Homebodies - I did it! - part three, the final
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- Published on Sunday, May 22, 2016
By Rita Friesen
The Neepawa Banner
With reluctance but with wisdom, I chose to stay on the barge, the Elodie, for Wednesday. We had docked in Delft and first thing in the morning, we crossed the street and toured the Delft ceramic factory. Watching the craftsmen at work, meticulously hand painting the designs, I gained a clear understanding that the asking price for any true piece is fair. Another one of the tour group also stayed on board and we had a fantastic time, swapping stories and getting to know each other. The group arrived back at the barge, now at Leiden, by mid afternoon and so Marie and I went for a lengthy walkabout.
Thursday was a split day. We took an early morning ride out to a dairy farm known for their cheese production. The size of some of the cheese rounds was impressive. The klompen ready at the door, the cheese tasting opportunity and the rural ride out to the site all made the short ride worthwhile. Eight miles out and back to Leiden for an afternoon of exploring the city. Marie and I headed off, first to an ancient cemetery, then to a weaving museum housed in a home built in the 1500s. The three small rooms had housed multiple families – at the same time – and an abundance of university students. Museum staff operated the ancient loom and workmanship was fantastic here as well. Walking through the city, we paused to admire the houseboats lining the canal walls. Tall ships converted to homes, barges and boats filled with families and businesses, space in the cities is at a premium.
One of the highlights of the week – the advertised draw- were the fields of flowers in the Keukenhof area. My diary entry for the day: ‘there really are no words to describe the sight and smell of acres and acres of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. Rows of colours, the air heavy with the rich fragrance of the blossoms and then there was the tourist centre! Display buildings filled with exotic flowers and fanciful displays. Miles and miles of rural biking, soft rain falling, hot chocolate calling.’ Our evening walkabout was in the city of Haarlem, ancient cathedrals and market stalls, people and bikes and history.
Not a one of us were eager for the week to be over, but Saturday would see us back in Amsterdam. Leaving Haarlem, we stopped at the Hans Brinker statute. Many of my generation read the story of Hans and the silver skates, it was a little disheartening to find out the tale is a myth! The ride into the city was along a winding country trail, sometimes we were fighting a fierce head wind and then, turning a corner, we could coast. We were on our own for supper, but in light of it being our last evening meal together, we gathered at a local eatery, not far from our docked barge. Would I do it again? Absolutely! (Five star rating by passengers, excellent crew and guide)
