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

Mariska had a really early start. She and Rob drove all the way to Schiphol again at 530am to pick up Carla and Lou. Mariska & Rob had coffee and fell asleep while waiting at Gate 3 while the girls came out at Gate 4 to no one to meet them.

We had a big breakfast for 8 people and Rob & Jolanda's.

The girls went to Rotterdam on the train to go shopping.

Us oldies also went to Rotterdam. We took a leisurely cruise on the Spido (tourist cruise boat) down the Maas River. We were on the Abel Tasman and passed it's sister ship - the James Cook. What is the Aussies connection in Holland?

The weather was perfect as we cruised the river to the port area and back, passing the Holland and America Line building again and the now decommissioned SS Rotterdam cruise ship permanently moored as a hotel and restaurant.

We had a lunch along the river in the sun.

After lunch we went to look at the cube and pencil buildings in central Rotterdam. Architecturally striking.

Then walked on to Markthal - huge market roofed with a curved roof decorated with murals. Stalls of every type selling cheeses, macarons, nuts, butchers, deli meats. Everything just convinced Mariska that she needs to live in Holland where everything foodwise is cheaper.

Drove back to Vlaadingen at 5pm. Realised that the girls probably did not know how to get back from the train station and did not know the address. Rob cycled around looking for them, but they found their way home by going to Vlaadingen centrum and retracing their way like yesterday from Cate's waiter boyfriend.

Dinner at a japanese restaurant. Jolanda, Mariska and I cycled the 2 km while Robb had a car filled with girls - with a big smile on his face.