Utrecht 04.07.15 Another hot day. Too hot to go to Efterling - a theme park. Everyone was going to the beach. I decided not to miss the opportunity to see my first Tour de France. My cycling friends in Australia convinced me. Took the train to Rotterdam and then to Utrecht. Not many people on the train, thought I might be lucky & there wouldn't be a big crowd. Dutch trains are very comfortable, double deckers, air-conditioning & WiFi as well. ...

Amsterdam Early drive to Amsterdam. Carla & Lou wisely took the train. We had 4 in the back of the car with elly lying across on us in Rob's Mazdarati. Meet Carla & Lou at the Central station. Amsterdam is extremely busy with so many foreign tourists blocking the streets, walking across roads, causing huge waiting lines for the attractions..... Hmmm, just like us. First stop was Madame Tussauds. Mariska lost her sunglasses. She lost her Prada posing wi...

A very late wake-up after the late night. Cate looking a bit like Zorro with smeared mascara, goes promptly back to bed after breakfast. Girls decide to stay home to recover. Rob and Jolanda take us to their chalet - beach side large mobile home which is permanently parked. Along with all the hundreds of other homes, typical of the Dutch, they are almost proper small houses which are beautifully maintained and decorated with gardens. The plot of land they sit on...

Rath family gathering today at Rob and Jolanda's house. The morning started with the girls going for a cycle ride after breakfast. They left for Rotterdam on the train afterwards to get to the Euromast. Us adults went to the supermarket for last minute shopping for the BBQ. Rob and Mariska just had to have a harring - they can have it all as far as I'm concerned. The afternoon was busy with the Rath family gathering - had to remember lots of names and who bel...

Holland 26.06.15 Yesterday 25.06.15 was a quiet day. Easy morning for me while Mariska and Rob drove all the way to Schiphol to pick up Elly and Cate at 1pm. They were both excited and a little overwhelmed to be so far from home. Both of them immediately took a liking to Collin's weed plants. We walked to Vlaadingen centrum shops. Cate met her latest boyfriend - waiter at an open air cafe. Jolanda made a great maccaroni dinner. Today 26.06.15 Mar...