August 16 –
We are nearing the end of the adventure and we undertake our last transition today. We breakfasted and checked out of the hotel but we weren’t ready to bid farewell to Brugge just yet. First, we needed to conquer the Belfry – 366 steps to the top of the tower to see the 46 bells and a fantastic view for miles around. While we were just feet away, the carillon played a snippet of “Ode to Joy” – very cool but hard on the ears. We had a few shops to visit because they were closed yesterday. I got a few more bracelets J and Frank got his first birthday present – a cool steel sculpture of a mechanic at work! Not that he needs reminded that he gets to start work again on his birthday next Tuesday!
Then it really was time to move on and we headed along the road to Amsterdam. During the 3 hours that it took to do make the 2.5 hour trip (damn ring road around Antwerp!), we noticed a few things. First, Holland is flat. I mean *really* flat. I swear I could see Germany…. And Holland is windy – which is probably why they have so many of those windmill things; we saw a few from the highway which was very cool. Second, Amsterdam is the first city where we found a real classic rock station! Third, it seems that though the Dutch like to travel, no one else travels to Holland! We saw lots of Dutch license plates in other countries but didn’t see *any* foreign license plates after we crossed the border into the Netherlands. Finally, Frank rates Dutch roads above Belgian roads but not as good as French and German roads.
We found the hotel, unloaded and ditched the car early. We weren’t supposed to turn it in until 10 a.m. tomorrow but we were tired of sitting in it and were worried that something might happen to it. Frank was incredibly pleased that he had driven 3 cars through 8 countries with no mishaps. And when two passing policemen warned us about taking care of our stuff while we were unpacking the car (“This *is* Amsterdam”), we decided not to push our luck and get the car off our hands.
Thus lightened and incredibly hungry from missing lunch, we headed out for an early dinner to a local restaurant recommended by the now suspect guidebook. With this one, the book may have redeemed itself. The food was excellent, the service outstanding and friendly and the overall experience wonderful. Duly fortified, we took a belated exploratory walk all the way downtown and back. We’re staying in the southern part of the city by the museums and the Vondelpark (hoping to run tomorrow!) and it’s a bit of a hike downtown but we had some Belgian chocolate to burn off. We made it all the way to the train station before the seedy characters, dubious scents, and the increasing dusk indicated that it was time to go back to the hotel. Now to map out the plan of attack for tomorrow!
/san/
[Pedometer: 25, 633 or about 12.5 miles about half of which came after dinner tonight!]
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