Tot ziens, my dear Netherlands. I shall miss you until my return
I left Amsterdam at 10 AM, yesterday morning, which gave me a jump start to making my 18:30 reservation for hopping onto the ferry boat in Calais, France with London as my destination. I certainly have fond memories of my trip in Europe with a special place in my heart for Paris, Nice, Venice and Amsterdam,
Upon reflection, I've learned that Europeans have a gusto for life, a love of culture and a passion for having a good time! Each metopolitan area was unique in its character, beauty and vitality. However, they all share a common thread which is their antiquity that is rich in wisdom and flourishing with art. For an individual who is interested in history, this side of the pond has it over anywhere else in the world. The cradle of society was nurtured here. Civilization, as we know it, might not have become existent if it were not for the Europeans. And their love for art is forever on display.
Another common thread, not quite as heart felt as the one mentioned above and yet, just as passionate, is the arrogance of those driving motor scooters in the larger metropolitan areas. Their passion is to keep on going in constant motion if possible, regardless if they cut you off, hit and run over you or cause great emotional distress. Paris and Rome were the most guilty of this with Paris taking the cake.
Amsterdam is a city where driving a car around its center is masochistic. When I first arrived, I accidently pulled down a one way street that led to a four block long flea market. It took me 45 minutes to get past it. I learned many Dutch curse words right from the get-go.
Bicycling is the best way to get around Amsterdam and what great exercise it is. It shows in the people. There is not much obesity in Amsterdam. As for bicycles, they are the motor scooters that join Amsterdam to the second common thread listed in this essay.
If I never see another bicycle, it will be too soon! While looking at the photographs that I have taken in Amsterdam, I have found that there may be only a dozen shots out of the several hundred or closer to one thousand pictures that don't have at least one bicyle in its field of vision.
Now, let me tell you about bicyclists in Amsterdam. They don't give a damn! They'll pull right out in front of you when you're trying to turn with a car. Don't accidently step into the bike lane while walking. You'll get run over or if not, cursed in Dutch. I knew they were cursing. I learned most of those words while driving through that flea market this past Monday.
On the way to the Red Light district, I was looking around with awe and admiration and didn't notice that I was standing in the bike lane. I looked to my left and speeding down the hill straight towards me was a pensioner with the fear of God in his eyes. I'm assuming that because it appeared he couldn't stop the bike or get around me. Fortunately for the both of us, I jumped out of the way, just in time.
Although these bicyclists do have the right of way in their bike lane, they think that they've got it everywhere. I almost got mowed down while walking on the sidewalk, many times. Once, I was almost hit by a Vespa motor scooter. A motor scooter on the sidewalk, now that's arrogance and further evidence of that common thread.
Another thing that I learned in Amsterdam through my extensive research while visiting is that the bevy of beauties in the Red Light District charge 50 Euros for 15 to 20 minutes. With a little bargining, one can get an hour for 150 Euros. Toys, kissing and totally nude are extra. Now that just goes to show you that there is always a disclaimer.
And as a final observation, I'd say that 7 out of 10 women in Amsterdam are blondes.
Before I left the Netherlands, I kept missing taking a decent shot of a windmill of which I wanted to capture. Daydreaming was the cause of that. Every time one would appear, I'd grab the camera and shoot from the hip. The results are shown as follows...
It seems that since I left Venice, I have been plagued with rain. Finally in Belgium, it began to clear up.
I made it to Calais in great time and after going through customs, checking in with P&O Ferries and getting pulled over for a search of the Fiat by the Border Police, I was able to board the 16:55 boat bound for Dover, England. The border police didn't find anything, thank God. I must look like a smuggler or something.
By now, the clouds had dissapated and for the first time, this traveler crossed the English Channel in fair weather. The following are photographs taken while leaving the Port of Calais and looking west as the sun was setting over the English Channel.
Farewell to Europe... gone but not forgotten
Click on the photos below for the full size version
It's presently 1420 hrs. on Sunday. I'm sitting in my hotel room in London while putting together this last installment of 30 Days Across the Big Pond. Last night, on the way into London, I made a wrong turn, once again, while turning onto the South Circular Road and headed in the wrong direction. I stopped at three service stations for directions and no one could tell me how to get to Kensington.
I backtracked, followed the signs for the center of London and came up to the bridge that led into Westminster. From there, I was familiar with the area and finally found the Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel at which I have been staying for the last two days of my journey.
So far, which doesn't count the estimated 20 miles (~32 km) left to return the car to Hertz at Heathrow airport, I put 3,719 miles or 5,985 km onto the Fiat during these past 29 days. In the United States, that amount of mileage would consist of a trip from Philadelphia to Juneau, Alaska.
Tomorrow, I'll be flying out of Heathrow at 1705 hrs. and landing at Philadelphia International Airport at 2035 hours. I'll be suffering from a bout with jet lag for the next few days after the flight back but it will certainly be worth it.
Parting is such sweet sorrow and I hope to be able to come back soon. Cheers, Bon Soir, Ciao, Auf Wiedersehen & Tot Zien... oh what a grand trip it has been! Click Here
