TEXEL ADVENTURE

THE BIKE I HIRED
TEXEL SHEEP

TOWN "DEN KOOG"
CUTE CHURCH
SELLING CLOGS.
BACK IN DEN BURG
DEN BURG

ME RIDING SIMONE, A HALFLINGER.
LEADER NIEL IN THE FRONT.
HEATHERFIELDS
NIEL, OUR TREK LEADER.

LOVELY VIEWS

THE BEACH AT DEN KOOG.
CAFE PLACES ON THE BEACH

THE HALFLINGER STABLES FOR TREKS.
" MY" HORSE.

AN OTHER GROUP COMING BACK.
BEACH AT DEN KOOG.
WHAT IS THAT TRACTOR DOING THERE?
BEACH. WATER 15C. NO THANKS.
HEY, WHO IS THAT?

TEXEL ADVENTURE: RIDING!!!
You guys probably want to know first of all how my sleep went.
Well, I had an other lady join the dorm at about 11 pm, who coughed till about 1 am.
So anyway, after that, this morning, a reasonable sleep, I guess, but late again getting to sleep, I asked for a single room, which I could get at 10 euro’s more per night. So I did that and now I have my own room for 2 more nights. I am going back to the mainland on Tuesday, first to Mercy, and then to Voorschoten. I have my suitcase at Mercy’s so I have to pick oit up, spend a bit more time with her and then take the train to Leiden.
I spoke to Annie yesterday who said she would pick me up from Leiden. So that’s great!
Today I hired a bicycle and biked about 13 km’s, there and back.
First to the beach and then to Den Koog.
I came across a halflinger pony group who were trekkinmg, so I asked them where they were located. I then found the horses. They were along the main road on the way to Den Koog. There was an other horse stable next to them, but weren’t as nice and good as this one so I took this one. They only had halflingers and small ponies and they looked well cared for.
I went fopr a 1 hour trek with experienced riders. It was only a forest and moors trek, not beach, but that was fine with me.( they had done the beach trek earlier that day)
All went well. I asked for” een lief paardje”, and I really got a very friendly mare, Simone.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The ride was 12 E so it wasn’t more than what I charge for at home.
I enjoyed the scenery and the chat I had with the trek leader, a guy of about 21 years old.( Niel)
We walked , trotted and cantered and I could also ride alongside the trek leader. The rest of the group were German kids, but could ride well.
After we came back I sat there with my lunch and enjoyed watching the horses and the people.
There are a lot of German tourists here!!!!!!!
Then I biked on till the town of Den Koog and it was very busy with people.
I put my bike somewhere, locked up, and walked through the main street.
Lots of café’s and bars open and even some shops.( It’s Sunday, and normally all the shops are closed.)
Here, in den Burg, most of the shops are closed. Some café’s are open though.
The lady I met on the train is also here and we had breakfast here this morning.
So I had a nice day, weather sunny, cloudy sometimes, moderate wind.
The seawater is 15 C so I didn’t swim .
The water of the sea was fairly clear/clean considering it is the North sea, but I think because Texel is an island, the sea water is clearer.
Tomorrow I am going to have a rest day, and do some walking to the town( 5 min walk) and then the next day I am off to my old hometown of Voorschoten.( yeah!!!!)
Groetjes allemaal. Marianna.

TEXEL

STAY OKAY HOSTEL TEXEL
MERCY IN FRONT OF THE HOSTEL
THE TEXEL SHEEP BEHIND THE HOSTEL
MORE VIEWS OF TEXEL
NEAR HOSTEL
ARRIVAL IN TEXEL WITH FERRY
ON THE FERRY
HOUSES IN TEXEL
STREET IN DEN BURG, TEXEL
OLD FASHIONED LOLLI SHOP

MARIANNA ON THE FERRY TO TEXEL
VIEW FROM FERRY
MARIANNA AND MERCY ON THE FERRY.
MERCY ON FRONT DECK OF FERRY
THE GULLS GO WITH US.

MERCY'S KITCHEN.
MERCY , ME AND HER HUSBAND.
MERCY, ME AND HER DAUGHTER, MERCY-LYNN
SIGNS TOWARDS THE FERRY.
MERCY AND I WAITING FOR THE FERRY.

ON THE WAY TO DEN HELDER FROM TRAIN.

VIEW FROM MY ROOM IN MERCY'S HOUSE.
MERCY GOES SHOPPING
MERCY DOES SOME DISHES.

Texel, North Holland.



Well , I am now in Texel,one of the 7 islands north of the Netherlands, this one is north of Den Helder. Remember the Texel breed of sheep? This is where these sheep are from.
I am on that island now.
I stayed with Mercy first and after a terrible night on a make- shift wobbly narrow stretcher, and not being able to get to sleep till 3 am, and not only fighting with my pillow but also the bed and bedding,with lots of night sweats, I woke up feeling exhausted .
Then I remembered a nice lady whom I met in the train the previous day, who was on her way to Texel,(it's very close to Den Helder), she told me she was staying in a hostel” STAY OKAY”.
I remembered that, and explained to Mercy I needed a good sleep. I did a quick search on the internet and then booked for 2 nights. She didn’t mind and decided to come with me just for the day, and me for 2 nights. The ferry was big but the actual crossing is only 20 minutes.

The wide open spaces, slightly rolling hills, and tomorrow I am hiring a bicycle.
Mercy spent the day with me and we did some walking through the town together( Den Burg)
I took some photos and oh yes, the room I am in is a dorm of 6, but only one other lady is there, a Korean lady. It is actually a dorm for ladies only. It is a brand new building, and for the price is breakfast and dinner included( 39.- pp ) It is so new it has this “ hospital" look, very clean and shiny, but hey, if you want a good bed. Mercy apologized for my bad sleep but there is really no room, and I hate it when I can’t sleep. I am coming to her place on Monday but maybe even Tuesday now as I need to rest and possibly ned 2 days to see this island.? I only brought the backpack and a plastic bag with a few clothes. We'll see.
OK, got to go now, dinner is ready.
More tomorrow night.
OK just back from dinner. Hey Pa, this place reminds me of the place in Bouleri, France.
A great place for kids and meals included. Basic meals but good and all you need.
This island is, (so far from what I have seen),very beautiful. But tomorrow I will see more so I will tell you more tomorrow. ( and get to the beach)
Bye for now. Marianne.

AMSTERDAM

WINNIE AND E IN "BEGIJNHOFJE"
WINNIE IN A PUB " HET DOKTERTJE" PUB EXCIST SINCE 1798
HIER HEB IK EEN GLAASJE" BOEREJONGENS"
WINNIE AND ME IN THE STEAKHOUSE WHERE PA EN MA ALSO WENT.
DURING A CANAL TOUR.
VIEW OF 7 BRIDGES.
THE OLD SAILING SHIP" THE AMSTERDAM"
TYPICAL AMSTERDAM SCENE, BIKES AND CANAL.
A SMALL SIDE STREET OFF KALVERSTRAAT.

THE TRAMS ARE NOW ALL NEW AND BLUE.
WHERE THE CANAL TOUR STARTS.

HOUSES FROM THE 16TH CENTUARY.
OLD BARBER SHOP.

WINNIE AND ME WATCHING THE SOCCER
THIS IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER FROM WINNIE'S HOUSE.

WINNIE, MY GUIDE.
SOMEONE PADDLING WITH A CANOE.
HET "LEIDSEPLEIN"
TERRASJE BIJ HET LEIDSEPLEIN.

TAKEN FROM THE TRAIN TO AMSTERDAM
SCENES FROM THE TRAIN.
FIRST DAY IN AMSTERDAM
WINNIE'S HOUSE
MARIANNA IN AMSTERDAM

Hey friends,

I arrived in Amsterdam yesterday afternoon. Ken had put me on the train in Bussum Zuid, and I arrived in Amsterdam at 3 pm. Winnie was waiting for me by the taxi stand. The railway station is in a mess, they are doing renovations. I could hardly recognise it.
I am now in an internet cafe near " Het Leidseplein" as her internet is dial up. That is 3 min walk from Winnie.
The weather is beautiful and warm and I only have 2 days here so I haven't got a lot of time to work on putting photos on. But I have taken a lot already.
Winnie and I have talked a lot and watched the soccer last night. We will watch an other match tonight. It is getting more exciting.
she also took me to a nice place for dinner,and took me to one of her favorite pubs, " De Pieper".
The city is full of life and vibrant and the colours are georgeous with the green trees by the canals.
This afternoon we are going to do the tourist thing, a canal tour.
I slept well last night, I am sleeping on an air matrass in Maarten's old room.
I have spoken to Maarten 2x so yes, we will meet in Paris, which is great.
So now I am going outside, it is too nice to sit here and see all the people walking outside.

Friday I am going to Den Helder in the train, and Mercy Manuel will pick me up, she is a friend from my nursing days. I will stay with her till Monday morning and then it 's off to Voorschoten, yeah, my old hometown!!!!
I am very happy to be back in Holland!!!!
Cheers from Marianne.