Up early, a quick breakfast and mini-cab ride to ST Pancras Station to catch the Eurostar train to Belgium. Customs at the station was interesting, our first brush with French customs – not much of a sense of humour. Also, this is the last time I wear a belt with a metal buckle on a trip – the 4th time I had to take it off because of the metal detectors.
The trip was uneventful (not much to see under the English Channel) and just over 2 hours later we arrive in Bruxelles. We change trains to go to Dan Haag (The Hague) in then again for the local train to Zoetermeer. Until this section we’re traveling through built up aeas that could be anywhere, but traveling through the countryside we begin to see farmhouses, grassy farmland and canals that say HOLLAND. The grass is so green it hurts our eyes.
Jolanda met us at the station and we headed to their house which was only a short distance from the station. That night we ate with Jolanda, Han (Frances’ cousin) and their children Mika (11) and Nikkki (8) - a sweet & sour chicken dish made by Jolanda. Although we don’t seem to be doing much, it still makes us tired and so we had another early night.
