A Liam Abroad

On the road again…

So today marks the final day on the road. The drive from the Rhine Valley in Germany to Amsterdam in the Netherlands is the final leg of my European adventure.

Our first stop allowed time for a sausage roll. It’s just not the same as a meat pie though which will be high on my to eat list as soon as I arrive home. That and Farmers Union Iced Coffee.

Anyway I’m getting ahead of myself.

Stopped off at a cheese factory. They also make clogs which I initially thought was a bit strange. But they sort of go together. Hard to explain so you’ll just have to believe me. Had a taste of some of the varieties of cheese. And a very yummy wafer biscuit, but back to the cheese… Some were not too shabby. A cheese with pesto for example was quite nice. Others not so nice. In fact the normal cheese was the one I disliked the most. Weird. But that’s cheese!

The clog display was interesting. Who wears clogs anymore I hear you ask? Well the Dutch do in the garden apparently. I don’t know if you would even be able to bring them back through customs being wood and all. So no clogs for me. Good to see tradition isn’t dead here though.

There was a record attempt to see how many people could fit inside a giant clog. My claustrophobic fear prevented me from taking part in that one.

The scenery in these areas has such a country feel about it. Large, wide open spaces. All flat. Paddocks filled with cows and sheep. Extremely green. Windmills everywhere. The old school windmills and the modern wind turbines.

We then went on a gentle bike ride. I rode a granny bike for the first time. Good old pedaling backwards to brake. The short ride took in the town of Edam. Windmills and canals. Very scenic. And the sun was out too which made a pleasant change from previous days.

Eventually the final hotel stop on my world wide adventure was made in Amsterdam. Given that I have no interest whatsoever in drugs and didn’t really want to attend a sex show, I’m not sure how much I will enjoy this city. Drugs are slowly becoming illegal and rightly so. Find more productive things to do with your time people.

The famous red light district which again doesn’t hold much interest for me is quite unusual. Prostitution is legal and hence every second week all prostitutes have to have a check up. Rather than have them on the street, the Dutch attempt to look after them displaying them in windows instead. It’s not wrong it’s different…?

Looking forward tomorrow to seeing some of the markets and canals that also make Amsterdam what it is. Weather is supposed to be ordinary though so fingers crossed it all goes ok.

Finished my day with some more football. It’s huge in the Netherlands. Shops all over the place are decorated for the event. Orange galore. I blend in as a result!