HAUAK-College

Off to Barcelona

Quickly put the last things in the suitcase and on to the airport. At the airport it turned out that I had been a bit too enthusiastic with the liquids… They didn't all fit in the special 1 liter bags they had at the airport, so I unfortunately had to throw half away. After a short flight of almost 2 hours we were in Barcelona. The hotel where we stayed was not big, but fine for just overnight stay. After unpacking the suitcases, we quickly got some groceries at the Carrefour that was around the corner. It really was a madhouse there, it was so busy…. And that at a quarter to 9 in the evening when the store was about to close!

start slow

The first real day in Barcelona we started slowly. In the morning we had breakfast at a bakery that was located in the street of the hotel. Here we ate delicious toasted sandwiches with a glass of fresh orange juice. Then we went to look at some shops and walked past beautiful buildings. It is highly recommended to walk on the La Rambla. This is a very long street with many cozy terraces and nice souvenir shops. You can also buy a delicious ice cream or if you prefer something healthy, you can buy fresh fruit in the market hall located on La Rambla. Then we walked through the beautiful parks in the city and in the afternoon we went to the zoo. The zoo was still quite big, but we managed to see all the animals and take some nice pictures. That way I could have taken a nice picture of a huge bear. We ended the day with a delicious meal on a terrace. I had a Burrito with Nachos and my niece opted for a pizza. We still had time after dinner. Sitting in our hotel room was not really an option. The hotel room was not that big and it would be a shame not to use all the time you have in Barcelona! So we decided to visit the aquarium of Barcelona. The aquarium was located on a separate part in Barcelona, ​​namely a small island. On that island were all cozy shops and restaurants. In the aquarium itself there was a section where you could view the sea creatures very well. There was a conveyor belt that went right through the aquarium. This was very impressive! You could just see the sharks, rays and other sea creatures swimming all around you at a short distance!

The huge bear at the zooThe huge bear at the zoo

The delicious Burrito with NachosThe delicious Burrito with Nachos

Sagrada Familia and Park Guell

We planned to see the Sagrada Família in the morning, but unfortunately it was so busy that you had to buy the tickets first and only come back later. That's why we went to Park Guëll after buying the tickets… Unfortunately we had bad luck there, because Park Guëll was just as busy as at the Sagrada Família. That's why I bought tickets for Park Güell to be able to go back later. We really kept traveling up and down, because we could almost enter the Sagrada Família in the meantime, so we went back there. Once in the Sagrada Família we were amazed, what a beautiful church! It was very modern inside, we really didn't expect that. The stained glass windows had beautiful colors and patterns and the church was also very light and open inside. Park Guell was also really beautiful, especially all the mosaic there was very beautiful! After that we had - very cliché - been in a tourist bus that drove past some sights of Barcelona. We were quite tired from all the walking, so we could still see some things that way. At the end of the day we went to Corte d'Ingles, which is a very large department store of 8 floors where you can buy everything from groceries for food to clothing, electricity and home decoration. Such a great department store!

The beautiful stained glass windows of the Sagrada FamíliaThe beautiful stained glass windows of the Sagrada Família

Park Güell has a lot of beautiful mosaic Park Güell has a lot of beautiful mosaic

The fountain show

In the morning we had breakfast again at the bread shop. We had returned to the bread shop every day because the toasted sandwiches were so good there. The employees therefore already recognized us and they knew exactly what we were going to order. Then we went to the beach. We didn't bring any swimsuits, so we took off our slippers and had a great timeWe walked our feet through the sea to cool off a bit. Unfortunately today was our last day in Barcelona. We had been told by our hotel receptionist that there was a fountain show Thursday through Sunday. We were just able to attend this fountain show, because today was Thursday. The fountain is also called the 'magic fountain' because during the show the fountain is lit up with pop and classical music in the background. The show was really wonderful! Also the location of the fountain was very nice. The fountain was located next to a huge palace that now serves as a museum. And press that it was there! We were there more than half an hour in advance, but could hardly sit down. There were people everywhere, on the fountain itself, but also on the walls and stairs of the palace. The fountain show was a great end to our vacation in Barcelona!

We chose an accommodation through Airbnb. This is a site where you can, for example, rent a bed or sometimes even a couch at someone's home. They also have complete apartments for rent, which we liked and that is why we chose a complete apartment. Especially if you travel with a group, this is the ideal option, and much more fun than all separately in a hotel room. After days of searching the site, we had found a suitable apartment with four beds in the Norrebro district. This is a very hip neighborhood that is easily accessible.

Time to settle down

After only a short one and a half hour flight we arrived in Copenhagen. We could easily reach the center by train and from there it was a short bus ride to our apartment. Once there we were given a short tour and the key. We rushed to the supermarket on the corner to quickly get our breakfast for the next morning. After a wonderful night and a homemade breakfast we walked to the bicycle shop at the end of the street where you could rent bicycles. Here we rented four lovely city bikes for the next few days. Just like Amsterdam, Copenhagen is a real cycling city, so as a tourist this is the ideal means of transport to discover the city.

Rent a bike in Copenhagen Rent a bike in Copenhagen

Mini village Christiania

With a map in our pocket we went to our first sight, Christiania, a self-proclaimed semi-independent neighborhood in the middle of Copenhagen. It is a strange place that you absolutely must have seen. In this mini village you have one street called 'Pusher Street' where soft drugs are sold. The government tolerates this, but nevertheless the 'sellers' make sure that they are unrecognizable. They do this by wearing Balaclavas, which created a rather grim and scary atmosphere, nothing for us and we quickly walked through it. As soon as you get close to this 'street' there are signs that say "no photo or video footage". When you see those men in balaclavas, you'll think twice about getting your camera. The rest of this free state has a rather hippie feel, people with dreadlocks playing music everywhere. There are also some "restaurants" where you can buy delicious mostly vegan things.

A gate with two totem poles as you exit the Free State of ChristianiaA gate with two totem poles as you exit the Free State of Christiania

Hippie-like and colorful house in ChristianiaHippie-like and colorful house in Christiania

Delicious ice cream and good tips

After this special experience it was time for an ice cream. The sun was shining so we went to an ice cream parlor on the water where they have delicious ice cream. At Siciliansk Is you can get real Italian ice cream, because the owner is Italian and they can make the best ice creams. The owner's girlfriend happened to be in the ice cream parlor and she turned out to be Dutch. We were secretly allowed to go to the toilet and she gave us nice tips regarding nice restaurants and places to go out. I will tell more about this later.

The famous Nyhaven

From here we cycle to the famous harbor, Nyhavn. From here you have a great view and you enter busy, touristy Copenhagen. There are many restaurants on the water, these are often unaffordable. I therefore recommend that you get a nice sandwich from a small eatery and take it with you to eat in the sun on a square or by the water. Much cheaper but no less tasty or cozy.

The famous Nyhaven with fishing boats and colorful housesThe famous Nyhaven with fishing boats and colorful houses

Eating delicious pizzas at Mother

After this it was time to cycle to the number 1 most famous landmark in Copenhagen... Yes, the mermaid! Don't expect a huge statue, but expect a lot of tourists. But despite the fact that the statue is not much, you must have been here. In the evening we had dinner at 'Mother' on the advice of the girl in the ice cream parlor. This is an Italian restaurant where you can only get pizzas. Mother is located in the hip Kodbyen district. These pizzas are prepared in a stone oven. You can't book here and it is super busy here at the weekend, you can sit both inside and outside, outside there are blankets so that even in colder weather it is good to sit outside. Unfortunately, it takes a very long time before you get your pizza, because there is only 1 oven. If you finally get it after at least 1.5 hours of waiting, then it is also very tasty! The atmosphere here is great and there are a lot of other restaurants nearby if you don't like pizza. You can also pop into a pub after dinner to drink priceless wine. Expensive but fun, so just factor this in and enjoy!

Stock up on goodies at the bakery

After a very successful day we fell tired but satisfied in slaap. The next morning we walked to the bakery to get all delicious sandwiches. That was fun! And the choice was huge… However, we are not very good at making choices, so we bought almost the entire bakery empty and shared everything. Concentrate for another day of exploring the city!

The tastiest Danish delicacies in the Torvehallerne

The next day was mainly dominated by shopping, lounging and eating. And if you're talking about food, you should pay a visit to 'Torvehallerne'. This is a modern covered market hall and here they have the best Danish delicacies, but also cups of coffee, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, cheeses, wraps and so on. So don't walk through this with an empty stomach because the prices again don't lie. Buy something small here and sit outside in the sun.

Outside in the sun at the harbor at the TorvehallerneOutside in the sun at the harbor at the Torvehallerne

And walking and cycling makes you hungry again, so in the evening we ate a delicious hamburger at 'Halifax', here they have divine burgers with fries and/or a salad. There is also a vegetarian option so something for everyone!

Eating burgers at Halifax with his 4th Eating burgers at Halifax with his 4th

Extensive lunch at The Laundromat Café

After another very successful day, we watched a movie in our apartment and then slept like babies again. The last day we decided to have an extensive brunch at 'The Laundromat Café' before we had to go back to the airport. Here you can have a very extensive lunch and believe me this will get you through the next few hours. Apparently this is something a lot of Danes do on Sundays because it's super busy everywhere.

keepsake

At the airport we decided to buy a souvenir. A memento of this successful city trip and of our friendship. May this one last for many more years and that we may make many more trips together.

Written by Marina de Graaf

The flight goes very smoothly, we get a hot meal and soft drink, coffee or tea. At 3.10 pm the time has come, and we land at Luga Airport. The shuttle bus drops us off at the building with the departure and arrival halls. After a short walk towards the baggage claim and a fifteen minute wait, our suitcases appear and we can walk towards the arrivals hall. An English speaking Jiba hostess is waiting for us here. After we are complete, the group is divided into different vans and taken to the hotels. We ourselves stay at the Bayview Hotel in Sliema.

At 16.00 we arrive at the hotel and after checking in we proceed to our hotel room. The room is small with a small balcony, but has an impressive view over the bay, Manoel Island and 'The Strand'. There is a lot of traffic on the beautiful boulevard.

For dinner we go to an English looking place called the 'Black Gold Saloon'. Large and excellent meals are served to us for a good price. We close the evening with a walk on the boulevard, there is a fresh wind blowing.

Day 2 – Visit to Valletta 1

Our day starts with breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel where we are staying. This one is good and cared for. After this we leave for Valletta, the capital of Malta. There is a bus stop in front of the door, where we get on one of the old buses that are still driving around Malta. We buy a bus ticket from the bus driver for only € 0.47 and 20 minutes later we are in the extraordinarily large square with the Triton fountain.

Then we walk into Valletta. We follow Republic Street to Fort Elmo. In between we take a look at the St. John's Co-Cathedral, where a service has just started. We walk on towards Republic Street and take a coffee break at a terrace on Republic Square, at Caffe Cordina. After we are fully recharged, we continue to Palace Square. Here we admire the beautiful palace 'The Main Guard' and the 'Grandmasters's Palace' (Buckingham Palace). Unfortunately, due to restoration work, the garden cannot be visited and we continue our tour via St. Christopher Street to the Lower Barraca Gardens. Here we enjoy a great view of the three knight cities Bormla, Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Senglea. We then continue towards Fort Street Elmo and pass the Siege Bell Memorial. In this street we visit the National War Museum. The entrance tickets are € 4.50 per person. We were here 15 years ago, in 1996, and the museum has now doubled in size.

After this great entertainment we walk through the English Curtain to St. Michael Street. A few stairs down and via Archbishop Street we are back at Caffe Cordina, where we treat ourselves to a delicious lunch. After this break we walk towards the main gate and visit Hastings Gardens, a beautiful flower garden with history. We continue over the city gate to the Upper Barracca Gardens. Here we experience an oasis of tranquility and a beautiful view of the three knights' cities and surroundings.

After a cultural day we are tired and satisfied and we walk back to the huge bus terminal. We will be back at our hotel at 5 pm and we will relax for a while. Near the hotel is the snack bar 'Chick King' where we eat our evening meal. After having eaten our fill, we take a walk on the boulevard. On the way it is still cool, so we quickly return to our hotel.

Valletta, Malta, building on the waterValletta, Malta, building on the water

Day 3 – Malta Sightseeing Tour

After enjoying the breakfast buffet again, we make an appointment with the Jiba representative at the reception. We book three excursions: a half day trip to Mdina, the three cities excursion including a gondola ride and finally the Gozo day trip.

As the afternoon approaches, we walk to Fort Manoel. On the way we pass, very nice, a duck shelter. Besides ducks, there are also other birds and even guinea pigs and a cat that are taken care of. When we stand in front of the fort, unfortunately it turns out not to be accessible to visitors. This was unfortunately not indicated in advance, so just a short coffee break in our hotel.

When we arrive at the boulevard, we take itdecides to join a Malta Sightseeing tour, in which we can participate for €15. With the double-decker bus we take a 4 hour ride over part of Malta. It is a hop on hop off system, but we spend most of the ride at the top of the bus in the open air.

The route goes from Sliema to Valletta, then we pass the Hypogeum, continue to Senglea Point, Vittoriosa Waterfront, passing Bieb-ls-Sultan and arriving in Zejtun. We make a stop at the Paris Church and St. Gregory's Church and take a break. 20 minutes later the drive continues and we drive on to Marsaxlokk, meanwhile we still see the St. Lucian Tower and we make a fleeting stop at the Ghar Dhalam Cave, Hagar Qim & Mnajdra, the blue cave, the Malta Falconry Centre, Limestone Heritage and via Sta. Venera, Gzira, St. Julian's we drive back to Sliema.

We'll be back at The Strand at 3:15 PM. The ride at the top of the bus was a lot of fun but also windy. But we can't complain, because we had nice weather all day. We eat dinner again in the Black Gold Saloon and then we almost walk to the end of the boulevard, where we have a beautiful view of Valletta.

Day 4 – Mdina, half day excursion

Today we are going to do a half day excursion to Mdina. The coach arrives right on time and we drive to Msida, where we pick up the last people who participate in the Mdina excursion.

After everyone has arrived we drive on to visit the St. Anton Gardens, near the presidential palace in Attard. Unfortunately the weather is not as nice as yesterday, it is raining today. The participants of the excursion who are with us are Dutch and English speaking.

After the tour of the garden, our journey continues to Rabat and Mdina. The rain comes pouring down from the sky. After a look at the city wall we have a break of half an hour, which we spend almost entirely in a nearby restaurant. When we come back, the sun has broken through. We leave Mdina at 12.30 pm and travel on to Dingli, where we make a photo stop at the cliffs rising high from the sea. We also visit the small Madelena Chapel.

Those who have booked a half-day excursion, which includes us, are then taken back to the hotels by vans. When we get back, we take a walk on the boulevard until we arrive at Tigné Point. Here we have a beautiful view of Sliema, Valletta and Manoel Island.

alley Mdina, Maltaalley Mdina, Malta

Day 5 – The Three Knights' Cities, Half Day Tour

Today we do another half-day excursion, this time to the three knights' cities. We are picked up by a minibus at 9 in the morning and we drive to Senglea, one of the knights' cities. Our guide is already waiting there, together with a number of participants who were also there yesterday. When we are all there, the excursion will start.

What we hear and see is all very interesting and instructive. The authenticity of Senglea is the garden and the old St. Michaels fortress, with a special watchtower with 2 eyes, ears and a pelican. The other parts were destroyed by the Germans in the Second World War and subsequently restored. We continue the road through some narrow streets to the quay opposite Vittoriosa. From here we do a cruise through the Grand Harbor with a number of gondolas. We can see the interesting fortifications from the other side. We are very happy to experience this.

45 minutes later the trip is over and we can view the interesting fortifications from the other side. We get off in Vittoriosa and walk on. Along the way we encounter many interesting things. By the time the excursion is over it is 12.00 and we are taken back to the vans, at 12.30 we arrive back at our hotel. We take a long walk and have dinner on time. Then we walk to the boulevard.

Day 6 – Gozo, day excursion

Today we go to Gozo, this is a full day excursion. We are picked up by the coach on time, at 08.15. He will also pass by a number of other hotels to pick up the other participants. Two hours later we arrive at the ferry terminal. There is a huge crowd and we have to wait half an hour before we can take the ferry. The old ships from the Netherlands no longer sail, the newer ships are more modern.

After a crossing of 25 minutes that we spend on the upper deck in the sun we arrive in Mgarr. We look for the right coach and it takes us to Ggantija, very impressive to see this again after 15 years. After this we drive to Dwejra, where we admire the Fungus Rock and the Azure Window for half an hour. The journey continues to Xlendi, where you can visit a liqueur and wine tasting, and/or a lace shop. After driving a bit further, we stop at a restaurant where we have a nice cup of coffeeeat lunch. After this we go into Xlendi for half an hour, to look around. Beautiful views can be seen here. After this we go to Victoria, where we can tour the citadel and visit the market. Then the excursion comes to an end and we are brought back to Malta. We look for our bus to the hotel and arrive back at the hotel at 19:15. We eat another snack in the hotel restaurant.

Rock in the sea, Gozo, holiday MaltaRock in the sea, Gozo, holiday Malta

Day 7 – Visit to Valletta 2

Our last day in Malta has arrived. We decide to go to Valletta for a while and leave mid-morning. The same bus driver as last time takes us to the town.

As soon as we enter Valletta, a drum band marches up with a number of soldiers behind it. We walk through Republic Street and rest on a terrace. After this we walk to the Old Theater Street, where there is a market up to Merchant Street. Very amusing to walk over here and look around. After we've seen enough, we walk to the Grand Masters Palace, because we think the entrance fee is too high, we don't visit it, just like the St. John's Co-Cathedral. After we have captured a number of things on photo, we have lunch on the terrace of Caffe Cordina, where we also sat the week before. From the terrace we have a view of the beautiful building of 'The Main Guard'. We walk further towards the capital gate and buy some souvenirs.

It takes a while to find a bus, but we find one and we are taken back to the hotel. Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding took place today, so here's a recap. Then we have dinner and walk another half hour on The Strand. That evening there are fireworks in Valletta, which we still get some of.

Day 8 – From Malta to Schiphol

Today is the day and we are going back home. We get up at 4.50 am and are picked up at 5.30 am by a van that takes us to Luga Airport. We will fly at 08.05 and arrive at Schiphol at 11.15. The check-in goes fairly quickly and at 07:40 we board the plane.

Unfortunately, there are problems with control/security and there is an announcement that the flight will be delayed. An hour later we are still standing still and there is an announcement that there are technical problems. In the end we can leave at half past nine and we have been delayed for 1.5 hours. A delicious English breakfast is provided on the plane. We encountered quite a bit of turbulence along the way.

At 12.15 we land and we are back on Dutch soil. We collect the luggage and leave for the car. We load our things and leave for home. We look back on a great holiday and enjoyed it very much! The hotel was also fine.

We booked through D-Reizen, but unfortunately without a transfer. How were we going to do that, hire a taxi or what? We asked the hotel if they had a transfer service, but they referred us to the tram. After much hesitation, I went for the tram and did not regret it for a second. At home we downloaded the M tickets app and bought tickets through the app. You have to order tickets for 10 pounds, but later we found out that you can also share tickets. The return tickets from the airport to the center were £8.50 per person. We have booked a day ticket for bus and tram in the center for 4 pounds. And so we made our own hop on hop off bus. At the airport you walk out the door and you walk right into the tram. You swipe your ticket in the app, then it is activated and when the inspector comes, you show your phone, very simple. The tram has free WiFi and very nice, large luggage racks for your suitcase. It's just ideal and in 30 minutes you are in the center of Edinburgh. It was a five minute walk to the hotel in our case, not a penny of pain. Next time we'll just take the tram again.

We were not allowed to check in at our hotel before 3 p.m., luckily we were allowed to leave the suitcases behind and so we explored the city very early. Great city, many impressions! Funny taxis, telephone booths that are still in operation, double-decker buses and just the old familiar red buses. A must see is definitely the castle! There are several here, but this one you can't miss, towers above everything and everyone! It seems that even every day at 13.00 a cannon is still fired, but unfortunately we did not get that.

The Castle in EdinburghThe Castle in Edinburgh

Furthermore, you should of course not skip the many pubs with the types of beer and the many types of whiskey. Many of the pubs often have live music too! And of course Bobby is also worth a visit. Bobby is a dog who has been watching over his owner's grave for fourteen, until he eventually dies too.

Bobby is also buried in the same cemetery as his owner, he is just inside the gates of the cemetery. The cemetery is behind the Greyfriars Bobby pub. Be sure to take a look here because it is very impressive and really appeals to the imagination. There seems to be a story that Harry Potter was proverbially born in the Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling first put it on paper. I can imagine it because all the buildings and everything appeals to the imagination in Edinburgh.

A pub in the centerA pub in the center

After a fish and chips with a Lager in Haymarket it was time for bed. Haymarket looks like a neat restaurant from the outside and then you go in. You imagine yourself in a living room with armchairs, a bookcase and of course a very large bar. Haymarket is actually a pub, you order food at the bar, they don't serve. Nice to take a look inside here. But bedtime, because we're going on a Highlands tour with Grayline.

Highlands tour

I can certainly recommend Grayline. They will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, in the evening the drop off is somewhere else but no more than a 5 or 10 minute walk from your hotel. We had Dougie as driver (Douglas officially). He's funny, has a lovely Scottish accent, so you're missing half of his story, but he knows an awful lot about the history. The first stop was in Callander, half an hour to have breakfast. We had already done this, so we only took a few pictures. Callander is also known as the gateway to the Highlands. From here you drive into the Highlands. The second stop is for 10 minutes at Glencoe. Beautiful and if you're not in love with the Highlands yet, you won't be!

GlencoeGlencoe

Loch Ness

A surprise at Glencoe, a young lad was here playing the bagpipes at full throttle. I thought that was great! I'm glad that the youth also know how to play the bagpipes, because I don't want to think about that dying out, that would be a shame. Then after a long drive we arrived at Fort Augustus, better known as Loch Ness. If you want to do this trip, keep in mind that the main part of the trip is Loch Ness and the rest is just an afterthought. Here you could book a boat trip for 13 pounds per person and you will stop here for at least two hours!

Loch NessLoch Ness

Nessie not found unfortunately and on again. You pass the most beautiful castles, the most beautiful places, but you literally pass everywhere. Unfortunately the bus does not stop for photos etc. We did get a good impression of the Highlands, so much so that we decided to go back ourselves with a camper and then make a round trip.

Arthur's Seat

The next morning we had to get up early because we wanted to photograph the sunrise from Arthurs Seat. A tip: don't go right up the mountainon!! We went up the mountain to the right, a steep toddler path you are already at the end of the mountain and then you come there and it turns out that you have to go down a long way again, to finally be able to go up on the left. So start on the left that will save you a lot of frustration and effort. The view over the city was disappointing, of course it just started to fog when we got to the top, so everything was fine.

The hotel

We will definitely go back to Scotland and Edinburgh. Where I will definitely not go again is hotel Piries. What a bad hotel, so bad I really have never experienced! Check-in was only allowed from 3 p.m., if you wanted to check in after 11 a.m. you could do that for a fee of £10. Suitcases could be stored for free. We had a room at the bottom of the stairs. My husband said that is very noisy, they said no because this is only a small hotel with few guests. Well you could hear everyone coming in, going upstairs etc. Our room overlooked the courtyard garden but you didn't have to open the window as the staff were smoking under the window. There were dirty stains on the bed (I think Rob Geus's bull has been around for a long time), the towels were very conveniently draped on this. On the first morning at breakfast, the clerk came in, grabs a handful of muffins from the breakfast buffet and eats them at the counter. The sandwiches were from yesterday, so hard not to get through. We had been to Arthurs Seat, arrived at 10:08 am and were not allowed to have breakfast because breakfast stopped at 10 am. We were allowed to have a cup of coffee, but it would be put in the room on the bill. While we were still there, we saw the breakfast staff just put the sandwiches back in a bag with the new sandwiches. And meanwhile, the receptionist started making sandwiches for himself. Really no service this hotel, stay far away from here.

In summer Intersail sails along the Dutch dunes, transfers you to Texel and then returns to Amsterdam via the IJsselmeer. You sleep on a converted cargo boat called 'Christina', cycle through the dunes and visit harbor towns such as Enkhuizen and Hoorn. How do you keep a cool head when the beaches and harbors bulge and the numbers of cows and birds in the meadow decline steadily?

Departure and arrival are in the center of Amsterdam. On Saturday afternoon the boat sails via Zaandam to Alkmaar. The skipper of the Christina is called Toon. Henny is the accompanying cook. The tour group has sixteen participants. They are distributed like herrings in a barrel over ten tiny huts. At the end of the journey there are fifteen left. Some traveling companions are relatives, who left for South Africa at a young age. After the first dinner, 'Sarie Marijs' resounds through the hold.

In Zaandam we go by bike to Alkmaar. The picturesque Zaanse Schans, the beautifully restored harbor of Krommenie and the beautiful Alkmaardermeer show themselves from their best side. The bicycle junction signs point the way, but are not always easy to find. We spend the night in the harbor of Alkmaar. The cabins are noisy. A traveling companion wanders the deck into the wee hours.

Sunday we go by bike to Den Helder, via the woods near Bergen aan Zee and the seawall of Petten. The parking lots at the beach are filling up. The beaches at Bergen and Texel are among the busiest areas in North Holland. Sunday 21 July 2013 is a great day. Between Camperduin and Petten, the outside of the seawall offers a special experience. There is a lot of water to be seen as we turn the head to the wind. The view from the dune tops at Sint Maartenszee is extremely beautiful. The slanting clipped pines serve as a parasol and provide a magnificent panorama. We swim at the beach entrance of Callantsoog. Towards Den Helder the row of dunes becomes narrower. This is where the adjacent flower fields and meadows come into view. At Den Helder we cycle along the outside of the seawall again, to find the Christina in the Marina. The dinner is excellent, Henny is an excellent cook.

During the crossing, the Christina calls at the historic fishing port of Oude Schild and not the ferry sidewalk of Texel. We explore the island through two circles along the edge. First via the main town of Den Burg to Ecomare, then along the Slufter to the lighthouse and finally back along the Wadden dike. The next day from the harbor towards the ferry, via Den Hoorn to the beach at De Koog and then back via Den Burg.

Beach Texel de Koog, drawingBeach Texel de Koog, drawing

There is a market in Den Burg on Monday morning. At Ecomare we seek refreshment in the woods. We have against the wind towards the lighthouse on the north cape of the island. De Slufter broke through the first row of dunes not long ago. Now the seawater is allowed to flow in and out in a controlled manner and a special saltwater environment is created, which periodically overflows. Texel is a paradise for beachgoers, paddlers and hikers and an Eldorado for birds. Hidden in the forest and the dune valleys are numerous holiday colonies, a short distance from the sea. Significantly fewer holidaymakers come to the side of the mudflats. We cycle for a few hours along the bottom of the dike and only meet a handful of holidaymakers and a lost birdwatcher. The low sun at the end of the afternoon makes the salt marshes an experience. Beautiful colors mark the mudflats, rotting weeds turn from green to yellow and white. I see a Spoonbill within the dike, which creates water plants on its own, and I follow the bird concert closely. The next afternoon I draw the beach and conveniently forget the sunbathers, who are simmering en masse.

IJsselmeer, Enkhuizen, DrawingIJsselmeer, Enkhuizen, Drawing

There is confusion when we come on deck on Tuesday afternoon 23 July! The wandering companion disembarked and departed with an unknown destination. A search yields nothing. Then there were only fifteen left. The grim tune of Drs. P. 'Death ride' (1974) is urgent. Omsk is a beautiful city but just a bit too far away. The Christina sets course over the Wadden Sea to the locks at Den Oever, to reach the IJsselmeer through the Afsluitdijk. Seals are basking on sandbanks. We quickly passed the lock at Den Oever. The fresh water of the IJsselmeer smells different and the mosquitoes are looking for the attack. The three-course dinner, served on deck while sailing, is nothing short of spectacular. The shore of the Wieringermeer becomes more and more frayed towards Medenblik due to scattered shrubs. Suddenly the skipper stops the boat and we can dive into the IJsselmeer. This water turns out to be five degrees warmer than the North Sea. I take a chance and am amazed.

The skipper leaves Medenblik on the right to moor in Enkhuizen. The church tower of Enkhuizen formsa striking beacon from the water. Enkhuizen accommodates the brown fleet and has several marinas for modern ships. Grown up boys and girls dive from the harbor head. It remains unsettled until late in the evening.

We visit the city center of Enkhuizen, where the VOC has left its mark. The Zuiderzee Museum consists of a village of monuments, which were originally scattered along the Zuiderzee. From austere sailors' cottages and village schools to opulent shops and workshops of wealthy shipowners and craftsmen. You can tie fishing nets and buy smoked herring. The heritage includes buildings, ships, traditional costumes, juicy stories and songs of life. In contrast, modern art is on display. My eye falls on Delft blue clogs with high heels by fashion designers Victor & Rolf. In Hoorn, the Christina is moored at the wooden pier head, where Bontekoe's cabin boys peek over the dike and the lock gates are constantly open.

Wooden Head Horn, drawingWooden Head Horn, drawing

Underneath the dike to Volendam, you can especially enjoy the meadow. The Christina is located directly on the Markermeer. There we are treated to the last dinner. When the sun sets, all ships take on a red glow, resembling freshly polished copper.

Volendam, Markermeer, drawingVolendam, Markermeer, drawing

We sail the last leg from Volendam to Amsterdam on the Christina. During the boat trip on the Markermeer we come across the 'Horse of Marken', as the characteristic lighthouse is called. Behind a breakwater lies IJburg, the newest district of Amsterdam and the harbor front of Java Island. The ostentatious bra bridge is reminiscent of the work of Marlies Dekkers: a curvier, hung in the ropes. In the Oranjesluizen, Toon terrifies the skippers of motor yachts with his colossus. An immense cruise ship (12 high) lies along the quay of the IJ and changes the Christina from Goliath into David in one fell swoop. In addition to the dunes, the sea walls and the harbor heads make a great impression.

Skipper Toon is so enthusiastic about this travel story that all traveling companions receive an email. The best response comes from South Africa.

“Baie dankie vir those photos but spread vir that beautiful newsreel with drawings Johan! This is going to be a lovely memory that I will read from my knders (although you will just understand those drawings). Beautiful day!"

With the rental car we drive to Ravensdown Guesthouse. Here we have booked a - very small - room. The owner of the guesthouse speaks good Dutch, because his wife is from the Netherlands. When we have put the suitcases in the room, we take the bus to the city. Driving in Edinburgh by car is not going well. And there are extra people outside today because of the Edinburgh International Festival. This large cultural festival with many performances takes place every year in August and lasts 3 weeks. The official festival consists of opera, classical music, ballet and drama. But there is also the Edinburgh Fringe, a somewhat alternative festival, which is just as big in size. Leaflets and artists recruit visitors to their shows on the street. There are also a lot of street artists active. Today it is nice and warm and sunny.

We get tickets for Break Out, a show in the Assembly Rooms, part of the Fringe festival. It turns out to be a funny dance show by a group from Korea. It is already the 3rd time that this group performs during this festival. It is a comical and cheerful breakdance performance. Very nice done. After the show we want to eat something, but most restaurants are packed. Eventually we find a place with a Mexican. Then we walk a bit through the old town, past the Edinburgh Castle. At the end of the evening we see some fireworks.

Edinburgh - St Andrews - Kingussie: 245 km

Today the weather is sunny, but a bit colder than yesterday. We start with a traditional Scottish breakfast and then head out of Edinburgh. We drive over the Forth Bridge, a huge toll bridge over the Firth of Forth. There is also a special railway bridge at the toll bridge. It was built between 1883 and 1890 and is considered one of the best structures of the Victorian era. Finished in 1964, the toll bridge put an end to the 900-year-old ferry connection.

Forth Bridge, EdinburghForth Bridge, Edinburgh

We continue towards the East Neuk region, which is located northeast of the city of Edinburgh, in the county of Fife. We arrive in St Andrews around 12 noon. St Andrews is a medieval university town, where we stay for a short time. We have lunch in the Glass House and then we visit the ruins of the medieval cathedral from 1160. In 1559 this cathedral was stormed and destroyed. And until 1820, the stones of the ruins were used to build other things in the area. From the Rudell tower I have a beautiful view over the city and surroundings. After this we will visit the Royal and Ancient Golf Club with its famous golf course. This golf club in St Andrews has a good reputation in the world of golf. In this club, which was founded in 1754, the rules of golf are still decided.

We drive via Perth to Kingussie. That is about 165 km. In Kingussie we stay in the Auld Poor House with Gordon and Paulene. They give us a spacious room with toilet and shower. After a short stop we walk to the village, here we do some shopping and afterwards we have a pint in the local pub. We immediately notice that the pub is completely non-smoking - what a relief. In Scotland smoking has been banned in public places including in catering establishments for 1.5 years. In the evening we dine in the Silverfjord restaurant. Fine food, served by a handsome, friendly, but somewhat inexperienced and insecure waiter. When we get back to the Auld Poor guesthouse we see that the right front tire of our car is soft. We drive to a gas station to inflate the tire, but after a few kilometers the tire gets softer. We change the tire and call Hertz. They put us through to the English Roadside Assistance (AA). They then say that as long as we don't have any real problems, we should call Hertz during office hours tomorrow.

Cairngorms National Park

We start with a nice breakfast and then we go to Glenmore Forest i/h National Park Cairngorms with the packed lunch made by Paulene. At the visitor center we get suggestions for routes that will lead us to the top of Meall' a Bhuachallie (795 m). We climb up and have to go over some pretty steep partknow. Within the foreseeable future we will rise above the tree line and we will walk on a piece of heathland, where it is completely quiet. No animals and no people, not even birds. At the top of the Meall' a Bhuachallie it is quite windy. Behind a wall of stacked slate we eat our packed lunch. Then we walk down the other side. On the way it starts to rain heavily. It is luckily drier down in the valley.

Loch Garten in the Cairngoms National ParkLoch Garten in the Cairngoms National Park

Tired but satisfied we go back to our Guesthouse. We take a shower and after a short rest we drive back to take a trip on the Cairngorms Mountain railway. This railway takes you to the top of Cairngorm Mountain, where there is a pavilion at about 1000 m altitude, from here you have a nice view. The construction was highly controversial among various environmental movements, who felt that it would affect the landscape. It is quite chilly upstairs: about 5 to 6°C. In the evening we eat in the Guesthouse, where Paulene really did her best.

Kingussie - Craigellachie: 80 km

After breakfast we drive to Aberlour. First we drink a (very bad) cappuccino in the Aberlour hotel. And then we call the local whiskey distillery to make a reservation for the tour. It is said to start at 11:30 am. The tour lasts a total of 2 hours and our guide Julian enthusiastically explains how the Whiskey was created, about various events that influenced the industry and explains the distillation process. At the end of the tour we get a guided tasting. We smell and taste 2 semi-finished products (sherry cask and spirit) and then 3 varieties of Aberlour products. A 10 and 16 year old single malt and the a'budhna, a special whiskey according to an old recipe.

We have lunch in Mash Tun and then drive to Craigellachie. Here we booked at B&B Green Hall Gallery. The nice host Stewart welcomes us. In the afternoon we drive to Banff on the Grampian north coast. Here we want to visit the Duff House, once the home of the Earls of Fife. After the visit we stay in the tea room of Duff House for something to eat and drink. Then we drive back to the B&B. In the evening we eat at the Highlander Inn and also drink a beer here. The food in the bar isn't that bad at all. We end the evening completely appropriately with a number of single malt whiskies.

Craigellachie

We start the day with a visit to the Glenlivet Estate, a crown domain of 23,000 hectares. There are several marked walking routes. We choose the Glenbrown and Kylnadrochit walk of 6.75 km. The walking route is slightly hilly and offers beautiful views over the heath and the surrounding area. We see rabbits and sheep, but unfortunately no big game. After 2.5 hours we are back at the starting point near Tomintoul. We have lunch in the Clockhouse restaurant on the main square in Tomintoul. The town is located at an altitude of about 400 m and was created after 1745 after revolts by tenant farmers and the people of the land drifted. The landowners panicked and grouped them together in planned villages to keep a closer eye on them.

After a delicious lunch we drive to Craigellachie. We stop at the Speyside Cooperage for a tour, this is on the outskirts of Craigellachie. We walk past an exhibition about the history of whiskey barrel making. Then we see a movie, and then we see the coopers repairing barrels for the whiskey industry. Here is everything explained by a guide. The coopers make about 20 regular barrels a day and get a good wage. Whiskey barrels are made from oak, which is imported from Canada or the US. The barrels are used on average 3 to 5 times. The whiskey matures for 10 to 18 years in a barrel.

After a short rest in our Bed & Breakfast we have a beer and some food in the Highlander Inn. The food in the pub is again excellent and the service extremely friendly. After dinner I do a whiskey flight, which is a sample selection of 6 different whiskeys. For me this time it was single malts from Speyside, the area where we stay and where most (more than 40) distilleries are located.

Craigellachie - Inverness 97 km

Today we are going to Inverness. First we have to go to Kwik Fit to get the tire repaired. According to Hertz, we should have the repair done there. But later it turns out that repair is no longer possible and the tire has to be replaced. Our B&B is located fifteen minutes outside Inverness, in Dores on the Loch Ness. From our spacious room we have a view of Loch Ness. Inverness is not a very attractive city. There are few historic buildings and the new buildings show very little architectural sophistication. Inverness (rightly) calls itself the 'capital/gateway to they Highlands'.

We go to the Kilt Making Centre, located above a clothing store which specializes in typical Scottish clothing. The exhibition briefly tells the history of the Kilt and Tartan, the fabric from which they are made. We get to hear a somewhat romanticized version of history. The truth is that the original kilts were made from a virtually waterproof fabric, Helande. This fabric was woven from the wool of native sheep. The fabric had a bright (camouflage) color and was a kind of toga that was wrapped around the waist and then over the shoulder. It was only when Sir Walter Scott started to elevate the kilt to a national symbol that it became popular. When Queen Victoria discovered the country as a holiday destination, the kilt definitely became the symbol of Scotland.

Castle of Inverness Castle of Inverness

We walk into a pub for a drink after which we go to our room. We first relax in the room and then we take a walk along the banks of Loch Ness. We eat at the Mustard Seed. A large and nice restaurant, located in a former church. The restaurant is very busy and the food is okay, but no better than the eatery level. We drink a cup of coffee in a coffee shop.

Inverness - Cromarty - Thurso 189 km

This morning we start with a nice breakfast and then we drive to the Black Isle, a peninsula northeast of Inverness. From Cromarty, we go on a dolphin boat trip. We reserved this in advance. The company that organizes this (Ecoventures) is run only by women. The dinghy has room for 12 people. When we arrive in the North Sea we see groups of dolphins jumping and diving. What a fun experience! Each time they pop up in a different spot, and they come very close. It seems the bottlenose dolphins are following us. When we sail along the coast a little later we see many water birds, such as Kittiwakes and Cormorants.

After the boat trip we start the long drive to Thurso. The drive on the A9 along the North Sea coast and almost 3 hours later we are in Thurso. We spend the night in Tigh na Abhainn, a simple Guesthouse, full of knick knacks. The main shopping street in Turso is Rotterdam Street(!), and that is of course in Thurso's favor. We have a beer at Joe's Top Bar and later we eat at Le Bistro, the only restaurant of any kind.

Orkney Islands

After breakfast we drink a cup of coffee and read the newspaper in the still quiet center of Thurso. The ferry to the Orkney Islands departs at 12 noon. About 2 hours before departure we go to the harbor. We can check in right away and put the car in line. We walk around the harbor a bit and have a drink in the pub. The ferry arrives at 11:00 AM and we leave at 12:00 PM sharp. The crossing takes 1.45 hours and we are in Stromness around 2 pm. We drive to the Millers House and Harborside Guesthouse, which is a short distance from the terminal. The owners of the guesthouse are the proud winners of the 2006 award for the best breakfast in Scotland.

The Orkney IslandsThe Orkney Islands

After lunch at Julia's cafe we ​​drive to Skara Brae, an archaeological find of 7 Neolithic houses from 3000 BC. It is storming and raining so we have to put on our rain gear. The houses are in pretty good condition with a simple layout. The houses are all the same and there is no common house. The archaeological site was discovered by chance during a severe storm. A piece of land was swept away by the storm so that the remains of the houses became visible. Visit to Skara Brae costs £6.50, but you can buy an Explorer pass from Historic Scotland. This allows you to visit a total of 6 sites on Orkney for £16. After visiting 3 sites you already have the pass out.

We return to Stromness and rest for a while. Then we go for a drink at the busy Ferry Inn. It's crowded and the crowd is noisy. They try to get above the music and the football game on TV. We eat in Bistro 76, which is nice but won't win prizes in the culinary field. Then we have a drink in the bar of the Stromness hotel. I take a Highland Park first and then a Scapa single malt. Both are made on Orkney.

Stones of Stennes

We set off with a well-filled stomach. Today the Stones of Stennes is first on the program. These are 4 gigantic long flat stones, which are in an ellipse shape in a meadow. There were originally 12. The meaning of the stones is unclear. And how they were placed here at the time is also a mystery. We continue to Birsay, this was once the center of Norwegian power. The Normans had established counties and settlements there and took part in crusades to the Middle East from here. In Birsay there is a ruin of a beautiful count's palace from the 16th century. On a headland is the Brough of Birsay, which duringhigh tide is not attainable.

Lighthouse at Brough off BirsayLighthouse at Brough off Birsay

We then proceed to Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands, located on the main island. An interesting sight is the great St. Magnus Cathedral, a Norwegian church from 1137. We have lunch in Kirkwall and continue to the east. The main island is connected to the islands of South Ronaldsay and Burray by basalt dams.

Before we go back to Stromness we stop at Maeshowe. Although no bones have ever been found here, it is believed that this is also a Neolithic burial mound. Normally, the hill can only be visited with a guide after reservation by telephone. We have not made a reservation, but fortunately it is not busy and we can join the tour. The guide, Fran, tells very vividly the theories surrounding the origin. Back in Stromness we have dinner at the Stromness hotel.

MaeshoweMaeshowe

Stromness - Thurso - Durness 122 km

We start the day again with a delicious breakfast, after which we go for a walk around Stromness as the ferry does not leave until 11 am. The crossing is smooth and we eat a pizza (with chips!) on board. Once we arrive in Scrabster we continue along the north coast. A beautiful landscape passes us by. We see lakes, mountains with heather, sheep and a rugged coastline with rocks. The weather is changeable: sun, clouds, rain and clear spells with sun. At half past two we arrive in Durness. We find a room at a B&B, with a shower in the hallway downstairs. The host family is very friendly.

We walk via the beach, up a headland and over the dunes and rocks to the viewpoint Faraid Head. We have a really beautiful view over the Kyle of Durness. The walk is a total of 5 miles. In the evening we eat the only restaurant in the village. Good food in a stylish dining room. What you wouldn't think from the outside. So don't judge by appearance.

Durness - Ullapool 104 km

After breakfast we drive south to Blairmore. From here we walk to Sandwood Beach. An easy route through a beautiful area of ​​lakes, mountains and lots of heath. Like many places in the Scottish Highlands, this area was once inhabited by smallholder farmers, but after the major crop failures of 1847, the landowners evicted the farmers and wanted to use the land for sheep farming. The walk eventually leads to Sandwood Beach. At high tide this beach is 1.5 km long and at low tide 3 km. In the distance is Cape Wrath, Scotland's most northerly lighthouse. The walk leads back to the parking lot for 7 km via the same road.

After having eaten our sandwiches we drive further south to Ullapool. It is a beautiful route along mountains, inlets and lochs. At 2.30 pm we arrive in Ullapool. We stay in the special hotel Ceilidh Place. At the top of the hotel is a large lounge where you can read quietly while enjoying a drink. Ullapool is a small harbor town. We explore the town a bit and have a pint at the Ferry Boat Inn (FBI). In the evening we eat in the hotel, good food and a nice informal atmosphere. Afterwards we have a drink in the Arch Inn.

Ullapool - Stornoway 2:45 am sailing

In the morning Erik takes a plate of Scottish porridge for the first time. He thinks it tastes like the Groningen-known delicacy "Klont". We look for the tourist office and ask for a nice car ride in the area. It continues to rain today so we don't want to do any outdoor activities. The tourist office sends us on a route around the Coigach peninsula. On the way we pass a fish smokehouse. Through the windows we see the smoking area and the packing department. In the shop they sell excellent smoked salmon. During the ride we should have a view of the Summer Isles, but due to the bad weather we don't see any of that. We also leave the Hydroponicum for what it is. We drive back to Ullapool and are a bit bored. Due to the bad weather we can't do anything outside.

At the end of the afternoon we check in for the crossing to the Isle of Lewis (Leodhas). The boat arrives around 4.30 pm and we leave within 45 minutes. After about 3 hours we are on the other side, after that it is about a 20 minute drive to Broadbay House Guesthouse near the hamlet of Back. This is a luxurious accommodation with a tastefully decorated room. We have a balcony with a sea view and even a flat screen and docking station for my ipod. We have a drink in the hotel lounge before going to bed to watch TV.

Port of Ness

Today we get an extensive and delicious breakfast including toast, kippers and scrambled eggs. From the breakfast room we have a beautiful view of the beach and Broad Bay. There are even binoculars ready for bird watching. Along the way we notice that the Celtic texts are more prominent on road signs, among other things than on het mainland. The English translation is sometimes even missing and then it is difficult to read traffic signs.

We drive to Port Nis (Port of Ness), the far north of Lewis. We visit a 12th century church, Teampull Mholuaidh or St Moluag's Church. The church has served as a sheepfold and has been functioning as a chapel since 1912. Then we drive on to Rubba Robhanais (Butt of Lewis). This is a viewpoint with a lighthouse and cliffs. From here we drive to Arnol, where we visit a Black house (or Taigh Dubh). A black house is a traditional home with a turf roof and a fireplace without a chimney in the center of the room. This way the smoke can drive away the mosquitoes. We have lunch here before continuing to Dun Charlabhaigh Broch (Carloway Broch). This is a well-preserved reinforced residential tower from the beginning of our era.

Then we continue to Calanais (Callanish). Here are the famous standing stones. The complex dates from about 3000 BC. and consists of about 50 stones in total. The archaeological site is in a beautiful location on a lake. It is not clear what the stones were for. Finally we drive to Uig. A historic find was made here in 1831, by a cow! He/she found 92 figures, 78 of which were Viking chess pieces carved from walrus ivory. The pieces are now in the British Museum in London and the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Replicas are in Uig. We then drive back to the Guesthouse and have a drink. We see seals lying on a rock in the bay enjoying the sun. In the evening we eat in the guesthouse. The host Ian is an exquisite cook.

The standing stones in CalanaisThe standing stones in Calanais

Stornoway - Tarbert - Isle of Skye 72 km

Today we drive south to Tarbert (An Tairbeart), located on the Isle of Harris. We drive around the island, through a beautiful and rugged landscape. We arrive at Rognadal (Rodel). Here is the St. Clemens Church, built in 1520. A number of clan chiefs of the McCleod clan are buried in the church. We have lunch in the Rodel hotel which is located behind the church. It seems that we are here at the end of the world. We drive back to Tarbert and walk through the town. The ferry departs at 4:00 PM to Uig on the Isle of Skye. From Uig we drive on a narrow mountain road through the Quirang forest to Staffin, on the other side of the island. Because it is very foggy we can't see a hand in front of our eyes.

Isle of SkyeIsle of Skye

Our Bed & Breakfast, Old Mission House, is located in a village called Staffin, a Gaelic speaking community. Finding a restaurant here is quite difficult. About 6 miles to the south is a hotel, but it's already full. Then we have to go 12 miles north, to Flodigarry Country House Hotel, but it turns out they are closed due to a private party. There is also no pub anywhere in this area. Our last rescue is a cafeteria at a training center. We order a burger, and go back to the B&B.

Portree, the capital of Skye

We start the day with a visit to Portree, the capital of Skye. On the way we first stop at the Kilt Rock Falls. This is a beautiful waterfall that plunges many meters down. The road after the waterfall narrows to 1 lane. Every 50 m there is room to pass each other, and people politely wait for each other. Portree is not a big place with 2000 inhabitants, but it is a nice fishing village with a cheerful harbour. We drink a cup of coffee in a cafe overlooking the harbor. After walking around Portree, we drive on to Glen Brittle. The valley of Glen Brittle is very deserted and there is not a village in sight. At the end of the Glen we finally arrive at a small camping site and at the beach. From there we go for a walk. Several times we cross fast-flowing rivers, once via a bridge. Every now and then we come across sheep. After 1.5 hours the walk turns around via a loop and we walk back.

After the tour we drive north along the west side of the island. The clouds clear and we finally see the high peaks, Munroes, of the mountains. Munro is a typical Scottish term for mountain. The Scots never just call a mountain a mountain. Depending on where you are, what it looks like and how high it is, a mountain can be a Munro, a Ben, a Hill, a Law, a Brae, a Mount, a Pen or even a Pap. Munro refers to a mountain of 3000 feet or higher and there are 284 in total.

At Dunvegan we turn right again towards Portree and then to the Trotternish peninsula where Staffin is situated. It's clearing up and we even see some sunbeams. In the evening we eat in the Glenview hotel in Culnacnoc, about 7 kilometers south of Staffin.

Staffin - Fort William 200 km

First we have breakfast and then we drive via Portree to the south of the island. We leave via the Skye bridgeeventually the island over a bridge that was completed in 1995 and cost many millions. Just after the toll bridge we see Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland's most photographed landmark. Eilean Donan Castle is a fairytale castle dating from 1230, strategically located at the confluence of 3 Lochs. Until 1719 it was the stronghold of the McCrae family. It is a crowded castle. Photography is not allowed inside and guides are present in the large halls who tell stories about the castle.

Eilean Donan CastleEilean Donan Castle

After admiring the castle we drive via Invergarry to Fort William. On the way stop at the Commandos memorial. An impressive memorial to commando troops from the Second World War. We are staying at the Alexandra hotel. In the evening we dine at restaurant No4. Here they have reasonable food and it is also reasonably priced.

The train to Mallaig

Because there are many cyclists in the hotel, we have to move to a B&B. We arrive at the luxurious B&B The Grange, located on the other side of the center. Today the weather is beautiful with a bright blue sky. At the station we buy tickets for the train to Mallaig. This seems to be one of the most beautiful train routes in Scotland. And indeed the route is beautiful. We drive along mountains and lakes, over beautiful railway bridges to end after 1.5 hours in the harbor town of Mallaig. We really enjoy the train ride. In addition to the 3 regular trains of First Scotrail, the Jacobite Steam Train with historic wagons also runs every day. This locomotive was also used in the Harry Potter films. This ride is only 3 times as expensive as the regular train. In Mallaig we quickly got bored. We walk around and eat in the Tea Garden. Ferries to Skye Island also depart from Mallaig. Just after 4 pm the train returns and around 5:30 pm we are back in Fort William. In the evening we eat at the pier at Crannog. A good fish restaurant, where Erik eats salmon and I eat haddock (haddock) with delicious oysters as a starter!

Fort William - Glasgow 268 km

We get an extensive breakfast and then say goodbye to the Grange. We're heading for Glasgow today. Unfortunately the weather is very cloudy today and we can't see anything of the beautiful landscape. The valley we drive through has a bloody history. On February 13, 1692, the men of the Campbell clan murdered about 40 members of the MacDonald clan and expelled more than 300. All this 10 days after they had taken advantage of their hospitality. And only because, through a misunderstanding, the MacDonalds had not sworn allegiance to the Dutch/English king/stadholder William III, who was also king of Scotland.

At half past twelve we are finally in Glasgow. Our hotel is located in the Merchant City district. The Brunswick hotel is fine, not big, with a trendy bar at street level. After a rest and lunch at the hotel, we take the Underground to the Westend. We are going to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Their interesting and extensive collection consists of stuffed animals, antiquities, Scottish history and some paintings by eg Rembrandt and Dali. The showpiece is a real Spitfire from 1947. When we have seen everything we walk to Byre Road, a lively student district. We have a drink here and then walk back to the hotel. On the way we stop in the Corinthian district. This district originated in the 19th century as an urban expansion for trade and banking. After the war, the district fell into disrepair, but since about 10 years the district has been completely hip again with trendy catering establishments, many apartments and creative companies that bring the old neoclassical buildings back to life. In the evening we eat at Dhabba, a modern North Indian restaurant.

Armadillo, GlasgowArmadillo, Glasgow

Glasgow Guided Tour

Today we get a city tour accompanied by a guide. Michael is the guide for today, he leads us through Glasgow. We start in Merchant City, the 18th century business district. We visit Ramshorn Churchyard the barred tombs and walk through Candleriggs, this street used to be the former indoor fruit market but nowadays there are several cafes and eateries. We see the Tolbooth Steeple from the 17th century, this is a church tower without a church. Then we follow the High Street towards the cathedral. The church is dedicated to St Mungo, patroness and alleged founder of Glasgow. Next to the cathedral is the Necropolis, a hill with a large collection of funerary monuments from the 19th century. Then we go to George Square, here are the Victorian City Chambers from 1888. The square itself contains statues of important Scots and British. We walk past the Gallery of Modern Art in Queen Street and the beating shopping heart of Glasgow. Here are major shopping streets such as St. Enoch Square, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. The guide points out a number of small alleys and courtyards that you would otherwise pass by. We end in the former financial center of the city.

The Cathedral in GlasgowThe Cathedral in Glasgow

We find a nice restaurant for lunch and in the afternoon we visit the Glasgow School of Art, located in a masterpiece of Mackintosh. We get the tour of a student. Mackintosh has put a lot of thought into this building and it is very stylish, despite being completed in 2 phases. The GSoA is like a top institute and the students are very proud to be able to study here. After the tour we walk back to Sauchiehall Street. A quiet shopping street that houses the Willow Tea Room, designed by Mackintosh. In the evening we eat oriental at Mao bar and cafe and watch football.

Glasgow - Trossachs - Edinburgh 149 km

Today we head to Trossachs National Park, about 31 miles north of Glasgow. We're going to have coffee in Aberfoyle first. The road in the National Park soon climbs steeply, up the Duke's Pass, after which we end up in the Queen Elizabeth Forest. We drive through a beautiful part of the forest along 3 Lochs (lakes).

Loch Lomond, Trossachs National ParkLoch Lomond, Trossachs National Park

We drive on, more or less directly to Edinburgh. Here we quickly find our B&B Ardmor House. Robin & Colin give us a warm welcome. We take the bus (day ticket £2.50, no change) to the center and have lunch in the prestigious London department store Harvey Nichols. The lunchroom is on the top floor with a great view over the city and surroundings. Then we take line 36 to the Scottish Parliament. Scotland has only had its own parliament since 1999. Due to a meeting we cannot get a tour. After this we go back to the center and have a pint at Café Royal Circle Bar. The classic bar has an impressive Victorian decor. The huge elliptical island bar and the paintings by famous Scottish inventors are especially interesting. In the evening we eat in restaurant Fisher's, located in the harbor district of Leith. The venison, oysters and swordfish tasted good. After dinner we explore Edinburgh's gay scene, which is mainly concentrated in the so-called Gay Triangle.

View over EdinburghView over Edinburgh

Another day in Edinburgh

Today a tour of the Scottish Parliament is possible and we had booked it right away yesterday. The tour lasts 1 hour and a lot is explained about the building, the architecture and the architect Enric Mirales and the history of its creation. The architect has gone to great lengths to incorporate various Scottish icons, such as the Andrew's Cross. After the tour we walk via the Royal Mile towards Edinburgh Castle. Halfway through the Royal Mile we have lunch at Always Sunday in a lunchroom with tasty sandwiches and salads. All fair trade and organic, so very responsible. At Edinburgh Castle we turn towards the National Museum of Scotland. This museum is only 10 years old and is intended to give a picture of the development of Scotland in economic, political, cultural, technological and even sporting fields. The exhibition is interesting, but you have to find your way around a bit and some prior knowledge of the history of Scotland is useful.

We decide to go back to our B&B to get the car. We still want to go to Calton Hill to enjoy the view. In the evening we eat near the B&B, at La Favorita. A popular Italian tent that has already won a number of awards. Today we go to bed on time, tomorrow we have to get up early again for the flight to the Netherlands.

Back to the Netherlands

We get up at 5.15 am and have breakfast. Robin & Colin, our hosts, are still in bed, but have prepared breakfast in a cool box. We drive to Turnhouse airport and hand in the car at Hertz. We tell our story about the band, but they are not very full (a few weeks later after an e-mail we receive an apology from our side and everything is resolved properly). We check in and it turns out that we have too heavy luggage, 11 kilos in total. We have to pay an extra £6 per kilo and that way we are more expensive than if we had flown with KLM! The flight continues fine. We are in the front of the plane and we land at Schiphol 15 minutes early.

We are going to travel for 9 days through Austria, Switzerland and Italy. The quiet Austrian village of Fliess is an ideal starting point to discover this stunning nature reserve, because it is centrally located and there is a motorcycle hotel. John receives the routes we are going to drive digitally, so when we leave, everything is stored in Miep's memory (our navigation).

When we have brought the dogs to the permanent boarding house, we pack our suitcases and I am pleasantly surprised when I notice what kind of stuff fits in the side case of the motorcycle. John is really looking forward to riding those high mountain passes with lots of hairpins and lots of curves.

Windmills and windmills

First we drive to Aachen on the highway and then the route starts in Eupen. From here we drive inland to Saint Jean Saverne. For lunch we stop en route in Nonnweiler where we enjoy a delicious sandwich on the terrace in the sun. We continue our way by driving on all back roads and we cross a border again and again. It is a very beautiful region, but a bit of a shame that the beautiful landscape is 'ruined' by the many windmills. At 5.30 pm we arrive at hotel Kleider in Saint Jean Saverne. We settle in the hotel room and first have something to eat, with a nice glass of wine. As a nightcap we take a cup of coffee after dinner and then we go to bed on time. Because it is very hot, we leave the windows open, but at night it suddenly starts to blow hard and John has to fight with the curtains. After he has them under control again, we can go back to sleep peacefully.

To Austria

We make sure we leave before 08.00 and drive to Austria via France and Germany. First we cross the border at Lahr and on the way we pass a large reservoir. Then we drive via Schwanau (where I really saw a lot of white swans), Nussbach and Salem to Lake Constance. Then we cross the border again in Lindau. So far, the French host of the hotel was right, predicting that it would rain a little. But before we can start today's mountain passes, the rain suddenly comes pouring down from the sky. We stop for a while and first think very positively that it is just a shower that will blow over. But unfortunately... Then we put on the rain suit and only take it off again when we have arrived at the hotel.

We continue and via the Hochtannbergpass (1679 meters), the Flexenpass (1773 meters) and the Arlbergpass (1793 meters) we drive to Landeck. From here we continue our way to Fliess, but getting there is even more difficult than expected. Miep indicates that we have to go up to the left... But that's not possible, so we drive on... Miep says turn around... John turns and now we have to go up to the right... And that's right, because we are indeed going steep up and after a few tough bends we finally arrive in Fliess. Our hotel Marienhof is located in the middle of the village, where we sit down for dinner after a warm shower at 6.30 pm. At this time, all guests are expected at the table to eat together. We are served a delicious three-course menu and enjoy a nice glass of wine.

Fliess, view from the mountainsFliess, view from the mountains

On the glacier

Today the actual tour really starts. We first do a round of Fliess, Eicholz, Fliess and then we drive on to Kaunertal. The Kaunertal Gletscher Panoramastrasse takes us past the Gepatschstausee and then we drive up the glacier. It is much colder there than I thought and I wish I had put on a sweater under my jacket. At the top we look around, we enjoy the beautiful view and then quickly down again on our way to Samnaun (Switzerland). Here we can eat outside again in the sun and when we have finished eating it starts to rain, so we decide to go shopping until the weather is dry. It's nice to shop tax-free, but we have to hold back because we don't have much space in the motorcycle.

Then we go back to Fliess in the rain, alternating with the sun. The route through the Inntal is worth it!

Back at the hotel we look at which route we will drive tomorrow and we decide that it will be the Timmelsjoch.

Tour through the Alps

The second day of our tour through the Alps starts with cloudy, gray and gray weather. So we get back on the bike with our rain gear on and go for it. Our journey takes us over the top, past the quiet village of Piller, then we pass through the Pitztal and then through the Ötztal. Finally we drive via Solden to Obergurgl. The weather has improved a lot, so we eat a delicious cup of soup in a deserted ski resort. Then we go back to Solden, where we make a stop to enjoy a nice cup of coffee with cake. If we want to continue driving, we have to put on the rain pants again, because in the meantime the weather has become bad again. We continue our way towards Timmelsjoch, but it is too late to cross it, so we decide to return to Solden. Here we drink a cup of coffee, which can now be enjoyed on the terrace in the sun. The weather is and remains unpredictable and varied.

Then we drive back to our hotel, freshen up and then we sit down for dinner. Dinner today consists of pea cream soup in advance, as main course gypsy schnitzel with salzkartoffelen and 7 cherries for dessert.

Two Haflingers in the ÖtztalTwo Haflingers in the Ötztal

Timmelsboy

Today we skip breakfast and head straight for Kühtai-Sattel and Timmelsjoch. We drive the first part of the tour the same way as yesterday: at the top at Piller, which by the way is a really nice walking area, then via the Pitztal and the Ötztal to Kühtai-Sattel. First we stop in Solden for breakfast. Fortunately today it is dry, but with time and the late it is very cold. The area near Kühtai-Sattel is beautiful and the many stray cows are a beautiful sight.

Then we continue to the Timmelsjoch. Arriving on top, we drink a cup of coffee on the Italian side while we enjoy the magnificent view. During the descent we stop several times to take pictures of this beautiful nature reserve. That afternoon we are back at the hotel around four o'clock and to recover from the ride we sit there on the terrace and we can still enjoy the afternoon sun and the amazing view.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road

This day we start again without breakfast, so we are already on the bike at 07:00. Today the weather is good, because the sky is a clear blue with a few clouds here and there. Today's route takes us first through the Voral Mountains and we drive over the Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse. We already had part of the route on the way there, so after breakfast in Austria we decide to shorten the route a bit. We continue through the Grossen Walsertal, which is a completely different area than yesterday, but still with a lot of beautiful nature. Then in Faschina we pick up the original route again and through the Montafon we drive to the Silvretta. This is an ideal place for John to have a blast, so accelerate and we'll be upstairs in no time. We stop at the reservoir to have a look around and I can recover from the intense ride. Then we ascend even further to 3869 meters altitude to have lunch there on the Bielerhöhe. The way back down is calm and on the back of the bike I enjoy the beautiful nature and the free-ranging horses that are grazing everywhere. Finally we drive via Galtur and Ischgl back to our hotel in Fliess.

Day in Switzerland and Italy

We like going out early without breakfast, so we'll do that again today. We are lucky with the weather because the sky is a radiant blue. At the top, through the Kaunertal park, we drive towards Kurns and via the Ofen pass we arrive in Switzerland. The road towards St Moritz is beautiful and very pleasant to drive. We have already discovered this beautiful border area with a snowmobile. Just after the tunnel towards Livigno we stop for breakfast: we eat a delicious sandwich and drink a real Italian espresso.

Then we drive on to Livigno: it is quite busy and large and there are mainly many campers and cyclists to see. That's why we don't stop, but continue to Stelvio. This is again a beautiful nature reserve, although the weather is very different from the areas we have seen in recent days. I can't decide whether the Silvretta, the Timmelsjoch or the Stelvio wins in terms of beauty, because they all have their own charm. The way up is again quite a challenge, but on the way we get off the motorbike a few times to take some pictures. Once we get to the top, I don't know what I see! It is very busy: shops, food stalls and lots of people everywhere. We have a drink on the terrace to take it all in.

On the way down I take more pictures of this beautiful area. Looking up I can hardly believe where we came from as it is really steep! The landscape becomes a bit more pleasant once we have passed the tree line and via the Reschenpass we arrive in Austria again. We pass the Lago di Resia, which is known for the church tower that should protrude above the water, but we don't see it anywhere. Then it's time for a shortlunch stop and afterwards we go shopping in Landeck. We make the decision to go home tomorrow.

Stelvio PassStelvio Pass

Towards Germany

Today we have breakfast in the hotel again before we set off, but we soon regret our decision, because the breakfast is not much. After breakfast we hand in the key and we leave at 08:20. It rained last night and occasionally thundered, which means that dark clouds are still hanging over the mountains. We drive through the Arlbergtunnel towards Bregenz and then we go through the Pfandertunnel. When we have the tunnels behind us, a bright blue sky smiles at us. Then the road takes us further via Lindau, Friedrichshaven to Germany.

After lunch we head towards the Black Forest and eventually we end up in Bad Wildbad and decide to stay at Hotel Valsana. This town is a true spa and from our hotel we have a magnificent view. That evening we are already in bed at 8.30 pm and are happy that we can finally sleep in a decent bed again.

And almost home again

After a good night's sleep, we go for breakfast. Compared to the breakfast at the hotel in Fliess, this breakfast is heavenly: there are various types of bread and spreads. We really enjoyed it! We leave at 08.20 and drive via Pforzheim towards Reinbollen. From there on to Cochem and after that we really go home!