We made it to the Netherlands Monday morning. Our duffel bag of shoes missed the connection at Heathrow, but it worked in our favor not to have to lug it around the train with all our other things. (And British Airways delivered it to the institute Tuesday.)
The train ride out here was about two hours. Too warm and sunny to stay awake without trying really hard. We were both nodding off. (I didn't sleep more than an hour on the plane, but Charles got a few hours.)
A taxi service picked us up at the station and drove us up to the institute. Ina(?) from reception gave us a little bit of a tour and took us over to the guest house. Unfortunately, the water wasn't working, so we unpacked and wandered around a little to stay awake until we could shower.
We borrowed bikes from a couple grad students and rode into Dwingeloo (3km/10 min) for an early dinner: bouillabaisse for Charles and ham, egg and cheese toasted on bread for me at an outdoor table on "de brink," or square in the middle of town. On the way we passed mostly farms - open fields, sheep, cows, some ponies and goats, and one very large pile of manure.
After dinner we rode back toward the institute and did a loop out in the Dwingelderveld in front of the old radio telescope. Then back at the guest house we spent a few minutes in the common room with the grad students to keep ourselves awake a little longer, and then crashed at 9:00.
Mom, and probably Dad and Charles' parents as well, are going to find it extremely pretty and charming here. It is! I worry that it will become truly too cute and quaint, but we'll see. I'm really enjoying it for now. Even the smell of cow poo.
The only things I don't care for?
- the flies and bees - farmland and open windows with no screens
- no top sheet on the bed
- uncertainty of our work permit
Seems like you started settling down in a pretty town. Great! Don't worry about work permits. I am sure they will come. However, flies may not go away soon.
Posted by: DadY | July 27, 2006 at 11:55 PM