Rest is seemingly an over rated thing (that I am having trouble managing to get) so whilst in Clervaux we still had a look around the local area to check out the things we had missed. On Saturday we walked up to the Abbey to have a look around. It is still an active Abbey and they make and bottle apple juice to sell and they have a shop with religious artefacts for sale. We bought some juice but didn’t feel the need for any religious paraphernalia. It was quite interesting to see the Monk behind the counter in the shop – who was quite elderly – had a teenage boy who looked like he was teaching him to use a Brother electronic typewriter (or the boy might have been just watching in wonderment at the ancient machine he had never seen before). This was the type of typewriter that I learnt to type on back in about 1980. I guess it’s hard to keep up with the times as a Monk and the typewriter serves its purpose for their store. I don’t know where they would be able to buy ribbon for a typewriter of that age though as most would be in museums now. We decided to treat ourselves out to dinner Saturday night as there were no supermarkets close by and we were getting low on food. I can’t say I was impressed and the menu didn’t have an English translation as most of them do have so it was hard to know what you were ordering. I got a whole truite (trout) which was quite small really and we saw them swimming in the river beside our van. I decided Scots meals were far better and so he now has to cook all the time.
On Sunday we went into the village for a coffee as we had done each day – and get a baguette for lunch. On our way into the village we came across a group of 4 people playing what looked like bagpipes and drums but they were very Celtic looking and obviously had a different sound than bagpipes. We watched them for a bit – they were very good. Then a couple started up music in the main square where the coffee shop was and we ended up sitting listening to them enjoying the sunshine and people watching whilst having a couple of drinks. It has been quite amazing to see how many people are touring on their motorbikes – they are absolutely everywhere. What we didn’t know at this point was that it was a long weekend in Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands and Monday was a holiday so we think that is why there were so many. When I say a lot I mean probably a few hundred bikes we saw and heard over the day. Bikes of all types, but lots of BMW’s. Scot was quite jealous that he couldn’t join the bike riding as well, so looks like we may have to hire a bike somewhere on our travels so he can enjoy a ride.
Whilst sitting in the café – called Au Chocolat – we spoke with some lovely people sitting at the table beside us – we think they were German – and they had a black Labrador called Mandy that I had a pat with (although she licked me death) and got a photo below. They didn’t speak much English but we communicated quite well with our hand gestures and movements and we got a typical French farewell when they left (kiss each side of the cheeks). It was just lovely meeting them. Scot never misses out on anything going on – so when we spotted a group of girls who were obviously on a hens day out – he approached them to find out what was going on. It is a tradition in Luxembourg that they take a trolley of little inexpensive items and sell them off to well wishers as they walk around drinking. So Scot bought a pink telescopic fly swat!
We went back to the van and had a swim in the pool as it was still reasonably warm. Nice to have a swim as we don’t see pools very much.
Monday morning and we went to take off and found a fuse had blown in the van. We had no spare fuses as all the ones in the glove box were already blown ones – crap. So we left Clervaux without any indicators or any working dash gauges (poor people who were travelling behind us L.) We travelled up through the top part of Luxembourg, back into Belgium, past the Spa race track and into Netherlands. We couldn’t figure out why everything was closed – but obviously it was a public holiday so no shopping for us this day either. We struck a bit of a storm on the way through Belgium which had hail again in it and we got stuck in a traffic jam for a bit. We tried to find a camping ground in Maastricht but ended up managing to stay in a marina park which has electricity and showers. Only 17 euro a night which is a good price. We were able to bike into the city centre of Maastricht today from the marina and buy fuses for the van and another phone card which hopefully will be able to be used in Scandinavia. We saw sheep feeding on the side of the road in the middle of suburbia and they get moved along as they eat the grass. Quite a strange sight and as Scot started picking grass and feeding a few – I freaked as the masses all started getting up and rushing over to get fresh grass too. Maastricht is a lovely city which we spent the day having a look around. There are large market squares and lots and lots of cafes bordering each of them. We did a quick stop at a supermarket as we biked home for essential tea things this afternoon and tomorrow we will head off for the bottom of the west coast of Netherlands.
Have you seen Andre Reiu Yet You are in home town Just mention Allan and you will be his friend for life. Allan was born in Groningen in the north and his uncle was harbormaster I think I said Hague but Rotterdam. Rotterdam is an interesting city as it was bomb during the ww2 and now rebuilt with shops under ground and modern compared to other cities in Holland. Holland is really interesting how land was reclaimed We stayed at an hotel in Amsterdam near the airport and we were told 20 metre below sealevel so we werent happy when we were on the ground floor.
Amterdam is amasing and please to canal tour and look out for the badge with the lady living with cats was there in the 70’s 80’s and still there in 2007 when Mum and I did the trip. Organ grinders abound in Holland and are realyy great to waste time on. And dont forget Red light area in Amsterdam email me if you need directions dusk is a great time to visit here and Mum really enjoyed this. And try salted licorice can be bought in any lolly store and if you hate it post it home to Allan . Note Scot i said visit red light it is an area to explore but not to enjoy the merchinses but you would want to anyway as you will find out.!!!!!! Lu to you both and I will keep trying to remember little pearls for you BEWARE OF BIKES IN ALL OF HOLLAND . Topless buses are cheap in all cities and the more times you sue them the cheaper they get a great way to find the lay of the land and hop on and off makes a lot of sense and usually last 24 hours.
Hi V, hope you can get the rest you need over the next week. It looks like there is going to always be more to do than you can find the time and energy to participate in. You can always come back to work if you think that might help!