Month: October 2023

Staying at the airport Ibis hotel. Inexpensive but clean and good value. And they have a free shuttle service to and from the airport. And there is a train station at the airport,  which will take you to Central Station and the heart of Amsterdam.

Ɓut miserable weather here in Amsterdam. First day in over a month that we experienced rain. We went out to explore but just didn’t feel like doing anything. We went to the Reijks Museum but it was way too crowded. Could not really enjoy it so we left. That is the problem with traveling now. Too many people….everywhere. So we decided to return to our hotel. We leave for home tomorrow, 26th October.

By the way. Amsterdam is super expensive. And they nickel and dime you to death here. You pay for everything. A cup of tea will cost you 8 cdn dollars, coffee around 10. Beer about 13. Club sandwich 25. So bring money if you come here.

Soon to be home. This has been one fantastic trip in spite of Amsterdam’s expense.  The Camino was great as was Lisbon and the other places we travelled to. But as the old saying goes there is no place like home.

Thanks for being a part of the journey.

Out for awhile. Read ya sometime later and may all your Caminos be great ones.

So long Chester. May you rest in peace. You will be missed.

Reijks Museum with big truck.

 

Come to Crete. It is fantastic. May and mid September are the best times as it gets too hot in the summer months.

Knossos palace was very interesting. Imagine the Minoans being the first European civilization. Walk among ruins that are 4,000 years old.

Beer is excellent. Food too. I am not a salad person generally but I loved the Greek salads here. Traditional and those unique to a region. People are super friendly. Alas they cannot make a decent pizza here and the fries are not so good. Interestingly, clubhouse sandwiches are very popular on Crete.

Now waiting for our flight to Amsterdam.

Boy oh boy I love this country.‏

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Today, October 21st, is Trafalgar Day. The day back in 1805 when Admiral Horatio Nelson and the Royal Navy kicked the butt of the combined fleets of France and Spain during the Napoleonic wars. This victory ensured that the Royal Navy ruled the waves for the next 140 years. The victory also ensured that England would not be invaded by Napoleon’s Grande Armee.

Cross the “T” or line.

 

Last day here. Off to Santorini tomorrow for the weekend then fly to Amsterdam Monday. 😔 I can’t believe that this adventure and the Camino Compestella started way back 21 August, although I started my Camino training way back in February. I know, I look awful here. But you have to know that pilgrims have to suffer. We are not allowed to have fun and….no swearing…damn!

The second part of the adventure started when the Camino ended. I mean, why come all the way over here and not explore the area? So Dot met me in Lisbon 03 October and our adventure began as this blog attests to. And the blog serves a dual purpose. To entertain and inform you (hopefully) but also to serve as a journal and course of record for me. As you may or may not know I have written 4 books (see menu or top of the page), so these short snippets provide me with valuable resource material for my stories.

Heavenly intervention.

So today Dot and I are going to further explore Heraklion and visit their natural history museum, among other things.

It was a nice day. Returned the rental car, went to the bank then walked up to Liberty Square. From there we walked along the car free roads and alleyways all the way down to the old Venetian port. Stopped and had lunch at a place on the water before heading up to the natural history museum.

Spent about 2 hours in the museum, which was interesting and fun, as this photo shows.

Afterward we walked some more, killed some time and then had dinner at one of the cafes around freedom Square.

Nice final full day in Heraklion and Crete. Loved it here. Back to our hotel, pack and leave early tomorrow morning for Santorini by  fast ferry.

Read ya later.