27 May 2022.
Today we said goodbye to Scandinavia and Norway in particular. As expected, we were both up before the 06:00 alarm. Showered, dressed, we finished packing up, took out the garbage and left the apartment as we found it. The early morning heavy rain had lightened up by the time we shlepped our bags out the front door. Off we went to the tram stop close to Byparken.
It was an easy and quick walk, a large part of it under the protection of building arcades. Trams left every 5 minutes or so for the airport and we were in luck. When we got to the stop, one was already there and we no sooner boarded than the doors closed and we were off.
Some 48 minutes and 25 stops later we left the tram and made our way up the escalators and into the very modern and slick airport terminal. The checkin counters for KLM were not self-evident at first and most folks were using check-in kiosks. Anyway it turns out nearly all the desks serve most of the airlines. Easy.
A few minutes later we were checked in for our 10:45 flight to Amsterdam and made our way to the gate to sit and wait.
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| a nearly empty tram |
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| it was unclear to us why there was a question mark after the Bergen name at the airport |
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| Norwegian modesty, again |
Walking to the gate we passed through the "no-return" portal, making our departure all that more poignant.
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| waiting for the Amsterdam Centraale express |
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| waiting for the Gouda train |
The only glitch on the trip today was the absence of transportation at the Gouda train station. My map showed the hotel was not terribly far but we were a bit tired and thought a taxi would do just fine this time. We followed the signs for the taxi stand but hey, no taxis!
Frustrated I tried Uber. After over 20 minutes of "connecting to a driver" we gave up and decided to walk. Susie had gone next door to a government building to ask about local transportation. (No busses stopped at the station either.) She was told that it was only a 20-minute walk and so off we went.
Although my phone battery was dropping fast it nevertheless got us to the hotel, maneuvering us through the city's central square, which was packed with tourists and travelers enjoying the large open-air market. After checking in and dropping our bags we found a seat in the hotel's courtyard, ordered two glasses of wine and a selection of Gouda cheeses.
After our mid-afternoon repast we strolled through our neighborhood, past tiny canals wending their way through the main old city, which was itself surrounded by a larger canal.
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| tourist nightmare |
On the hunt for someplace to eat supper that evening we found ourselves back in the main town market, ringed by restaurants, none of which felt right. We then poked down a couple of narrow alleyways and asked at a couple of eateries but they were booked for the evening (and the next as well.)
Near our hotel we had passed Chaplin's Bistro which looked intriguing - small, low key and simply set up with fresh flowers on the tables and a calming vibe. We returned there and, fortunately, they were able to accommodate us. After that any potential customers without reservations were turned away. The ambience was lovely, service attentive but respectful, the wine exceptionally good but the food!!
Susan had a mustard soup for a starter followed by a dish of grilled tofu with various vegetables and a timbale of spiced rice in a curry sauce. I had lamb tenderloins in a Madeira sauce over a potato mousseline.
But it was the culinary show that really impressed: working all alone, the chef prepared each dish within easy view of where we were sitting. His choreography was truly exceptional and a sight to behold!
After a superb dinner it was back home and to bed.
Tomorrow it's off to explore Gouda!
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