Haarlem, North Holland, The Netherlands April 13, 2026

Luck would have it on lucky April 13th!  Although the flight left twenty minutes late due to the need to be de-iced, the flight then arrived thirty minutes early. Passport Control took five minutes, we were at a close gate to baggage claim, luggage was on the carousel when I arrived. “You are very early!” was what she said when I arrived at my home away from home.  She told me “I can contact cleaning staff to get your room ready!”  By 9:30 am I fell onto the bed for a crash power nap!

All that was a most wonderful welcome to The Netherlands!  The real welcome was savouring the sights while strolling along the Spaarne, then finding the perfect spot to sip a local brew and snack on bitterballen. 

I was supposed to be here last year.  If you have been following my blog since then, you know what transpired, life happened and I found myself on another kind of journey.  That journey is history, long forgotten!  I am happy to now be here, following a journey, creating memories, never to be forgotten!

These are a few of the sights while walking off jet lag.  

From canals to boats and bicycles to flowers,

 these are what make Holland!  

a Great Crested Grebe

a solo Mute Swan

Thirteen kilometres later, I was ready for more than a crash power nap!  

Tomorrow I will be happy to be on Haarlem Holland hours!