Alive and…. Cold!

Well, I made it. I left home and here I am… somewhere in Utrecht.

The flight over was long, but fine. I stopped in Shanghai. I have to say a few things about that; the airport was MASSIVE - two International terminals, manned by a huge number of staff, and connected by a train. Everything was modern. Everything new. Every luxury you could want (even USB ports everywhere in general seating). However, there were no passengers. It was SO dead, I thought, if it was a little more sterile, I could be in North Korea. It was 8pm on a Sunday night. Surely there should be more people for such a big airport. Top tip: if you bring battery packs, make sure they are good quality with the info listed on the outside. Many people lost their packs from my flight.

My cousin Mirjam picked me up at Schiphol and we drove to her home in Utrecht, where I will stay the next few weeks. Her house is very traditionally dutch. Three stories, with stairs so steep and narrow, I doubt I can drink alcohol and get down from the top floor in one piece. It is in the most beautiful neighbourhood, very old architecture, very residential and very family oriented. There are bikes everywhere! All the time. All ages. People take their kids to school on the back of their bikes, people shop with bikes, go to work on bikes. The neighbourhood also has some amazing shops; bakeries, cheese shops, specialty food stores, etc.

YesterdayI tested myself and took a train to Leiden. While all didn’t go according to plan, I did learn that getting up at 3am and hanging around a town in near zero degrees is not the best thing to do if you are not climatized. Amazing architecture, amazing town, a great old European feel. Highly recommend spending half a day (or a whole one if you like museums) there. Photos to come.

I have, so far, had a lot of time to spend with my cousin. It is strange. While we have only briefly seen each other in the past (including some time in Brazil) we just pick up like we have been lifelong friends. With her Husband, Wynand, I feel as though I have always known them. Many laughs, much fun. Great food.

Today I will rest up (on limited sleep) and go explore Utrecht late in the afternoon and possible tomorrow morning. Tomorrow night I will go and visit my Aunt in Den Bosch. Friday, no plans so far, but I am thinking of going to the Hague, and this weekend we are driving down to Belgium to meet a cousin of ours to discuss family history. Should be interesting.

It has only been a few days, but the camera has been hard at work. I will post an album of current photos when I move from Utrecht to Boxmeer later this month.

Cheers,

JC