Happy Meeting with Michelle and Loes, a special Holiday
Our Trip to Holland
The last time I visited the country where I lived from the age of 3 to 15 years was in 2006.
Michael had never visited Holland so we decided to take a 14 day holiday. He prepared everything well in advance and booked the flight, rental car and 6 different hotel rooms from South to North and from East to West. On arrival we fell into a heatwave, unbelievable, it was warmer than in the south of Spain. That same afternoon I got 3 T-shirts and the next day while visiting Aachen in Germany I had to buy a pair of sandals.
The whole of Holland was blossoming, in nearly every garden you would see trees and bushes in full bloom, a real delight. Driving through the forests the tall trees had new leaves, the color a bright and fresh looking light green. Spring is the best time of the year to visit this country I think.
A small trip to Belgium
The next day was really going to be special because we would meet Michelle. We were going to drive from the south of Holland to Antwerpen in Belgium where we would meet at the Central Station. It took us one and a half hour by car while Michelle would be traveling the same time by train.
There she was, a bubbly and nice person. We started talking as if we had met many times before. We had been in contact often being both with Wealthy Affiliate and we even had written a Guest writers post for each other's websites.
To meet in person is ever so nice and whenever she comes to Spain I hope to see her again. We spend some few hours together, too short for my taste, and had a nice lunch and a lot of conversation. She gave us Belgium sweets and Belgium yummy chocolates, I will have to work that off in the garden I am afraid. It was great getting to know her and hopefully, we will meet again.
Meeting Michelle at Central Station.
Michelle wrote a post about our meeting, here comes the link:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/mybiz4u/blog/wealthy-affilia...
Visiting my hometown
Our trip continued through Holland visiting friends and family. We went to Rhenen on the Rhine where I used to live and took a nice panoramic shot of the Cunera church, the second highest in Holland. I had a look at the 2 houses my parents build on the Bergweg. One bungalow in 1955 and the second house in 1972. It was very strange to see all this and a lot of childhood memories came back.
The Cunera Tower of Rhenen
Windmill of Rhenen with remains of the city wall
Going North
Then we continued up North where we were going to meet Loes in Friesland. My name Taetske is Friesian by the way. We arrived at the hotel in Galamadammen. This hotel is situated at the waterfront and has a small Marina, all this is surrounded by typical Dutch meadows.
The next evening we had a nice dinner in the company of Loes and Willem, I think I can speak for all, we had a really good time together. Loes gave me 2 handmade presents, one for my handbag and the other for my mobile. I have preferred to hang them in my home office on my working desk, there I see it every day. Michael and Willem got along well chatting away while Loes and I talked a little about our websites but mostly about our lives. I hope to welcome them one day if they find their way to the south of Spain.
Galamadammen in Friesland
Having Dinner with Loes and Willem
Wealthy Affiliate Friendships
Meeting Michelle and Loes were the highlights of our trip. To meet people whom you have been in contact with for over 1 year is really special. I do hope to meet more people from Wealthy Affiliate in the future. We plan to visit the US in 2019 so you never know.
Some special places in Holland
I would like to mention a few places where we traveled and which were a special joy. Leaving Friesland we drove over the famous Afsluitdijk. This is a masterpiece of Dutch engineering which was started in 1927 and completed in 1932. It is 32 km long and 90 meters wide with 2 lanes both direction. On one side you see the North Sea and on the other, the now sweet water IJselmeer.
The Keukenhof
The world-famous Keukenhof is a beautiful tulip garden of 32 hectares. Because of the heatwave, 90% of the flowers were open. From all countries of the world, there were visitors walking in this park, everybody behaving so nicely. When somebody was making a photo of the flowers people would patiently wait to then continue walking. Nobody was loud so even if the park was really full of people it was a special experience, everybody enjoying the beauty of the flowers. We walked for more than 4 hours and bought 3 bags with 10 bulbs each which now hopefully will blossom on my patio.
Windmill and Tulip Fields
Beautiful Tulips
The Keukenhof Park
Amsterdam, the capital of Holland
A day in Amsterdam was also on the list. Again we walked for at least 4 hours making many photos. The museum with the history of the city was interesting indeed. Many centuries ago, during its golden times, the city welcomed refugees from all over the world. All religions were allowed in the city. The only requirement was to contribute with knowledge and or skills to the well-being of the community. After a little lunch, we took the canal tour by boat which lasted 1 hour. We came back to the hotel really exhausted.
Amsterdam is built on timber piles
Waiting for the Canal Boat Tour
2 Beautiful parks near Arnhem
In the neighborhood of Arnhem, we visited 2 great places. One to the National Park the Hoge Veluwe with the Kroller Muller museum with the second largest collection in the world of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. This park is privately-owned and includes 5400 hectares of woodland, heathland, fen and drift sand. Driving through the park one could see the damage a huge storm, 200 km per hour winds, had caused in January. The effects of this storm were also visible in many other areas in Holland where we visited.
The next day we went to the well known Open Lucht museum. In this beautiful park, very old farmhouses from the whole country were rebuilt stone by stone. One can go inside and see how the people lived centuries ago. There are also many windmills and a water-powered mill where paper is made from cloth rags, a blacksmith shop, a shipwright shop, and ladies who were spinning wool to yarn, etc.
The Paper Mill
Spinning Wool to Yarn
The oldest hotel in Holland
Then we traveled South/West to Bergen op Zoom and stayed in the oldest hotel in Holland called de Draak = dragon. It is situated on the main square, lots of cobblestones there, and the building is from 1397. We took our plane back home from Eindhoven airport and arrived safely but tired late at night. Looking back to these lovely and interesting 14 days, and 1800 km on the road one can say that traveling is one of the nicest things one can do. We both enjoyed it immensely
.
Hotel de Draak
We have included some private photos, a few were taken by Michael and others by myself
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Recent Comments
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Wow ya, the tulips were fantastic. I was so right about the time of year for your trip and the tulips in bloom that in itself was a great part of your trip enjoyed your story and am very happy for you to have met up with friends here at WA what a great experience.
You sure livened up WA with your posts I came here from Loes Post otherwise I probably wouldn't have seen this yet.
What part of the US is Micheal from I am guessing that will be your next trip!
as always your friend
Linda
Good Morning Linda,
Nice to see you! Hope you are keeping well. Michael was born in Colorado but stayed his last years in the US in Idaho close to Boise.
We will travel to Florida, at least 4 people to visit there, then comes Tennessee, a very good friend there too, following should come Colorado. Julia said I should come to Boston too, the problem with the US is it is so big. I do not think we will be able to manage it all in 1 trip.
Holland was great and meeting the ladies very special also. That is so nice in life the human connections and relationships, I hope they will come one day to visit here too.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Your social network has really paid off, we have come a long way since we first meet here in WA Taetske, just over a year ago.
The reason I asked about Michaels, to see if you would be close to the West Coast on your visit to the States. Boise is just a hop skip and a jump to the Okanagan Valley Canada.
Well, you seem to have already planned out your trip so maybe on the next. I hope to be able to visit the south of Spain again and pop in to see you that would be really fantastic.
always a better way
sending blessing your way
Linda
Nice to see your smile Face Veronica has it been just over a year since you came to WA. To my way of thinking it seems you have been here much longer than me.
Have a lovely day
always a better way
Linda
Good evening Linda,
Already a long time ago I looked up where you live, some lovely lakes up there.
Yes, we have come a long way but it is only a small part of the road ahead.
The trip to the US is still in the embryonic state, Michael is checking his timeshares etc.
You are very welcome to the south of Spain, a bed and food are guaranteed. Do not forget your laptop!
Saludos del Sur de Espana. Taetske
Ya, it seems a long time ago but in reality, it's not been that long.(0: I will take you up on the bed and breakfast,
Linda
Hi Taetske, I loved seeing your stunning pictures. Such vibrant color and charm! How wonderful you were able to spend time with Michelle and Loes. We develop some pretty deep relationships with members here and to get to meet someone in person is the most delicious icing on the cake. I enjoyed your post very much. Thank you for sharing.
All the best,
Sue
Good Morning Sue,
Yes, it was a great experience to meet them both. Indeed the icing on the cake to meet people you have been in contact with for so long. Now I have these nice memories. Holidays go way to fast but I hope they are able to come to the south one day.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Hi Taetske, I enjoyed your post soooo much. They certainly built buildings to last over there.
The tulips were gorgeous, wonder what they do with them.....too many to pick and sell, maybe it's to label & sort bulbs for sale.
Loved looking at all your photos and especially of you all meeting and having dinner together, how super!
Cheers Jae ☼
Good evening Jae,
Thank you so much for your comment.
Where there are the big tulip fields that is where the bulbs are harvested for selling, first the flowers and then the bulbs.
In the Keukenhof, I think they will keep them to replace now and then. I observed areas had little shields standing with the name of the tulip nursery so I suppose they are the people who provide the bulbs for that particular area in the garden.
It was great to meet Michelle and Loes, I hope they will find their way to Spain one day.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Aah, thanks for explaining that, always wondered about why so many tulips.
A Dutchy in Spain, well I'm a Kiwi in Oz tee hee always good to try something new..
Cheers Jae ♥
Hello Taetske, are you telling me that you and Stefan share the same birthday, have I missed yours and not said Happy Birthday to you.
It sounds like you had a ball on your trip and that was lovely meeting up with Michelle and with Loes. You must have some great stories to tell each other.
I loved your photos and the tulips were amazing. You will need to come to the UK but try and make it the summer when it could possibly be warmer lol.
I love to hear that people who are members from all over the world are able to meet each other. xxxx
Good evening Cheryl,
Thanks for stopping by.
Stefan is on 7 and I am on 8 so that is why I was eating his birthday cake today.
As I said we are planning the US for 2019 so the UK, Scottland. and Ireland will have to wait a bit still.
I have friends in Florida which I told Rick, I hope he contacts me next year.
The tulips of the Keukenhof are so amazing, one literally drowns in a sea of color, beautiful.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Happy Birthday Taetske, and hope you are enjoying Stefan's cake as well as your own.
That will be nice to see your friends in Florida. Have you heard anything from Rick at all as I sent him an email but have never heard back which is unusual for him. xxxx
I was on PM with Rick before he left. He got my email and as he lives in Florida where we plan to visit 4 different people I told him to contact me in early 2019. He said he would and that is all I know.
Thank you for the wishes, as I said to Pernilla, one year older but not much wiser.
Greetings from the south, Taetske
Oh I wouldn't say that Taetske, I would think we are both a lot wiser.
I spoke to him and said I would keep in contact via email as he was one of the first people to welcome me when I joined and we got on really well and had some really good laughs. The last message I left for him on his profile page mysteriously disappeared, not sure why and I haven't heard from him since even though he said he wanted to keep in contact. xxx
Oh wow....great post and awesome pics, T. You really went all out and out and about! Thanks for your kind words. I totally agree! It was WONDERFUL meeting up with Michael and yourself. We form so many 'cyber' friendships and it is nice when we can 'realize' them. I was a great experience. Thank you for making it happen.
Much success and say hello to Michael for me too.
Namaste
M
Good evening Michelle.
Thank you for stopping by, with still a piece of the gigantic Fruit in my mouth I say it was great!. You really have to think about coming to the south. You wrote you live the laptop life so you can take it with you and come and visit.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
LOL...indeed I do, T, and yes, I am most definitely going to have to take a visit to Spain - laptop in hand!
Have a great evening and we will be in touch.
M
Thank you so much Taetske for this wonderful post and for sharing these beautiful pictures.
How great it must have been for you three awesome ladies to meet in real. Very happy for you!! It must also have been such a great feeling to see the country of your childhood again.
I haven't been to Holland yet, but it is of course on my bucket list of countries to visit. My greatest wish is to be able to invite my parents on a trip together with them and marvel at the beauty of the tulipes, windmills and picturesque villages, especially my mother dreams of visiting Holland.
:-)
Good afternoon Pernilla,
Thank you for stopping by.
Holland is definitely worth a visit even if it is small it has some great things to see and experience.
To see everything back after so many years is really something. Visiting with 2 old ladies who know me from when I was small etc.
Then the visit with the 2 new ladies, all in all, a success!
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Wow, these photos of Holland are so beautiful Taetske!! And wonderful to meet not one, but two great WA friends!
Isn't it wonderful when strangers who "really aren't strangers" meet in person for the first time, Taetske? Sounds like you all had a lovely time, and how refreshing it must've been not to talk at all about your websites!
Can't wait to see more photos of you, Loes, and Michelle!
Kaju
Good Morning Kaju,
I also think the photos came out good the only thing is they got pulled when published, a mystery. In draft, everything was ok, oh well, technology!
I think I will have to disappoint you as there will not come more photos of Michelle, Loes, and myself. Remember it is published on Google and we do not want to become too famous!
I hope that what I forwarded to you will be of some help.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
How wonderful that you got to visit your childhood home and meet some fellow WAers in the process, Taetske. That had to be ultra-special.
Your detailed descriptions brought back memories for me. I visited Holland twice during my six years living in West Germany. It is such a beautiful country with very kind and beautiful people. I enjoyed both visits very much.
Wishing you the best in your journeys, both in travels and in WA.
Continued success,
Joshua
Good Morning Joshua,
Thank you for reading my post and your nice comments
It was a great trip with so many impressions, I could not name them all.
My last trip to Holland was in 2006 and I saw a lot of changes.
We were so lucky with the weather as it often rains. Then again nature would not look so juicy without water, something which is lacking in Spain.
Wishing you also the best.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
What a nice trip, Taetske!
I am glad you got lucky on weather. Gorgeous tulips! Visiting places from your childhood must be heartfelt and nostalgic. I am glad you enjoyed the sightseeing - all stops you described sound very interesting. And of course, meeting our lovely ladies, WA friends, was priceless!
I noticed your plan of visiting US in 2019... ;) You have a friend in Boston - please don't forget! I've been to Spain long time ago (in 2002), we toured the whole country including Southern part: Granada, Malaga, Seville. Last time I've visited Europe in 2015. I'd like to come again soon, but can't make more certain plans just yet. So, I hope to meet you in person on US territory, okay? ;)
Thank you for the nice travel report with pictures. Warm regards,
~ Julia
Good Morning Julia,
What a shame we did not know each other at the time you visited Malaga. Alhaurin de la Torre is very close by.
I will make a note that you live in Boston. The US is very big so I cannot promise yet, my better half will organize it. I have to visit 4 people in Florida and a dear friend in Tennessee, all the rest is still open. Michael wants to go to Colorado.
The trip was great, 6 hotels and 1800 km in 14 days is a lot but we enjoyed every minute of it.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
See more comments
Sounds like you had a delightful time, Taetske.
When I joined Wealthy Affiliate a little over a year ago, I was just thinking about business. Although I was immediately drawn to the warmth of the people, I never really expected real friendships to develop, but they did.
I h.ad the pleasure of meeting one of my Australian WA buddies when he came to visit the United States for the first time. It was a memory that I hope never to forget!
Thank you, Taetske for sharing your time with Loes and Michelle. They are both so special and give a lot to this community, so I'm glad you were able to spend quality time with them.
Good Morning Veronica,
How nice for you to have met with somebody from down under, my birth country as you might remember.
Human relationships, that is what life is really about. Memories are the gifts we can keep for the rest of our lives.
I really hope some people will find their way to the south of Spain, that would be so great.
Having lived here since 1981 my personal group of friends has diminished over the years because of age, that is normal but also sad. I am happy to make new friends here and hope the numbers will be growing over the years.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Wealthy Affiliate really is a magical place. I hope to meet a lot more of my WA buddies in the near future.
Greetings from New York City! Veronica