Saturday third of April frosty
fine sunny.
A leisurely farewell to our friends and on the way
again. Liz and Rob and Jim and his wife. We headed north to Markem via
Haarlam.
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| Marken, Netherlands |
It is connected to the mainland by a built-up road. It is in the Isseljsee, the old Zuider Zee. Not as
nice as Volendam - a fishing village that relies mostly on tourists and fish - people
weren't as friendly, but that could have been because a funeral we saw - behind
the coffin came the men in national dress and the women in their long gowns, whilst bells rang in the church. The
procession look like a long centipede. We
saw a man making clogs, same wood as cricket bats. After lunch we decided to head for the
Hague.
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| Davanzo van following |
Arrived here at Duinrell about 6 p.m. - had a quiet tea and all into Lee's
van to Madurodam. Had two hours of
daylight, everyone loved it and then as dusk fell the lights came on - looked
like a miniature city all alight - we were cold, so into cafe for coffee. It sounds
funny asking for a table for 10. Home to
hot Dutch soup and toast then bed.
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| Madurodam, Netherlands |
We stopped in the afternoon at a flower show a bit early for
full bloom, then through de Zelk-tulips lined the roads, Katwik and here at
Wassermann, near The Hague.Sunday 4th April, 1982 fine
and sunny
Leisurely sleep in then began washing, Duinrell is quite a
good caravan Park has all we want. The
rest went off to church, all bar Marie reluctantly - all the excuses they give.
Duinrell is fantastic - everything for kids. Playground equipment is fantastic - junior
Wonderland, swings of every description.
Boat and train rides fun things for $.25, like a donkey that sends out
bubblegum - a little boy who will wee all over you and a ramp that shoot water up
your legs. Funny?
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| Duinrell Caravan Park, Netherlands |
Sequel to mass - they don't know if it was a reformed Dutch or
not - the bread was brown and it was Palm Sunday so was a long service.Lovely warm spring day.
Walked around the Park tried all comic cuts- after tea we all went up the
road to a Dutch pub. Home by
10:30 p.m..
John says the church was a Dutch reformed Church much to
Marie's horror.
Monday fifth of April
On the road again - called at Delft again. Such a pretty place - Marie wanted to buy
some presents for her sisters. Brought
pepper and salt shakers and little vase. Whilst in Delft 2 kids cleaned
Lee's van windscreen even though he said "no", when they were refused
money they up with the bucket and threw it over the screen, then took
off - cheeky buggers. Poor Delft put a negative on
it for us - Sandra had words with a rude fellow about 20 - we weren't impressed
with the Dutch, very intolerant, cross race but very clean.
Out on the road about Krabben Bossen we
stopped for petrol and three young English bike riders came up and spoke to
us - they had been on a bike rally top of Holland
and were on the way home in one day 700 miles they said. Had fun at the border, the guard wouldn't let
John speak kept waving us on - silly John kept insisting till the guard lost his
temper and guards hat +2. Had to turn around
and go back to opposite side - then we had to drive kilometres to Wurstwezel
where they found it would cost them more money than they save for
paperwork -some misunderstanding along the line.
Belgium. On through Brasschaat, Merksem to Antwerp, where we filled the larder at the supermarket, then fun and games to find a
camping area again - Sean remembered the VVV in centre, so found map and on the
way again to Jan van Ryswycklan camp area - liked it there - fellow had only just
taken over. We had to hurry to shower
and catch bus into Antwerp for dinner at Simone's - Lee wasn't feeling too
well - he's sinusitis is still around - a sleep and shower and we were on the
way. Well Simone excelled herself for just
a short notice.
We had Belgium
and chicken soup - huge pork steaks - salad and chips till they came out of our
ears. The kids loved that, Yves and Brett out stayed everyone. Simone's eldest girl was there and Matthew
her husband - a lovely family. Everyone
enjoyed the evening - Simone as vivacious as usual. Jules was in London - had a beautiful fruit
salad, cream and coffee - home in two car loads driven by Jenny about 2 a.m.
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| Dinner at Simone's |
Tues 6th April, 1982 cold
and windy
Up and on way reasonably early - bye Amsterdam and Antwerp,
hello France - past Halle, lunch at Briand-le-Compe, Mons, St Gishlain and
Dour. At the border saw a well-dressed
man hitchhiking with his umbrella - through Valenciennes
to Iwuy where we had morning tea beside one of the many memorials to the allies
during two world wars.
On through land
of the Somme where many battles were fought in
1918. Through Peronne, Masniers to Roye
where we couldn't find camp area so followed a sign out of town and spent the
night at Beuvraignes - an old campsite at the back of a bar - hole in the ground
toilet - no hot or cold showers only one tap over a dirty sink. We decided to stay as Lee still had a
headache. Into the bar - all but Marie and
Sandra - after about 1 1/2 hours the locals became friendlier - ended up a nice
evening.
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| Drinks at the bar with the locals (even the kids) |
Then the funeral director asked
us all home but we had to eat first then it was 9:30 p.m. and he came to pick
us up. Lee and John went off whilst the girls settled the kids - then they were
back to pick up the girls. I chickened
out and went to bed - by 10:30 p.m. they were all back rain and all. They ran away after he had filled the men
with some potent potion. He seemed to
act funny so they took off. |
| Drinks with the local funeral director |
Francis Grenier funeral director - knock on door - the funeral
director with Sandra's umbrella left it there in their panic.Wednesday 7th April, 1982 rain
and windy
Suffering from the potent potion, the men drove slowly out of
Beuvraignes. Goodbye to the small
population - even the garage man. Brett
brought his hat for 10 francs. Off on
the village roads to Ermeronville where we pulled in for lunch at a
supermarket-we just had time to buy bread when we were hustled out-so we
decided to eat there, just got our lunch set out in one car-Lee was asleep in
the other, when we were told they were closing gates so we had to hold all on
the table and drive outside-Marie drove theirs, Lee didn't stir.
On then to Paris
through Louvres to the Peripherique and off at Pt de Malliot and here to Bois
De Bologne at 4 p.m.. A few drinks in
the van , washing at machine, long walk and bed. It is becoming quite crowded here and a very
muddy. Rain has found us again.
Thursday 8th April, 1982 wet and miserable
Up early and off to town earlier than usual. Wet and cold but can't dampen our spirits as
we took over the bus which only took nine passengers but conceded when 10 of us
plus two other Aussie girls got on board.
Introduced the Davansos to the Metro system. On to the Eiffel Tower - they
loved it. Alighted at Trocadero and
approached from a different way - very impressive! On then to Notre Dame - rain - had chip roll and
drink in Lebanese cafe which was very filling - on then to Sacre Couer to meet John. Up on the funicular - I think the lolly machine
owners will be smiling tonight - the kids wouldn't pass one - we had chewy peanuts,
sweets etc all day.
Saw some funny things in Paris streets. Everyone does their own thing. To American Express and home tired and ready
for bed. Titus and Charlotte gave us an
old warm coat and as the weather improved, decided to hoist it. Left it in shower - it kept being moved from
shower to shower till it disappeared.
Rae tells me it ended up in garbage - pity!
It is Easter week and people are all coming to Paris. The CA bulges already.
Friday 9th April, 1982 Good
Friday cold wet then fine
Into town quite late today.
Sandra, Rae and Renée stayed home.
They put a full bus on this a.m..
People still arriving at park in droves.
They were arriving at midnight.
The parents went into town for te. It was cold-wet. Disappointing day - didn't get into the Louvre
or the Impressionists - too many people - Paris in spring is the in thing - crowds
everywhere. Everyone knows it's spring, bar the weather. The trees are full of
blossom, flowers bloom, birds chirp, lambs are born but still the sun refuses
to shine. We walked up Champs
Élysée -lunched at the Burger King - strolled to Arc de Triomphe - Metro to
Louvre - then home. A drink after tea to
cool off - the showers were too hot! Rang
Karen.
Funny sight: two gendarmes versus 4 gypsies in the Place de
la Concord - the gendarmes won.
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| Marken to Paris |
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