Schipol airport is one of the best in the world. Big, efficient, organised ! Got the luggage, hit the ATM for some guilders, down the escalator into the train and 20 minutes later out we popped in the main Railway station with a 200 metre walk to the hotel. I don't know wether it was jet lag, lousy boots or too much luggage but I fell over twice on the way to the hotel, ripping the knee out of my pants. No one took any notice tho, one sees everything on the Amsterdam streets, bystanders probably thought I was drunk at 10am. Couldn't check into the hotel until 2pm so we dumped our bags and went out to explore Amsterdam.
We walked to the office of Braitman & Woudenberg to look at the camper vans for sale. I'd found their website and determined that the best way to get transport was a buy and sell back plan that they promoted. We saw the type of VW that we wanted in the window of the office (they were closed Sundays) and set off exploring the Amsterdam canals. We used the Museumboot, because it stopped at all the museum sites along the canals, we could get off, nose around and get back on again. Were astounded at the flower markets, checked out where the Rijksmuseum was (for another day), dawdled around the fleamarket and generally enjoyed the sunny (but cold) day. Using the canal boats is a wonderful way to see Amsterdam.
Next day we were on the B&W doorstep at 9am to find that the VW that we saw in the window had been sold on Friday to a Canadian couple but, as they say in the TV ad's "there is more". Lo and behold, a green 1990 VW, same shape as the one we bought in 1971. What memories of the Jolly Green Giant !! Of course we wanted the van, jumped into their car and went for a look. They agreed to our offer of G12,500 (including 19% VAT) and we paid a deposit for collection on Wednesday (4/4/01) which reminded me of Paull's birthday. Went back to the hotel, sent a fax to Peter Wong to send money, and spent the rest of the day exploring Amsterdam on a Yellow bike. The next day we mooched around the red light district and visited the Van Gogh museum. What a business they have made out of the mad painter !
Bright and early Wednesday we picked up the van and proceed to drive on the opposite side of the road out of the city. Got lost almost immediately due to a forced detour due to road works. However we found ourselves on the auto bahn to Lisse. When we finally found the village there were no camping grounds open and we had to spend our first night in the van parked in a shopping centre car park opposite the library. Good thing we had packed the duna, it was freezing, the temperature plunged to below zero, so we didn't sleep well. Next day dawned overcast and we weren't too happy until we made our way to the tulip gardens at Keukenhof. This place has to be seen to be believed; and not just tulips, Japanese gardens, hot houses full of orchids, azaleas etc. etc. - all in the most magnificent sculptured gardens. The photos don't do it justice.