Sandra is Portuguese and has been living with her husband in Almere near Amsterdam for a few years, and I've been following her blog for a couple of years too.
We drove to Almere and parked in a parking lot next to a shopping in the city centre and the couple met us there shortly. We walked to a nearby coffee shop - Café op 2.
After coffee Sandra and J showed us around the town centre and then they invited us to their place to continue the conversation.
We had a lovely afternoon, our husband's had a lively conversation going, when we realized it was getting dark and it was time to go, but first we walked to the lake near their house for a photo.
Art around Almere |
Almere streets and architecture |
A lake in Almere near Sandra's house where we went to take a photo before leaving |
After dinner we packed up our suitcase as we were leaving Amsterdam the following day in the late afternoon.
On Monday, 2nd of April we packed the boot of the small hire car with all our suitcases and drove to Den Haag to have lunch at the house of a South African couple who are friends of Karina and Thomas. We had already met them the last time we were in Amsterdam when they also lived there, but recently they bought a house in Den Haag about 60kms away.
On the way we saw some quirky life-sized white animals on top of a building just outside Amsterdam, lots of windmills and windfarms.
On the road - a modern bridge, animals on top of a building, windmills, my daughter's building model in the foyer of the building. |
After a delicious lunch, M presented us with a beautiful chocolate Easter cake that looked exactly like one on the cover of a magazine she showed us. She loves baking and is always trying to perfect her craft.
The other guests at the lunch, a young Portuguese couple who work Karina,and who had just arrived from a holiday in New Zealand announced that they had gotten engaged while hiking in NZ and would be getting married soon. M volunteered to bake their wedding cake, and I'm sure they get a beautiful cake for their special day.
Amazing chocolate Easter cake, the little pug that M and S have that travels everywhere with them |
Unfortunately by 3,30pm we had to leave and drive about 40km the airport as our flight departed at 5,50pm. Karina was also flying with us to Portugal, but Thomas stayed behind and would return home by train later in the day and would join us in Portugal on Friday evening.
After check-in, and because Karina is a frequent flyer due to her work trips I was able to join her for a quick snack in the frequent flyer lounge while my poor husband stayed outside, but only one guest allowed :)
We flew Transavia, a Dutch low cost airline, and even though the seats had been pre-booked they put the 3 of us in different rows, a bit strange... but I sat by the window just as I like, so all good.
At Schipol airport |
Three hours later we arrived in Lisbon, at 8pm local time. While my daughter and I waited for our checked luggage my husband sorted out a rental car.
Arriving in Lisbon |
When ready we bought a Vodafone Sim card for €15 that would give us free calls and internet usage during our stay. We then met up with my husband in the parking garage and drove the 30km to Cascais, where my family live and where we had rented an Airbnb apartment for the 4 of us, which by chance was just 500mt down the road from my sister.
On the way we called the family - both my Mom and my sister were waiting to feed us a late dinner, but we settled on going to my sister first as she had collected our apartment's keys earlier in the day. It was already close to 11pm when we popped into my parents place to give them a hug before going to our place to sleep. Late, but in Portugal most people go to bed quite late and I know my parents are night owls too...
Wonderful photos and some really weird ones, too. LOVED the animals, but that bridge reminded me of the airport at LAX (Los Angeles, CA). I fear that's the last time we will see the Dutch shoes for awhile.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you and your internet friend got to meet. It appears they felt comfortable with you (and you them) to get an invite to their home. That's always a bit risky the first time you meet a person.
Too bad your poor hubby couldn't join you in the frequent flyer lounge. I hope you made it up to him (grin).
You seem to have such good luck with your Airbnbs where you stay. I've heard horror stories that include hidden cameras in the bathroom, etc. So glad you haven't encountered that problem.
You're right Elizabeth, probably the last time we'll go to Amsterdam since our daughter is leaving in a few months.
DeleteWe have been lucky with the Airbnb's we've rented, this is probably the 6th or 7th and they've all been great, some simpler than others but still good. This one was actually quite luxurious but reasonably priced.
Gostei bastante de ver as esculturas sou um apaixonado pela arte na rua.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
Obrigada Francisco, havia imensa arte nas ruas, tambem gosto de ver.
DeleteAlways adventurous to meet a bloggy-friend in real life :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat when it works out - twice for me it sadly didn´t, the persons were so different to their blog-"IDs".
Interesting cake! Lately from time to time I´d like to have a chocolate, but we never have any at home. And then I forget about it - repeat.
Oh, lucky you, flying is no problem, right? I hate it!
I once - half of my life actually - was a night-owl, too, crazy!
Great your family is so tight!!
Hope one of those bloggers wasn't me, lol.
DeleteI like chocolate, but can got for ages without eating it too. A few years ago I used to like sweets a lot more than I do now actually.
We're lucky to have a close knit family, sadly we all live far away from each other.
I'm tired just reading your itinerary!
ReplyDeleteEven I'm surprised how much we did in just over 2 weeks holidays! And there's more to come... Thanks Pat.
DeleteWonderful shots, and quite a journey.
ReplyDeleteThe rooftop rhino is my favourite.
Thanks William, yes that rhino and giraffe were unexpected.
DeleteI am pleased you didn't go to Amsterdam for nice weather. The cake is spectacular. You really are a global village person.
ReplyDeleteYou can't expect nice weather in Amsterdam for sure Andrew. My daughter flies to Portugal for some sun when she says that "Holland's 3 days of summer are over".
DeleteDa Holanda ainda só conheço Amesterdão.
ReplyDeleteMas gostei tanto que quero conhecer outros locais.
Ha muito tempo que nao visito outras cidades Holandesas ficando sempre por Amesterdao com a minha filha, mas ha muitos anos viajei pela Holanda e ha locais muito bonitos Pedro.
DeleteFunny to see you have been in Almere too! We live in another part, Almere Haven (the oldest part). You have done and seen a lot, also been to the Hague! Nice story.
ReplyDeleteYes we landed up going to Almere where you also live Marianne.
DeleteIt was a pity we didn't get to see The Hague properly, it was just a quick lunch.
Almere merece de certeza uma visita e os anfitriões são uma delícia. Tambem queremos conhecer 😉🐇
ReplyDeleteGostamos imenso de os conhecer Paula :)
DeleteAndrew is right the Easter cake looks divine Sami 😀 Gosh they have so much really cool artworks and sculptures in Europe.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was pretty Grace. I really was surprised with so many sculptures all over.
DeleteHow nice to meet up with another blogger!
ReplyDeleteI think that Easter Cake looks deliciously divine!!!
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, it was a bit too rich for me, so I just had a tiny bit :) but it sure was pretty!
DeleteI haven't met another blogger in person yet, maybe one day
ReplyDeleteI've met quite a few, always interesting to see the person behind the blog. Thanks Adam
DeleteIt's always special to have the family together when you live in different countries isn't it? I love meeting other bloggers, I am convinced we will meet one day Sami too! What's that with the rhino on the roof - love it!
ReplyDeleteWren x
I would certainly love to meet you Wren.
DeleteVery special indeed to be able to reunite what my niece calls "the global family".
The rhino and giraffe are one of those quirky statues the Dutch bring into their also quirky architecture. I had seen it before when entering Amsterdam from that end, and I made sure to take a photo when we left to Den Haag :)
We enjoyed very much to know you both! Thank you so much for such a lovely day! Very nice pics as well!
ReplyDeleteThis evening Holland will be celebrating the King's Night and tomorrow King's Day.
Hope to meet you again!
Keep in touch! :-)
:) Enjoy the King's Night and Day holidays. I know they are celebrated with lots of fun. Thanks Sandra.
DeleteOh Sami, what a marvelous time! And what a wonderful way to celebrate Easter and spring!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie, it was a great start to the European Spring.
DeleteYou sure are getting around. How good to be able to squeeze in a visit with a blogger.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to meet up with two bloggers from Holland. Thanks Diane.
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