The last few days of our Tulip Bike and Boat Tour were a satisfying smattering of so many sights and experiences it's hard to narrow it all down into a short blog post. But it's time to say goodbye to the Netherlands and move on to our next destination - Germany. Before we go, here's …
Continue reading Netherlands on the fly – few words, fine photos
Texel Island, Netherlands Texel (pron. Tesel) Island was practicing responsible farming long before the word “sustainable” was even a word. The word has become so cliché that it hardly means anything anymore. Any business that uses cloth napkins instead of paper or changes out incandescent bulbs to LED lays claim to the word and displays …
The Netherlands Definition: Dutch hill (noun) 1. A strong headwind Docked at Alkmaar for a good night's sleep We finished our first full day of biking on a real high, ready to tackle anything ahead that our tour guide would throw at us. After all, this is the Netherlands, how hard can biking flat at …
The Netherlands Mare fan Fryslan sailing boat - 203' long, 23' wide, five sails, main mast 97' high, four crew members, one tour guide, 25 bikes, 23 guests, a hot tub and a galley full of Dutch beer. Our floating home for a week in northern Holland. Mare fan Fryslan Spirits and expectations were high …
Years ago, my husband and I were cruising on our rental bikes along the Neckar River in Germany enjoying a relatively easy ride from town to town over the course of a week. Most of the other riders on our scenic route were on traditional bikes as well, but once in a while an E-bike …
Where did this year go?? Between slogging through my own grief of the loss of my son in November and the new territory of a Covid-defined world, I honestly haven't had the creative motivation to sit down and write again. Every day I look at this sweet collage art hanging on my wall that my …
As winter settles in here in the Colorado Rockies, I'm perusing through my photos and writings of travels past. I've been rewarded with great memories and surprising moments that I'd nearly forgotten - most recently about Amsterdam. Walk with me... Yes, Amsterdam has a lively party scene. Coming across a photo op like this is …
Spending time in Europe as a tourist is not cheap. When we lived in Crete, we took advantage of our location to travel all over Europe, and between budget airlines like Ryan Air and Airbnb in small towns we were able to keep expenses low. But today, even with the great airfare we scored from …
A boat/bike cruise is a perfect way to explore the charming towns as well as the serene farmlands and woodlands of the Netherlands. A week aboard the boat provided us with well-marked bike routes, interesting harbor visits and some delicious cuisine to savor along the way. Cruising through the lush countryside and through charming villages …
The barge glides steadily through the gentle waters of the Ijssel River whose banks are lined with river rock and sandy beaches normally submerged under the water. This year has been particularly dry in the Netherlands with rainfall at record lows, and the river level sits three meters below normal. But today, the sky is …
Continue reading DIKES AND BIKES – Wandering the Netherlands
Melanie A Crane 