My name is Marion Vermazen. I am a traveler, hiker, reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, YouTuber, Spanish and French language student, knitter, weaver and genealogist.
Author: marionvermazen
I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.
Today we explored a bit of Friesland. It is a beautiful and fascinating area. Not far from where we are staying is the De Heining Pumping station. It’s one of the giant pumping stations that is used to pump water from the lakes and canals and reclaimed farm land out to the salt marsh on the other side of the dike.
Giant screws used to pump waterSalt marsh
Next we went to the village of Minnertsga where one of my distant ancestors, Hendrick Epke Banta was born. The writing on the stone next to the door of the church says the tower was built in 1505. The drive through the villages and farmland to get there was fun.
Giant draft horse we saw on the way. Windmill and wind turbineThe church in Minnertsga
The sandstone plaque by the front door
Our last stop on our exploration was the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden It all about the history and people of Friesland.
An old map of FrieslandOriginally the towns in Friesland were built on mounds to protect them from flooding. Now the mounds provide archaeological finds.
We had dinner in the nearby town of Dokkum at Grand Café de Waugh
Today it rained non stop until about 3. But somehow it just gives more romantic atmosphere to Amsterdam. We walked around a bit to find a coffee shop for breakfast.
Finding a coffee shopCoffee
After breakfast we packed up and walked to the rental car office.
A cat and a window seen on the way to the rental car office
We had a few problems with the rental car process but eventually we were on the road out of Amsterdam.
Driving along the 20 mile long Afsluitdilk causeway. Those are sluice gatesAnother picture on the Afsluitdijk. A lot of it just looked like a big grass berm.
Tonight we are staying in a former church in the tiny town of Reitsum in Friesland. One of my immigrant ancestors, Hendrick Epke Banta was born not far from here in 1655. It is absolutely beautiful country.
Bij De Pastorie where we are stayingThe sitting area in our room. Arriving
We had a busy day today. We went out and found a great place for coffee and pastry.
Our coffee shop for breakfast, Machwitz KaffeeThis very cool building was right across the street from our hotelI’m going to miss fresh croissants for breakfast!
Our train leaving Hanover wasn’t until about 4 so after we checked out of the hotel we stored our bags and went exploring.
Because it was a weekday the town hall was open. Inside we walked around a bit. They had 4 large scale models of Hanover over the years.
Inside the New Town HallHanover in 1689In Opera House Square outside the coffee shop we went to.
We stopped for coffee and a snack.
Inside the coffee house
Although we had first class train tickets we did not have an assigned seat. After we got on the train we found a place in second class to stow our bags and then, after we had pull out of the station, we found a conductor in one of the first class compartments. She found us seats even though almost every seat was taken. The train ride from Hanover to Amsterdam took almost 5 hours.
Duke’s seat. He has gone to retrieve our bags and stow them on the luggage rack in our compartment
In Amsterdam we walked to our hotel and then found a Dutch bar where we could have beer and a meat and cheese board for dinner.
Inside the bar where we had dinnerDinnerWalking back from dinner
This morning we went out looking for some breakfast. Because it was Sunday morning many places were closed.
The building we were originally headed for. These dragons were on top of the building we originally thought might have a bakery open
When the original location we checked out wasn’t open we kept walking and eventually found this place.
Where we ended up for breakfastCoffeeFresh squeezed orange juiceA breakfast sandwich
Then we went for a walk. We walked around the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) and the nearby lake.
New Town HallRowers on the lake
Then we sat and people watched and enjoyed the sun in front of the city hall.
Taking a break
Today the Hanover 96 Football Club was playing in the stadium right next to the lake. We could hear the singing and cheering as we drank our beer. We saw lots of fans.
Hanover football fans
For dinner we ate at Brauhaus Ernst August.
Inside the Brewery where we had dinnerWe each had schnitzel and salad.
Today was a big travel day. We left our hotel and walked to the Poznań train station about 8 am. In the picture below Duke is in line to try to use the last of our Polish currency on breakfast.
Ordering breakfast at the Poznań train stationBreakfast
For the first leg of our journey we had train tickets to go from Poznan to Berlin. The train journey was scheduled to be about three and a half hours. After we got on the train we learned that they had a bus bridge from the Poland/Germany border to Berlin.
We still arrived in Berlin right on time. The traffic in Berlin was really bad and I wish I understood German so I could have understood what our bus driver was yelling at the other drivers. At one point point he said ***** Berliners *****. Which I understood to be a comment on Berlin drivers. The whole bus laughed.
On the train before we changed to the bus
The Berlin train station was pretty amazing. There were at least 5 floors with buses and trains and shops and restaurants. We had about an hour wait and then we were on the train to Hanover.
While we waited Duke went to ask about our tickets to Amsterdam for Monday. We have first class tickets but no seat assignments. The customer service agents told Duke yes that’s right. It seems strange that they can sell us tickets but NO seats. Hopefully we won’t be standing!We shall see what happens Monday!
Berlin train station
In Hanover we walked to our hotel. We saw a loud pro Palestine demonstration and several beautiful buildings. For dinner we walked to a nearby restaurant called Bavarian Hannover. We had beer and Bratz.
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