Rick Steves' Best of Europe in 21 Days - Spring 2024
Postcards from Mike & Jen
Arrival Day - Haarlem
Welkom to the Netherlands!
After our flights from Madison, WI to Detroit, MI to Amsterdam, our grand adventure began in Haarlem, Netherlands. From Amsterdam Airport Schiphol we took the #300 bus to Haarlem. It was a little intimidating at first, but in actuality was very easy. As we exited the bus at the train station we could see Hotel Lion d'Or, across the square. We arrived a bit too early for check-in, so the front desk staff secured our bags in a back room and we had a beer in the hotel bar.
We are really here!
We went for our first walk around Haarlem and learned quickly to watch out for bikes. We wandered around and found a grocery store to buy distilled water for our CPAPs (TIP: look for demineralized water in ironing/laundry supplies.) We also scored our first Gelato of the trip at Chocolaterie Pierre. Their selection of chocolate and sweet treats was amazing and well worth the visit! We then walked to the the Amsterdamse Poort, the only gate left from the original twelve city gates.
Dinner at Jacobus Pieck
And finally, it was dinner time. Following a Rick Steves' recommendation, we went to Jacobus Pieck. Gordy tried to use the Dutch he learned with the menu, but ultimately the staff took pity on us and brought the English versions. We all ordered from the 3-Course Menu - it did not disappoint! We stayed up as late as we could to minimize jet lag and synch up with local time, but we fell into bed shortly after sunset.
