Arrived at the Amsterdam Airport 8:00 am local time. After exchanging some money to Euros we headed for the train station. Train travel in Holland and most of Europe is very accessible and usually reasonably priced. We purchased fare for two to Maassluis West where we’ll be staying with Nellie’s niece Jen and family. With a change of trains at Rotterdam the hour and a half ride is easy and uneventful. We did wonder though about the fact that no one came by to check our tickets. Maybe we could have saved the €25 Euros? No, we’re told later . . . not worth the risk as the fine for not having a ticket can be quite high if caught during a random check.
We were welcomed as we stepped off the train by Jen’s husband, Al Jenks. Jen has their three year old daughter at a gymnastics lesson and will join us later. Both Jen and Al are chiropractors and have their own practice in the nearby town of Maassdijk. They have been here three years now and by all accounts it seems to have been a good move for them.
After a tour of the house and some lunch we head out for a bike ride with Jen and Kylie, a short tour and a stop at the local grocery store for some supplies. Al is at the clinic late this evening. Bicycles everywhere! We had noticed on the train from Amsterdam, a few areas (especially around Rotterdam) where there were commuter parking lots. Much like the commuter parking lots at the LRT stations in our larger cities at home . . . however, here it is bike lots that you see at the various train platforms. Hundreds and hundreds of bikes! So no wonder there are endless bike lanes, bike paths and special rules to observe whether in the car or on the bike. Indicators on the road tell you who has the right of way. Generally speaking cyclists have a lot of right of way.
Al told us about one of the taxes in Holland, which is levied on the weight of the vehicle. When they first arrived he found a great deal on a 7 series BMW but soon found out the road tax was €200 per month . . . now they have a small Mazda and pay only pay €26 per month. Big difference!
Although we slept a little on the plane, it's been a long day (and a half) . . . we made it without a nap during the day but have now been up almost 30 hours. Time for sleep!!
We were welcomed as we stepped off the train by Jen’s husband, Al Jenks. Jen has their three year old daughter at a gymnastics lesson and will join us later. Both Jen and Al are chiropractors and have their own practice in the nearby town of Maassdijk. They have been here three years now and by all accounts it seems to have been a good move for them.
After a tour of the house and some lunch we head out for a bike ride with Jen and Kylie, a short tour and a stop at the local grocery store for some supplies. Al is at the clinic late this evening. Bicycles everywhere! We had noticed on the train from Amsterdam, a few areas (especially around Rotterdam) where there were commuter parking lots. Much like the commuter parking lots at the LRT stations in our larger cities at home . . . however, here it is bike lots that you see at the various train platforms. Hundreds and hundreds of bikes! So no wonder there are endless bike lanes, bike paths and special rules to observe whether in the car or on the bike. Indicators on the road tell you who has the right of way. Generally speaking cyclists have a lot of right of way.
Al told us about one of the taxes in Holland, which is levied on the weight of the vehicle. When they first arrived he found a great deal on a 7 series BMW but soon found out the road tax was €200 per month . . . now they have a small Mazda and pay only pay €26 per month. Big difference!
Although we slept a little on the plane, it's been a long day (and a half) . . . we made it without a nap during the day but have now been up almost 30 hours. Time for sleep!!
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