The train from Novosibirisk was not due to depart until 8.42pm so we had another full day to fill. We wandered around a few of the parks - there are plenty of parks and squares with monuments and statues - and paid a visit to the regional art museum. Some interesting pieces but it was very hard to fully appreciate them as the main source of light was from the windows dressed with festooned net curtains! Some of the attendants obliged by putting on the monstrous strip lights but for about £1.40 each it's hard to complain. We boarded the train without too much drama. This time we were sharing our cabin with two people - who 'kept themselves to themselves' - which troubled me slightly as that is usually a euphemism for murderer but the night passed without incident and sadly without much sleep.
We arrived in Krasnoyarsk at 8am and were met at the station by Svetlana - the owner/manager of the hostel. She had offered this free service as, she said, it was a difficult place to find. Yes, that is true. However I suspect it might have been that people took one look at the outside and ran a mile! The hostel was a converted apartment in a large apartment block on a housing estate made up on large, grey concrete apartments on the edge of of town. The entrance was something you might see on a TV cop programme where they are doing a drugs bust - metal door into a dark lobby up a few steps to the apartment. Inside it was fine - clean, basic (very basic) and for one night at £14 or so it did what it needed to do. Although I do question how it got 9.4 score on booking.com.
With only one day here we headed off to explore. The obligatory Lenin statue on lenin St was our first stop. We are getting quite a collection of Lenin pics - then onto Krasnoyarsk's own Gorky Park. It actually looked more like what I was expecting in Moscow - lots of fairground rides mostly shut, actually looking quite sinister. We walked along by the river for some distance to a footbridge that took us over to a nature reserve then we headed back to town. We eventually found somewhere to grab some soup and checking my 'steps' we realised we had already done 10 miles - and this was meant to be a pit-stop town.
We decided to visit the regional museum nearby which randomly had an Eygptian themed exterior - with no actual Eygptian artifacts or references inside at all! The layout and displays were however really good - recreating what life was like for Siberians through history from ice age to present and even had a 4m high woolly Mammoth skeleton. Again it was ridiculously hot - and many of the museum guards were fast asleep!! We contemplated trying to smuggle the mammoth out but decided we couldn't get it in our bags.
We were pretty shattered when we got back to the hostel so grabbed something quick and a couple of take out beers (55p a bottle) and called it a day.
When we woke the snow had well and truly arrived so it was a good time to head off. We got a taxi to the station and boarded the train. Well I nearly didn't. The train guard refused me entry as the number on my ticket did not accord with my passport. She was adamant. So was I. We got on the train! Our sole cabin companion, a man, climbed into his bunk as we left at 1.24pm. He didn't look like he had the energy to be a murderer so I felt safe. It was nice to be on the train in the day to see the views. The landscape has changed quite a bit and you can see some hills In the distance and long expanses of land. By the time we arrived in Irskutsk we had crossed another timeline now 7+hrs UK and we are 5185km from Moscow.
Saturday, 15 October 2016
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Snow, songs and zoos....
Departing from Tyumen train station was not too stressful although when our train number appeared on the departure board there were two numbers for the platform. Mr L suggested we follow a fellow passenger who looked like he was getting on our train which was a good hunch. Apparently the first number is the platform and the second is the track number. Now we know. On board we were relieved to have bottom bunks and we met our fellow passengers for the journey - Sergei and Denis. Sergei spoke some English Denis did not. Sergei was happy to chat and share pictures of family etc although after a while I zoned out and left Mr L to carry on. Next I was aware Segei was showing Mr L a picture and trying to pronounce a word which Mr L helped him with - Caesarian. I didn't dare catch Mr L's eye but could only imagine what pictures he was being shown. Thankfully everyone retired to bed early and I reflected on the fact that I was sharing a cabin with Mr L and two unknown Russian men. A first.
When we woke the view from the train was of snow and plenty of it. Sergei shared some tips on Novosibirisk and recommended a rock opera on at the theatre. Then he proceeded to sing one of the songs to us. For several minutes. He had a pleasant enough voice but in a cramped train carriage it was an awkward few moments. In my head I begged him to stop which eventually he did.
On arrival at Novosibirsk we said our goodbyes to Segei and Denis and headed to our hotel I would describe its style as Russian realism. Concrete. this is Russia's third most populated city, nicknamed 'Chicago of Siberia' as it is an industrial/manufacturing/sales town. We were expecting to find some old historic, cultural parts to the city but unfortunately there was little to be found. It says much about the place when the key attraction is the zoo. So it was on Monday we set off in the snow and freezing temperatures, making full use of our thermals to the zoo.
For the first few hours we were pretty much the only people there and very few animals willing to put their heads out for fear of getting hit by tree branches which were falling off all over the park and across the city under the weight of the snow. Eventually we found some animals willing to give us our monies worth (entry fee was about £2.40 each) and surprisingly we spent a pleasant 3+hrs there before heading back to the hotel.
Day two in Novosibirisk - we walked around the few sights on offer and visited a USSR museum - described as housing a collection of Russian memorabilia; essentially bric-a-brac, probably purchased from car boot sales. The lady showed us around, shouting into her phone on Google translate, to describe items. We were then left alone in the basement area where we spent time trying on Russian hats and uniforms and taking selfies!
The temperature difference is quite hard to handle. Outside its -1 during the day and every building has the heating set at about 80 degrees!
In the evening we found a cocktail bar, a place to eat and headed to a live music bar all good and the people were friendly and helpful as have all the people we have encountered in Novosibirisk. As a city though it does not have much to keep the attention and the fumes from the cars and industry hang heavy in the air and leave a bad taste in the mouth. Tonight we get back on the train.
When we woke the view from the train was of snow and plenty of it. Sergei shared some tips on Novosibirisk and recommended a rock opera on at the theatre. Then he proceeded to sing one of the songs to us. For several minutes. He had a pleasant enough voice but in a cramped train carriage it was an awkward few moments. In my head I begged him to stop which eventually he did.
On arrival at Novosibirsk we said our goodbyes to Segei and Denis and headed to our hotel I would describe its style as Russian realism. Concrete. this is Russia's third most populated city, nicknamed 'Chicago of Siberia' as it is an industrial/manufacturing/sales town. We were expecting to find some old historic, cultural parts to the city but unfortunately there was little to be found. It says much about the place when the key attraction is the zoo. So it was on Monday we set off in the snow and freezing temperatures, making full use of our thermals to the zoo.
For the first few hours we were pretty much the only people there and very few animals willing to put their heads out for fear of getting hit by tree branches which were falling off all over the park and across the city under the weight of the snow. Eventually we found some animals willing to give us our monies worth (entry fee was about £2.40 each) and surprisingly we spent a pleasant 3+hrs there before heading back to the hotel.
Day two in Novosibirisk - we walked around the few sights on offer and visited a USSR museum - described as housing a collection of Russian memorabilia; essentially bric-a-brac, probably purchased from car boot sales. The lady showed us around, shouting into her phone on Google translate, to describe items. We were then left alone in the basement area where we spent time trying on Russian hats and uniforms and taking selfies!
The temperature difference is quite hard to handle. Outside its -1 during the day and every building has the heating set at about 80 degrees!
In the evening we found a cocktail bar, a place to eat and headed to a live music bar all good and the people were friendly and helpful as have all the people we have encountered in Novosibirisk. As a city though it does not have much to keep the attention and the fumes from the cars and industry hang heavy in the air and leave a bad taste in the mouth. Tonight we get back on the train.
Friday, 7 October 2016
Bars and bags....
I wondered if we were being a little harsh on our view of Tyumen - it is after all (according to posters we have seen) celebrating 430 years. Of what I am not sure - existence/name? Anyway we decided to google to see if that would throw up some highlights we may have missed. We discovered amoung the top ten places to visit included the Siberian Cat park where there are gold statues of cats and a monument dedicated to a homeless dog. We visited neither. Instead we ventured out to visit an outdoor clothing shop Mr L had spotted when we left a nearby restaurant the night before where I purchased another base layer (it's all about the base) as the weather has turned cold and there is snow already at our next stop.
Later our wanderings took us into an Irish bar (or Ireland Bar as the sign described it) where we had a local beer and got chatting to a Russian lad with some English who kindly offered us a good rate on currency exchange and to show us places. We politely declined and left. We found another bar/restaurant which was much more entertaining as they were clearly just reopening after a refurbishment which was still being completed as we arrived. It was a great place for people watching although the food suggested the focus was more on style over substance. Great local band though - it was like Friday night at the Fighting Cocks a la Russian style.
Today we head back to the train station and travel overnight to our next destination Novosibirsk. This time travelling second class so that should be interesting. More on that next time.
Whilst I have the time I was going to answer a question my friend A asked. What's in your bag?? We are after all travelling for sometime through different climates. Both our bags are currently weighing in at about 11kg so slightly out of hand luggage but we will be disposing of things once we get out of the cold. Without stating the obvious everything we have is lightweight, easy wash/dry and requires no/little ironing
Contents (Me):
Blouse/ shirts - 3
Jeans - 2 (always travel in heavier ones)
Linen trousers - 1
Trackie/casual trousers - 1 (ideal for wearing on train)
PJ 3/4 bottoms - 1 (ideal for running to bathroom at night when staying in hostels)
Shorts -1
Vest tops - 4. T.shirts - 3
Sundress/long tops - 3
Swimming costume - 1. Scarf/sarong - 1
Long sleeved tops (including base layers) - 3. Hoodie - 1
Leggings - 1. Thermal leggings - 1
Underwear (enough for 5 days). Socks - 4
Hiking boots (always wear when carrying bag - may be disposed of )
Trainers - 1. Flipflops - 1. Pumps - 1
Next time toiletries!!
Later our wanderings took us into an Irish bar (or Ireland Bar as the sign described it) where we had a local beer and got chatting to a Russian lad with some English who kindly offered us a good rate on currency exchange and to show us places. We politely declined and left. We found another bar/restaurant which was much more entertaining as they were clearly just reopening after a refurbishment which was still being completed as we arrived. It was a great place for people watching although the food suggested the focus was more on style over substance. Great local band though - it was like Friday night at the Fighting Cocks a la Russian style.
Today we head back to the train station and travel overnight to our next destination Novosibirsk. This time travelling second class so that should be interesting. More on that next time.
Whilst I have the time I was going to answer a question my friend A asked. What's in your bag?? We are after all travelling for sometime through different climates. Both our bags are currently weighing in at about 11kg so slightly out of hand luggage but we will be disposing of things once we get out of the cold. Without stating the obvious everything we have is lightweight, easy wash/dry and requires no/little ironing
Contents (Me):
Blouse/ shirts - 3
Jeans - 2 (always travel in heavier ones)
Linen trousers - 1
Trackie/casual trousers - 1 (ideal for wearing on train)
PJ 3/4 bottoms - 1 (ideal for running to bathroom at night when staying in hostels)
Shorts -1
Vest tops - 4. T.shirts - 3
Sundress/long tops - 3
Swimming costume - 1. Scarf/sarong - 1
Long sleeved tops (including base layers) - 3. Hoodie - 1
Leggings - 1. Thermal leggings - 1
Underwear (enough for 5 days). Socks - 4
Hiking boots (always wear when carrying bag - may be disposed of )
Trainers - 1. Flipflops - 1. Pumps - 1
Next time toiletries!!
Train, taps and apps...
On our last day in Moscow the rain came. So when we arrived at the station it was dark wet and quite confusing. We eventually found the departure board with our train number and starred at it for 45 mins until our platform number came up. I should confess here that despite working abroad for several years and being quite a regular traveller and all round fairly relaxed person, I get very anxious about this part of the journey. I am convinced we are in the wrong place/wrong time and that something will go wrong. So Mr L has to work very hard to keep this in check.
We had already been told that here the carriage guard must be obeyed, so we dutifully waited (in the rain) until she was ready to receive us. Carriage 12 of 13 was made up of 9 1st class cabins and not all full. Our cabin (no.2) with wooden panels, had two bench seats already made up as beds and a small table between by the window, wall lights, mirrors, hooks and hangers - all very functional. A lot more spacious than our 20hr train journey in Canada where G and I had to negotiate room for our feet in a foot square of space. Plenty of room for sleeping, resting and reading.
Our breakfast for the following morning was delivered shortly after we set off at 10.36pm - a croissant, pot of jam (no knife) 3 dark chocolate bars, small bottle of water, 4 tic-tacs and a napkin. Tasty. We also had the opportunity to use our new discovery - a Google translate app that you download so you can use off line. The lady who delivered our breakfast was clearly trying to tell us something so using the app we were able to establish that she wanted us to order lunch for the following day. It's a very handy app to have and I would definitely recommend it.
When we woke it was daylight and it was nice to just float along and watch the world go by. The landscape was mainly woodland and flat interspersed with small villages made up of wooden houses and what looked like closed down derelict industrial units. The colour of the trees very vibrant against the grey skies. We stopped no more than half a dozen times until our station 36 hours later.
Lunch arrived at 12.05 a tasty (& hot) chicken schnitzel with potatoes and veg. No other food was provided and despite bringing nibbles we had definitely under catered.
The toilets on the train were akin to the Thameslink St.Pancras to St.Albans all stations train on a Saturday night, with a complicated tap system which resulted in you getting water over everywhere but your hands. Thankfully I packed hand gel.
We arrived in Tyumen at 9.36am local time (4hrs + UK). Here I would recommend another app that we tested out in Canada called gps navigation. You download a country beforehand and it works offline just like a sat nav so you don't need wifi. it got us straight to our accommodation a 25 min walk away.
So why stop in Tyumen? Well when we made our plans, we were sat in a park on a hot and sunny Sunday afternoon in central London, nursing Saturday night heads, reading through the Lonelyplanet Trans-Siberian Railway guide book and we picked Tyumen as a place of interest to spend two nights. Having arrived and reread the guidebook it is hard to understand why we thought that. It states "there's enough here to keep you mildly entertained for a day (or two)" . This hardly classifies it a 'must see' and having wandered around it yesterday we can confirm that there was not a great deal to hold our attention.
We had already been told that here the carriage guard must be obeyed, so we dutifully waited (in the rain) until she was ready to receive us. Carriage 12 of 13 was made up of 9 1st class cabins and not all full. Our cabin (no.2) with wooden panels, had two bench seats already made up as beds and a small table between by the window, wall lights, mirrors, hooks and hangers - all very functional. A lot more spacious than our 20hr train journey in Canada where G and I had to negotiate room for our feet in a foot square of space. Plenty of room for sleeping, resting and reading.
Our breakfast for the following morning was delivered shortly after we set off at 10.36pm - a croissant, pot of jam (no knife) 3 dark chocolate bars, small bottle of water, 4 tic-tacs and a napkin. Tasty. We also had the opportunity to use our new discovery - a Google translate app that you download so you can use off line. The lady who delivered our breakfast was clearly trying to tell us something so using the app we were able to establish that she wanted us to order lunch for the following day. It's a very handy app to have and I would definitely recommend it.
When we woke it was daylight and it was nice to just float along and watch the world go by. The landscape was mainly woodland and flat interspersed with small villages made up of wooden houses and what looked like closed down derelict industrial units. The colour of the trees very vibrant against the grey skies. We stopped no more than half a dozen times until our station 36 hours later.
Lunch arrived at 12.05 a tasty (& hot) chicken schnitzel with potatoes and veg. No other food was provided and despite bringing nibbles we had definitely under catered.
The toilets on the train were akin to the Thameslink St.Pancras to St.Albans all stations train on a Saturday night, with a complicated tap system which resulted in you getting water over everywhere but your hands. Thankfully I packed hand gel.
We arrived in Tyumen at 9.36am local time (4hrs + UK). Here I would recommend another app that we tested out in Canada called gps navigation. You download a country beforehand and it works offline just like a sat nav so you don't need wifi. it got us straight to our accommodation a 25 min walk away.
So why stop in Tyumen? Well when we made our plans, we were sat in a park on a hot and sunny Sunday afternoon in central London, nursing Saturday night heads, reading through the Lonelyplanet Trans-Siberian Railway guide book and we picked Tyumen as a place of interest to spend two nights. Having arrived and reread the guidebook it is hard to understand why we thought that. It states "there's enough here to keep you mildly entertained for a day (or two)" . This hardly classifies it a 'must see' and having wandered around it yesterday we can confirm that there was not a great deal to hold our attention.
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Bunions, trips and falls...
On our Second day in Moscow we ventured further afield to an area called Red October (yes, we did hunt for it!) described in the guide book as the new Shoreditch, set in an old Chocolate factory. Perhaps we got there too early (1pm) but there didn't seem to be much going on so we moved on to Gorky Park. We were expecting to see spies in hats and macs handing over secret documents (Philby style) what we got was a great space that families flock to, with exhibitions, sculpture garden, lots for children - all clean, well ordered and well kept. The weather was not quite so warm but it appears compulsory for all to wear their winter coats, for all children to wear winter hats and everyone to pose for photographs as if they were doing so for a glamour magazine - and the 'selfie' is definitely the order of the day. These things kept us throughly entertained on our walk through the park and we began to speculate if any children not wearing a hat were required to be reported to social services.
Later in the day we took a boat along the 'Moskva River'. In the scramble to get on board we managed to secure seats at the front and wrapped up in the (Ikea) blankets provided. Great views but no commentary - instead awful disco tunes from back in the day were being pumped out (I'm sure this included some lesser known tracks from the much maligned Jason Donovan). The trip went well, until the lady behind me decide to remove her shoes and stretched our her feet revealing her bunions. Not what we had come to Moscow to see! It got worse when as she fidgeted around her bunions came into contact with the back of my chair and rubbed against my (covered) bum. Yuck!!! I felt quite violated.
In the evening we found a cafeteria style restaurant near our accommodation where the food was fab and two courses plus beer/wine was less than £12.
Yesterday we ventured to the suburbs to collect our tickets for the train journey and got to see a bit more of the metro which has some unnecessarily opulent glass mosaics and lighting but made a refreshing change from the central line. We then headed to bunker 42, which is where secret stuff went on during the Cuban missile crisis and the Cold War. Very intersting although I was quite spooked when they got two volunteers (Mr L being one of them) to act out how buttons are pushed and codes are programmed into two of the nuclear control panels they had there Whilst the rest of us watched a screen showing how Mr L and the other volunteer were destroying the world. Mr L said he felt quite guilty after - said he was just following instructions. Hmmm that's what they all say.
We have done a huge amount of walking in Moscow - over 35 miles in three days so it was inevitable I would fall over. Those that know me well know this is a common occurrence. I was marching at the time so have no excuses. Thankfully no broken bones but a grazing and a nice bruise on my cheek.
I should also mention that the whole time we have been here there have been the most amazing displays all over town celebrating the arrival of autumn and the colour of the trees changing. With little markets, stalls, displays, arches over walkways all decorated with flowers leaves and lights. Really beautiful and a huge amount of effort put in.
So today we check out of our first airbnb experience. It was clean, functional, great location and at £97 for four days - I am not complaining, but luxury was never the plan for this trip and we certainly didn't get it. Tonight we board the Trans-Siberian Railway. We will be on the train for this first leg for 36 hrs so have booked first class. Will share that with you at our first stop Tyumen.
Later in the day we took a boat along the 'Moskva River'. In the scramble to get on board we managed to secure seats at the front and wrapped up in the (Ikea) blankets provided. Great views but no commentary - instead awful disco tunes from back in the day were being pumped out (I'm sure this included some lesser known tracks from the much maligned Jason Donovan). The trip went well, until the lady behind me decide to remove her shoes and stretched our her feet revealing her bunions. Not what we had come to Moscow to see! It got worse when as she fidgeted around her bunions came into contact with the back of my chair and rubbed against my (covered) bum. Yuck!!! I felt quite violated.
In the evening we found a cafeteria style restaurant near our accommodation where the food was fab and two courses plus beer/wine was less than £12.
Yesterday we ventured to the suburbs to collect our tickets for the train journey and got to see a bit more of the metro which has some unnecessarily opulent glass mosaics and lighting but made a refreshing change from the central line. We then headed to bunker 42, which is where secret stuff went on during the Cuban missile crisis and the Cold War. Very intersting although I was quite spooked when they got two volunteers (Mr L being one of them) to act out how buttons are pushed and codes are programmed into two of the nuclear control panels they had there Whilst the rest of us watched a screen showing how Mr L and the other volunteer were destroying the world. Mr L said he felt quite guilty after - said he was just following instructions. Hmmm that's what they all say.
We have done a huge amount of walking in Moscow - over 35 miles in three days so it was inevitable I would fall over. Those that know me well know this is a common occurrence. I was marching at the time so have no excuses. Thankfully no broken bones but a grazing and a nice bruise on my cheek.
I should also mention that the whole time we have been here there have been the most amazing displays all over town celebrating the arrival of autumn and the colour of the trees changing. With little markets, stalls, displays, arches over walkways all decorated with flowers leaves and lights. Really beautiful and a huge amount of effort put in.
So today we check out of our first airbnb experience. It was clean, functional, great location and at £97 for four days - I am not complaining, but luxury was never the plan for this trip and we certainly didn't get it. Tonight we board the Trans-Siberian Railway. We will be on the train for this first leg for 36 hrs so have booked first class. Will share that with you at our first stop Tyumen.
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Amsterdam to Russia with love..
Here is what we would like to have done in Amsterdam: canal trip, visit museums, bike tour, stroll around the city finding interesting places to stop off at. What happened? Rain. Lots and lots of it. All day. So what we actually managed to do was a visit to a museum, took a long hike across town to join a bike tour that the guide didn't even bother to turn up to as no one (apart from us obviously) was mad enough to want to do because the weather was so awful and pretty much nothing else. The visit to the MOMO museum was excellent. An exhibition of Banksy and Warhol. The Warhol pieces were things we had seen before but the Banksy work was really interesting and some great pieces including a film 'exit through the gift shop'. We didn't manage to see all of the film but we were so intrigued we watched the rest later on YouTube. Worth a watch.
We went back to boutique view hotel (still no sign of the boutique or view) to dry off and when the rain eventually stopped we ventured out again to eat and visit the red light district. The rain waited until we were the furthest point from our hotel and then it returned. So after two soakings we gave up. Sure it can rain anywhere so I don't hold a grudge against you Amsterdam but to sum you up; a city where the bike is king. Step into the road and it's your fault if you get hit (I saved Mr L on more than one occasion); the paths are too narrow (blocked by parked bicycles) and the maps unfathomable. Mr L thinks I'm being harsh but that's I how I see it. Anyway we left Amsterdam and headed to Russia.
As a child growing up, Russia was depicted as a place of spies, men in dark clothing, usually the baddie in a film, bleak and cold. What we found in Moscow challenged all of that. On our first full day in Moscow the sky was blue, the sun shone and the people could not have been more tolerant of my complete inability to properly pronounce any of the words I had been rehearsing on the flight over. It was as if everything I had ever watched on TV about Russia was filmed in black and white. Here in the flesh the colours of the buildings are vibrant, bright and of course Red Square is surrounded by red buildings but other colours too. We went into St. Basil's cathedral - the one I would describe as the turreted building that has hats on it - each hat is a different church full of icons (Mathew you would love it). We watched the soldiers march by the tomb of the unknown soldier and we toured the Kremlin which is huge and also has another five churches/cathedrals within the grounds as well as a strange fake rock I noticed hiding in the foliage. Mr L said it was an actual rock but I'm having none of it. It was definitely suspicious. In the evening we ventured to a local bar where we were supplied with complimentary vodkas (rude to say no). See - very friendly!
We went back to boutique view hotel (still no sign of the boutique or view) to dry off and when the rain eventually stopped we ventured out again to eat and visit the red light district. The rain waited until we were the furthest point from our hotel and then it returned. So after two soakings we gave up. Sure it can rain anywhere so I don't hold a grudge against you Amsterdam but to sum you up; a city where the bike is king. Step into the road and it's your fault if you get hit (I saved Mr L on more than one occasion); the paths are too narrow (blocked by parked bicycles) and the maps unfathomable. Mr L thinks I'm being harsh but that's I how I see it. Anyway we left Amsterdam and headed to Russia.
As a child growing up, Russia was depicted as a place of spies, men in dark clothing, usually the baddie in a film, bleak and cold. What we found in Moscow challenged all of that. On our first full day in Moscow the sky was blue, the sun shone and the people could not have been more tolerant of my complete inability to properly pronounce any of the words I had been rehearsing on the flight over. It was as if everything I had ever watched on TV about Russia was filmed in black and white. Here in the flesh the colours of the buildings are vibrant, bright and of course Red Square is surrounded by red buildings but other colours too. We went into St. Basil's cathedral - the one I would describe as the turreted building that has hats on it - each hat is a different church full of icons (Mathew you would love it). We watched the soldiers march by the tomb of the unknown soldier and we toured the Kremlin which is huge and also has another five churches/cathedrals within the grounds as well as a strange fake rock I noticed hiding in the foliage. Mr L said it was an actual rock but I'm having none of it. It was definitely suspicious. In the evening we ventured to a local bar where we were supplied with complimentary vodkas (rude to say no). See - very friendly!
Thursday, 29 September 2016
And we are off!
So. Day 1 of the big adventure. I had not expected the lead up to be quite so busy. The week before - a trip to London for visas, hair cut, medication and cheeky drinks; a big birthday celebration for A; GR in hospital (thankfully home and Al ist fully recovered) and someone driving into our car. So as we set off for the airport we were both pretty shattered. The 45 minute flight to Amsterdam was hardly long enough to drink my Sav Blanc Chardonnay (if there is such a thing) before landing.
We got the 197 from outside the airport and if dropped us up a hop, skip and a stagger to our hotel - Boutique View ( though I have yet to see it from our window). Great 60's style chair though with a spray painted picture of two hands holding a saxophone on the wall. We ventured out for a couple of hours to explore and find a few bars. We headed back, having been beaten by the excitement and emotions of the day, only to find the Maldon Ukelele Orchestra, practising on the breakfast room/cafe of our hotel - the room right about ours! For once we were disappointed by the excellent soundproofing - who doesn't love the sound of a Ukelele to help them get off to sleep?! Next time more about Amsterdam. L&S
We got the 197 from outside the airport and if dropped us up a hop, skip and a stagger to our hotel - Boutique View ( though I have yet to see it from our window). Great 60's style chair though with a spray painted picture of two hands holding a saxophone on the wall. We ventured out for a couple of hours to explore and find a few bars. We headed back, having been beaten by the excitement and emotions of the day, only to find the Maldon Ukelele Orchestra, practising on the breakfast room/cafe of our hotel - the room right about ours! For once we were disappointed by the excellent soundproofing - who doesn't love the sound of a Ukelele to help them get off to sleep?! Next time more about Amsterdam. L&S
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