Holland week 6

Goody is still in Germany in Cuxhaven and Agathenburg. I spoke to her earlier today, she is visiting Berlin and the Copenhagen later in the week. She should be back in Amsterdam next Friday. Goody spent the week with Cristel and Siegbert. They joined Werner for his 73rd birthday and then Goody went to Cuxhaven with Gertrud and caught up with all the relatives over the weekend.

Then back to Agathenburg and onto Berlin with Cristal for the day. It is wonderful to see this city since reunification all the building and construction still continues with new buildings and old buildings being restored. The history of the wall, the Brandenburg gate and many other attractions are well worth seeing. There is a huge are of parkland that was made from the area were people tried to escape from east to west.

Then Goody ventures of to Copenhagen for an overnight stay. A wonderful city with huge wide streets, bike friendly, (even the major rides a bike) and an atmosphere not unlike Amsterdam of openess and tolerance. Goody went on a walking tour that lasted 5 hours instead of three as a few side visits were made. The statues and monuments are everywhere and the architecture and granduer of the buildings is quite breathtaking. Well worth a visit but just as expensive as England as they do not have the Euro's.

I decided to go in search of the fabled dutch "mountains" in the south of Holland. I took a 2 1/2 hour train trip along with my bike to Maastricht and followed the signs to the "Plateau Route". The mountains are really just pleasant little rolling hills. Very picturesque area. Had a coffee and cake in Gulpen. Bit too early in the day for a Gulpener (beer). Took about 4 hours to ride the 35k circuit. Its clearly a favourite place for Dutch road riding groups, they are in big groups all round the hiils . Very tempting to ride to Vaalse the highest mountain ( a dizzying 321 meteres ) in Holland since its only about 10k away but I resist. You can see it in one of the photos.

I think this is Vaalse (since I couldn't see any other mountains around ).
Its that pyramid shaped hill in the centre of the photo to the right of the trees.

Photo from St Jans cathedral Mastricht. You can see the area of the "Plateau route" in the distant hills.

This was actually a steep hill ! I had to get off and walk ! ( no gears , well that's my excuse ).
The people on the path below were picking blackberries. They dont seem to take over here like the do in Oz.

I had bit of a wander around Maastricht . Lovely city but it is crawling with people. Better to come on a week day if you can manage it.
Decided to buy a book to read on the train and head back to Amsterdam.