We really enjoyed every aspect of our stay in Rotterdam, and can recommend it as a place to visit and use as a base for exploring the surrounding area as it is very well connected. It is probably a short express ride of 30 minutes from Amsterdam and I would image you could even use it as a less crowded and cheaper home base for day visits there.
Our morning exit went well and we left the lovely breakfast buffet with a few extras like camomile tea and mayo and mustard sachets in preparation for a bit of self cater picnic at next stop. The train tickets to Giethoorn which is 2 hr trip away were not cheap (50 euro), but there you go. We got a train within 5 minutes of ticketing and it went direct with no changes via Utrecht in a north easterly direction. I blogged most of the time so did not get to enjoy the scenery – but was ok with that as we come back on a similar line next Monday to Amsterdam. Vern did point out interesting points along the way so I did get glimpses of the lovely countryside and small towns we passed through. Generally the typical scenery is very green, many canals, of course windmills and as previously mentioned those lovely gardens and neat houses watched over by the occasional windmill. Because the land is so flat windmills frame the horizon proclaiming you are in the Netherlands and it always gives me a little thrill to see and realize that I am here.
Whilst we were on the train the ticket checking person came around to scan our tickets. He said you are in first class, and your ticket is second. Whoops! Genuine mistake and obviously horror on our face. We quickly went to pack up iPad and move and he smiled and said ‘ you stay there’. What a nice man. I guess we should have realized the ‘red’ seats were for the special people and the blue for standard…. To be fair to us, it was in the same carriage – often they are marked on outside and we did look for the markings but couldn’t see it. And further there really was no difference between the two that I could see except for glass door partition… (that might have been the give away!).
Our train took us as far as Steenwijk and from the station you catch the 70 bus for 4.50 and its an easy 10 minute ride to Giethoorn. The map our host gave us was not the best and we headed in wrong direction and sensed we were. We saw an elderly (well older than us) outside their house waving good bye to friends so we stopped to ask them. They did not speak any English but weirdly enough I can understand basic Dutch really easily and or they often change to a German around me and we had no trouble conversing. We had pulled up a google map on the phone (roaming data eek) and they pointed to the opposite direction to where we were and a 20 minute walk. Ok, thank you and we went to go off, and they insisted they drive us. So nice, we said no, really it is ok – but they insisted.
Check in to our upmarket B&B went well, the host Martin lives in the front and is very hospitable and speaks good English. It was about 2pm so we headed out to the supermarket which is a little over 1km walk along the ‘grand canal’ – towards the main road. Along the way I sniffed out a harring shop and got my daily health tonic morsel, this time cut into dainty bits with pickles and onions. The supermarket is not the full Monty but we got some nice Belgium beers and I got a gorgeous white from the Moselle region that reminded me in flavour of the most excellent one I enjoyed in 2013 on the banks of the Moselle when we were staying in Cochem. I will try and get one the same on my exit from Amsterdam before we go home in July.
We spent the rest of the day doing a little wander, and just taking it easy – catching up on blogs, and finding a good place to eat. There is a double Michellen star restaurant here, but 4 course meals start at 95 euro (they don’t really do a la carte and I am not sure if I can spend that much each on a meal. Will think on that one. We settled for a national award winning rib place – which happened to pick up its second award today as we found out. It was nice, but they brined or cured them first – like ham before basting and final cook. This made it very moist but for me a bit salty and takes away from the fresh pork flavour. They were not cheap meal wise at 18 euro a serve. Neither of us could finish the meal, but took extra home for our lunch tomorrow.
So far, whilst Giethoorn is pretty I am a little underwhelmed by it compared to the hype that surrounds it. This could be because I am still adjusting to the holiday groove and unwinding or I might be comparing it to the Spree Wald in Germany which just had the edge I think. Giethoorn is a bit touristy in that they are not cheap and are after the dollar. Lots of Asian tourists which sorry but are not the nicest fellow travelers to be around (very pushy and inconsiderate). However, once the crowds had disappeared for the day and we had a wander after dinner it was beautiful and peaceful with great reflections. Tomorrow we are hiring an electric boat for the day from our host and will have a big explore and head out to the national park – should get a totally different perspective then.
Our accommodation is really nice. An old traditional home with thatched roof but with very modern bathroom and upstairs in the living area it is an eclectic mix of old and modern complete with super king – split bed with a remote each so you can tilt the head and feet end independantly in weird and wonderful positions. Its like a real honeymoon nest. We are right on the waters edge and have a private little terrace there to enjoy the surrounds.
***Note the photos below can be clicked on to view larger like a slide show, also you will see the captions then***
Travels with Valrock 