I spent two wonderful days in the Friesland. It was magnificent, similar to New Zealand but with a Dutch feel. The scenery was picturesque, green fields filled with luscious fertile soil where cows and sheep would graze. The train trip up here was long, it took approximately 4 hours as the trains were delayed. I must admit for the high price of a ticket I would expect the trains to run on time. I think I have spent over €200 on travel so far, only one train has been on time! I don't mind, I'm relaxed on holidays, thoroughly enjoying the scenery.
I arrived into sneek ( for my Aussie friends back home the pronunciation is 'Schneeeeeek,') once again i am finding the language barrier difficult but a challenge I wish to overcome by learning the language, which day by day I'm finding easier by immersing myself into the culture. I walked about 3 Kms to the hostel, which is wonderful, there is no one there besides a German school staying for the week. I was invited by one of the Dutch skippers if I would like to sail with them tomorrow. The weather was perfect, no Dutch drizzle to be seen! We sailed throughout the lake and into small villages via canals. I was amazed to see the contrast between the north and the south of the Netherlands. The people in the north have a different accent and grammar from what I can tell is different. Either way they are both so hospitable.
After sailing, we had dinner which was all included for €20 a night! I felt so full, so i decided to go for a bike ride around town and take advantage of the extended European day light. I cycled to a small village called lisst. Words cannot describe the town! Maybe from the movie ' The Truman show' or 'Pleasantville'. The houses were perfectly aligned, the gardens were immacuetly maintained. The people were friendly, saying hello, walking there big dogs (no small Hollywood dogs around here! How I live German Shepards!) people out playing sport, running, rowing, cycling, every sport I love. I marveled in the beauty and thought how do I move here - truly somewhere I could live!
Back to the hostel I rode, not knowing where I was going and with minimal Dutch, a fun experience!
I relaxed on the deck with a wine, enjoying the view and chatted in broken German and English with the teachers and owners of the hostel.