Holland 2012, Day Four

May 17th Day Four

Headed for Leiden, the closest large town to Wassenaar, described in travel books as a mini Amsterdam. That should give plenty of opportunities for bridge photos. We had also read that parking was difficult and expensive, so we parked at the park and ride (the transferium) just off the main road outside the town. From there we got a bus the short distance to the centre. It was relatively expensive at €2.00 each (even Amber) and tickets were only available one way, that would make it €16.00 total, parking in town would have been cheaper.

We arrived at the busy bus and train station and popped into a tourist information opposite, to get a town centre map. From there we followed the map towards the shops, only the shops were not open, in fact it was a public holiday, Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension Day). Again we are caught out by public holidays we didn't expect and especially didn't expect on a Thursday.

So all we could do was have a nice walk around a practically deserted town centre but I did get lots of bridge photos.

 

Eventually we stoped for a drink, at least the bars and restaurants were open and doing very well by the look of it. They had an old favourite of mine, Gulpener, Korenwolf from Holland so that's what I had and it was lovely.

Suitably refreshed, we continued our walk and I took even more bridge photos, until we arrived back where we had started, bit of good map reading there.

By now there were quite a lot of people out enjoying themselves eating and drinking on a day off. There was also a stage set up with a band playing, I would have stopped longer but we set off back for the bus. On the way back the driver didn't charge for Amber, so it was only €14.00 all together for the trip.

When we arrived back at the site, the car parking place next to our van was taken, as was just about every parking place on the park. I did manage to find a space eventually and it wasn't too far away.

Later we spent some time at the funfair before tea and then went for a drink at the campsite bar, our first visit. It is called the "Irish Bar" but the only thing Irish about it, was a picture of some Guinness on the wall. It was also cold and noisy (there are several a nine pin bowling lanes in there). The children's disco was starting just as we were about to leave, so we ended up there longer than we intended.