Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Wild Goose Chase to Zeeland
I went to Zeeland over the weekend, specifically Port Zelanda. I had a bit of an adventure getting there. The difficulty about getting to Zeeland is that you can only get there by bus. You cannot take the train. I was told to go to Rotterdam Zuid in order to catch a train, so that is what I attempted to do. I looked up directions navigating my way through a Dutch website to find Rotterdam Zuid. The train/tram didn’t go there from my where I would get on so I found out how to walk there from the closest stop. I packed my backpack with the necessities for the weekend including my swimsuit, shoes, shampoo, contacts, etc. I was wearing my jeans, reefs, and a sweater. I left the apartment and headed downstairs to catch the tram…the one I needed wouldn’t arrive for twenty minutes so I ventured out on a walk because the distance I needed to travel wasn’t that far. It was a bit farther than expected when I got there but I was still content. So, I tried to walk from destination one to Rotterdam Zuid. I ended up walking around in circles for two hours. I did find the futbol stadion. That was quite neat and I will have to go back and explore more.
Finally, I found where the trains arrive at Rotterdam Zuid but there were no places for buses. With no one to ask, I looked at a map at the stop and it said the bus halte was around the corner. I walked some more and did not find a place for buses to pull in and out/transfer. Starting to realize that the directions may be incorrect, I waited at a bus station for a bus to arrive and spoke to a bus driver. He helped me out and told me I had to go to Zuidplein. Well.
I then took a bus to Zuidplein and asked for help from the Informatie person. I was told I needed to take the train to Spijkenisse and then take the 101 bus to the 104. When I was told Spijkenisse, I didn’t realize to ask to stop at Spijkenisse Centrum or the end of the line. I took it to the end of the line and then back the two stops to Spijkenisse Centrum. I found the bus. I got on the 101 and took it to a stop that seemed somewhat in the middle of nowhere and waited for the 104. I took the 104 to Ouddorp and Caroline and Rose picked me up at Ouddorp Centrum. I was very happy to arrive and now am able to navigate myself around the Netherlands a bit better via public transportation.
The weather was lovely upon arrival. It was sunny with a cool breeze. Nick bought a new kite because the wind was stronger on the beach than back in Almere. After purchasing the kite, we all made our way down to the beach. Nick and his friend, Tim, kited for the remainder of the afternoon and I went into the sea with Rose. The sea is quite different here. It felt very salty which aided in floatation and the waves are nonexistent. The sea was full of kiters on boards surfing around. It was quite fun to watch. The skyline of the beach was covered in kites.
We ate at a place on the beach and listened to music. I tried the krokket…I don’t know if that is spelled correctly. Rose rode horses in the evening and we were able to watch her pass us on the beach while enjoying the sunset.
The next day was colder and rainy. Caroline, Rose, and I visited a town nearby. When the rain subsided, we dragged the boys to the beach and they went kiting for the afternoon. Rose and I braved the water and froze after getting out. I initially planned to go home in the evening but stayed the night and awoke at six to catch a bus back to work in the morning. We went “midget golfing.” Yes, they aren’t politically correct here. It was fun.
I took a different bus back to Zuidplein in the morning. It was a great weekend. Each day I was bombarded with words from the kids in attempt to teach me Dutch. I believe I am also a source of entertainment when gracing them with my accent when speaking Dutch. They laugh and tell me I sound like I am from Turkey. I found a new person to wrestle with, Nick. It’s quite different than the wrestling at home. I can win now. I just wish I remembered how Oom Leendert always takes me down with the back of his leg so I can do it to Nick.
I taught the kids how to knock on their head and make it sound hollow. (No sarcastic remarks, please.) I taught them how to pop grapes into their mouths. I showed them how to sing songs with their nose. I flared my nostrils. I rolled my tongue three times. I showed them the pencil between the thumb trick. I made animal noises including my famous monkey imitation. Come to think of it, I may have entertained myself more than I entertained them. Shocking...
Finally, I found where the trains arrive at Rotterdam Zuid but there were no places for buses. With no one to ask, I looked at a map at the stop and it said the bus halte was around the corner. I walked some more and did not find a place for buses to pull in and out/transfer. Starting to realize that the directions may be incorrect, I waited at a bus station for a bus to arrive and spoke to a bus driver. He helped me out and told me I had to go to Zuidplein. Well.
I then took a bus to Zuidplein and asked for help from the Informatie person. I was told I needed to take the train to Spijkenisse and then take the 101 bus to the 104. When I was told Spijkenisse, I didn’t realize to ask to stop at Spijkenisse Centrum or the end of the line. I took it to the end of the line and then back the two stops to Spijkenisse Centrum. I found the bus. I got on the 101 and took it to a stop that seemed somewhat in the middle of nowhere and waited for the 104. I took the 104 to Ouddorp and Caroline and Rose picked me up at Ouddorp Centrum. I was very happy to arrive and now am able to navigate myself around the Netherlands a bit better via public transportation.
The weather was lovely upon arrival. It was sunny with a cool breeze. Nick bought a new kite because the wind was stronger on the beach than back in Almere. After purchasing the kite, we all made our way down to the beach. Nick and his friend, Tim, kited for the remainder of the afternoon and I went into the sea with Rose. The sea is quite different here. It felt very salty which aided in floatation and the waves are nonexistent. The sea was full of kiters on boards surfing around. It was quite fun to watch. The skyline of the beach was covered in kites.
We ate at a place on the beach and listened to music. I tried the krokket…I don’t know if that is spelled correctly. Rose rode horses in the evening and we were able to watch her pass us on the beach while enjoying the sunset.
The next day was colder and rainy. Caroline, Rose, and I visited a town nearby. When the rain subsided, we dragged the boys to the beach and they went kiting for the afternoon. Rose and I braved the water and froze after getting out. I initially planned to go home in the evening but stayed the night and awoke at six to catch a bus back to work in the morning. We went “midget golfing.” Yes, they aren’t politically correct here. It was fun.
I took a different bus back to Zuidplein in the morning. It was a great weekend. Each day I was bombarded with words from the kids in attempt to teach me Dutch. I believe I am also a source of entertainment when gracing them with my accent when speaking Dutch. They laugh and tell me I sound like I am from Turkey. I found a new person to wrestle with, Nick. It’s quite different than the wrestling at home. I can win now. I just wish I remembered how Oom Leendert always takes me down with the back of his leg so I can do it to Nick.
I taught the kids how to knock on their head and make it sound hollow. (No sarcastic remarks, please.) I taught them how to pop grapes into their mouths. I showed them how to sing songs with their nose. I flared my nostrils. I rolled my tongue three times. I showed them the pencil between the thumb trick. I made animal noises including my famous monkey imitation. Come to think of it, I may have entertained myself more than I entertained them. Shocking...
