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| THE
NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM 2006: Trip
Report |
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We had the wind behind us and made short
work of the pleasant 35km from Hijum to Harlingen.
We found an excellent delicatessen and wine shop in
Harlingen and were tempted to throw our packed lunch
away but decided against it because we weren't sure
if it would be possible to eat it on the ferry,
and had the idea that it might have a restaurant. In
the event we regretted it, because there was only a
snack bar with junk food, and plenty of tables to eat
lunch. |
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| The Lonely Planet had
given us the impression that Vlieland
was a remote island where it was difficult to buy food
but there were numerous restaurants and cafes, as well
as two reasonably well stocked supermarkets and the cobbled
streets were packed with holiday makers. |
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| The hotel
was about a kilometer from town and nestled in the dunes.
We had an upstairs room, not high enough to see the sea
over the dunes but enough to catch the breeze and it was
pleasantly cool. We were having a remarkable run of weather,
we had anticipated cold, rain and wind but not this continual
heat wave. It was apparently confounding the weather forecasters,
rain had been forecast 'the day after tomorrow' ever since
we arrived in Amsterdam. We went for a walk on the beach
and happened upon a large hotel called the Strand.
The day was drawing to a close and the terrace looked
attractive so we decided to eat there. The food was indifferent.
We ordered a bottle of 'Pruscetto', a sparkling Italian
wine and it arrived just as we were finishing the meal.
The wine cost 27 euros, subsequently we noticed it in
a supermarket marked down from 11 euros to 4.95. However
the staff were friendly, the wine was good and we enjoyed
watching the sunset. |
| We spent the next day
exploring the island on our bikes. There
are numerous walking tracks winding through the the sand
dunes and forests. We bought a selection of cheeses, cold
meats and fruit at the supermarket and a loaf of bread
at the bakery. We had them for dinner with a bottle of
good red wine we had bought in Harlingen. The hotel didn't
serve dinner but didn't mind us using their plates and
cutlery for our own food on their veranda. |
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