Barging through the Netherlands - Part 10

Cruising through Burdaard
To read about our boating holiday from the beginning - use this link.
To go back to the previous post then - click here. Or read on if you been following the journey.

We ended up spending three nights in Dokkum. My other half was in so much pain from his wrecked back that he needed a few days rest. And to find a physiotherapist. A Google search helped us locate an practice, which we walked to and found. But it had moved! Fortunately someone knew where it had relocated. But then
Saloon and bedroom on Shangri La
they were fully booked. For days ahead!

The one chap kindly agreed to see my husband after his last client late in the day. We went back and the physiotherapist clicked and cracked and pulled him.

We did have travel insurance but we weren't sure if they would pay for an item like this. It cost €39 which was cheap if it would sort out the pain. And we saved on long distance phone calls and reams of paperwork.

Internet for the most part of this trip wasn't great. You either had to go to a local coffee shop or pub where they changed the code so often that no-one
Wi-Fi at the local library
ever knew the right access code. If the marina had Wi-Fi, you had to sit right outside the haven (harbour) office to get a signal. Not great in dodgy weather. If you were lucky get signal on your boat, then network was overwhelmed by everyone using it. It was immensely frustrating as the signal would continually crash. Usually just after you have composed a reply to an important e-mail. Dokkum had excellent free wi-fi throughout the marina. What a treat! Most public libraries have free Wi-Fi and the Spar in Lemmer had 30 minutes of free Internet for their customers.

We untied and and re-berthed next to the water
Windmill in Burdaard
supply and loaded up with water. Then, we set off towards Leeuwarden. The canal is beautiful here. It twists and turns passing through lush green countryside. In rural areas the aroma of cow dung does rather permeate the air. But then this is Friesland, home of Friesland cows. Champion milk makers. We are aspirant vegans so we only had milk and cheese if we went out and there were no vegan options.

We travelled through a small town called Burdaard where the houses are right on the canal. Everyone is so friendly in the towns and on the canals. Waving at the people and other boats on the canal was becoming second nature and I found myself wanting to wave even when we went walk-about in the bigger cities. I always thought coffee shops where cannabis is legal were unique to Amsterdam but the smell of weed alerted me to coffee shops in Groningen and in Leeuwaarden. Both are university cities and with a much younger population than in the smaller towns.

Canal aqueduct over a highway
If you plan to meet a Dutch person and they tell you the meeting time is ten thirty, Do NOT think they mean 30 minutes after ten. What they mean is 30 minutes BEFORE ten. So really actually they mean nine-thirty. Fortunately, it's the same in Afrikaans, so we know this.

Another thing Dutch people do that can be confusing to an English speaking person, is the way they say their numbers. For example a number like 54, would be fifty-four in English. In Dutch, it's vier en vyftig (four and fifty). Try to read times and bills rather than listen to them to be sure you understand what is meant.

Next time I talk about our time in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. Find that post - here.

Go to - My Holidays and Trips - at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on - this link.

Labels: , ,