. But I was early and it was still raining, so I popped into a small
restaurant for warm fish and curry soup to warm up and stay dry!
Then
off to the Reik Museum to meet Paula for a tour of what the museum has to
offer. Quiet a large collection of art throughout the museum and some stunning
works indeed, but after a few hours it was time to get out to the finally dry
weather and make our way for diner. After looking around to see what we felt
like, we ended up at a quirky little Mexican restaurant already decked out for
Halloween (which is odd since they don’t really celebrate it in the Netherlands
– maybe it’s a bit more Mexican tradition for the “day of the dead”
celebration). A lovely meal with a lovely women and so much food, we were
stuffed after and made our way to the Metro station where we parted ways – for
now.
The
next morning a quick pack up, a new cord for the GPS, gas in the van and air
pressure check of the tires and the vans fluids, we were on the road to France (even
through the strong wind)!
Camping in Lobith:
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