Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Lekker Weekend Away

At the start of each of the past 6 years our mission has been for me to see something new and a bit more of The Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the end of each year we've been to Amsterdam, Utrecht, some scattered towns where friends live and any beach town, of course. No culture, no history, no broadening of any Dutch horizons on my part. For 2008 we've sworn Monday 12 May (Whit Monday/Pingst) as THE DUTCH DAY; country, culture, Rijskmuseum, Kröller-Muller yeah, you name it. We're seriously gonna do something this weekend.

For a long time we've also been eyeing the 5 islands up there in the left hand corner of the Dutch map. Of course we've uttered the classic "we should to go there one day". Just recently we heard of a really nice hotel on one of the islands, Vlieland. As 'they' are promising that these mediterranian like weather conditions will last until next week, so why not swop a dusty (but probably very interesting) museum for scoping one of them little islands out? And of course that lovely little hotel we heard of is fully booked. But out of spite, I picked up the phone again and called the same hotel - believe our luck - someone just cancelled their weekend-getaway. Badhotel Bruin here we come!

I am getting Maine feelings. Warm and friendly Bed & Breakfast feelings. I am am hoping that because Vlieland and Maine are almost on the same ocean, maybe there are a couple of similarities?

With or without similarities, I am totally giving this broadening of Dutch horizons and Vlieland a chance this weekend. Totally.