Maaike Reunited with Family

Upon arrival under sea level (Schipol International Hairyport) Maaike’s parents picked us up. Luckily they’d remembered to check their mobiles for a text before driving to Cherbourg! Phew!.

Then we drove to Gorinchem where Femke (Maaike’s sister – pictured below) about to be married lives. There we were treated to a yum dinner (made by Gerrit – Femke’s Fianceé) and fine Belgian beers! Perfecto.

The next day we headed up to Groningen which is in the North of the country to get ready for the wedding. Femke had been making oblique references to ‘haircut’ .. and ‘shaggy wooly Irishmen’ * and and and and stuff… so did end up getting a haircut (had actually meant to in Ireland – but ran out of time with the flights etc).

Also, up in Groningen we met up with Sjoerd – Maaike’s brother. Funny bugger and all round troublemaker it would be fair to say. At last, the terrible three reunited.

It was a really pretty town to walk around – the country really is completely set up for

• Cyclists
• Getting Lost

But more on that to come.

They also have some definite oddities, and I’ll try to pepper these posts with some of them. Starting with

Oddity #1 : The hole-in-the-wall-hot-food-dispensing-machines.

These are in most major towns – and probably lots of smaller ones too. I’ve been too scared to actually eat out of them – but one images sickness & decay wouldn’t be tooooo far behind.

Finally – one thing the Dutch do love (and justifiably so) is their cheese. This is just a regular cheese department in a regular supermarket. I think one of the first trips after returning to ChCh will be straight down to the (only?!) cheesemongers in town.

* (may not be true)