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Jayne EckersallJayne Eckersall
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traveled in 8 countries Read more
  • To Cruise or Not to Cruise ...
    Day 2

    A Taste of Friendship

    September 26, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Walking 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️back towards the hotel from Vondel Park, we stopped off at an intriguing bar called Café Slijterij Oosterling, which breathes an atmosphere as if time has stood still there for more than a century. The café is also a liquor store. The property is from around 1735, when the Dutch East India Company sold coffee, tea, and spices from the Far East. The café has been owned by the Oosterling family since 1877. The brothers Marcel and Oscar, sons of Mari Oosterling, are the fourth generation Oosterling behind the bar. We had an enjoyable couple of hours eating toasties drinking beers 🍻 and just watching the world go past. Continuing our walk back, we passed houseboats on Keizersgracht and had our photo taken by an Australian brother & sister in return for taking their photograph 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨📸
    Nearing the hotel on the Amstel River, we walked past the Magere Brug or, more commonly and famously known as Skinny Bridge. The bridge spans across the river Amstel and is an Old Dutch design wooden bridge known as a double-swipe (balanced) bridge. Tradition relates that the bridge was named after the sisters Mager, who were supposed to live on opposite sides of the river. They are said to have had the wooden bridge built to make it easier to visit one another. However, it appears more likely that the original bridge acquired the name from being so narrow (mager means skinny in Dutch), that it was hard for two pedestrians to pass one along another. As traffic along the river Amstel increased, a wider bridge replaced the narrow one in 1871. Whilst Skinny Bridge is no longer skinny, it is by far still one of the most beautiful and most photographed bridges in Amsterdam.
    As I have lived in Amsterdam; albeit some 40 years ago, I was deemed the perfect person to go in search 👣👣👣 of a nice restaurant for our intrepid group of travellers to eat in 🍽. So after meeting in the hotel bar, we: Steve & Suzanne, myself & Jayne, Greg & Patti, Jared & Cheryl (Steve's daughter) made our way across the Amstel to the Cafe Restaurant De Ysbreeker for a really enjoyable evening 🍺🍻🍾🥂🍷🍹.    Read more

  • To Cruise or Not to Cruise ...
    Day 2

    Old Haunts

    September 26, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Waiting for the Americans to arrive from their various cities across the US, we (or should I say I) took the opportunity to revisit some old haunts. After walking through the tourist area of Rembrandtplein; (the famous painter who lived in Amsterdam and who's house is now a museum), with its many bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels and of course the modern sculpture of the Thinker. After stopping off at the Flower Market; famous for its tulips🌷 (from Amsterdam 🎼) and clogs in all sizes for the tourists, we walked down Leidsegracht crossing 3 of the main canals in Amsterdam. We stopped off at Leidsekade, where the hotel I stayed in when working at the airport is (no longer) there. Just 8 minutes later , we walked to our 1st destination, Cafe Helmers, on Eerste Helmersstraat, which was our (British Aircraft contractors at KLM) local bar when not working 🍻🍻🍻🍺. Physically, the shape of the bar had not changed much but visually quite a bit in the 38 years since I frequented it. So after stopping for the obligatory beer 🍺 (well, it would be rude not to and I was on a reminiscing trip). Shortly after, we left to walk 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ to another important destination.
    Vondel Park, where in the summer bands 🎸🎶🎷 would play, people would walk🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️, cycle 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️, run 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️, and sunbathe 😎😎. It is also the place where I knelt down to tie my shoe lace, I heard "YES" and ended up proposing 💍 to Jayne on a long weekend visit back in the late 80s 🤣🤣🤣    Read more

  • To Cruise or Not to Cruise ...
    Day 1

    Dilemma

    September 25, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Introduction:-.....
    There is nothing quite like a couple of dilemmas before you go on holiday!!
    This was our only booked holiday at the start of 2023; a Viking River Cruise sailing down the Rhine from Amsterdam in Holland 🇳🇱 to Basle in Switzerland 🇨🇭 with our river cruising friends from America 🇺🇸. It was a trip I was looking forward to as we were 10 people in 5 couples, 4 of which had enjoyed holidaying together before. Unfortunately, a couple of months earlier, Jayne and I had cancelled due to the illness of one of our dearest friends who were going to cancel. Our cancellation was accepted, but theirs not, which left us with our 1st dilemma. As we are now on a cancellation list, do we take two suitcases on our 3 day trip to Amsterdam just in case there is a no-show before the boat sets sail!
    Our 2nd dilemma started a couple of weeks earlier when my mum had a fall and ended up in hospital with a broken bone in her pelvis - so if the opportunity arose, do we go on the cruise????
    So there we were waiting on the train station at Poulton-le-Fylde for the 08:30 train to Manchester Airport with our single suitcase for our 3 day trip to Amsterdam to meet up with the Viking Cruisers on their pre-cruise extension.
    After a short wait at the departure gate, we were soon boarding the aircraft for our short 1 hour 20 minute flight 🛫 As it was a beautiful summers day, the visibility was excellent all the way to Amsterdam. Arriving at Schipol Airport 🛬 reminded me a lot of going to New York. Not visually, but the standing around in a long queue waiting to clear Immigration. However, 30 minutes after collecting our luggage 🧳 we were checking into our hotel the Pestana Riverside on the Amstel Canal. After unpacking, it was time to go out in search of food and a first Dutch beer in Holland for 30+ years.    Read more

  • Going to America
    Day 17

    Woah, we're half way there

    May 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Woah, livin' on a prayer; in the words of Bon Jovi.

    Well very nearly that was the case as when we asked at Tampa International Airport what happens if the flight doesn't leave at 3:45 pm and we miss our connecting flight to Manchester.
    We would have 2 options:
    Option 1 - stay the night in a hotel 🏨 in Tampa
    Option 2 - fly to New York and stay the night in a hotel 🏨 there!!🤔

    But as we know we left Tampa and after a slightly bumpy flight ✈️ we landed at JFK 2 & 1/2 hours later with ample time to have some dinner and browse the shops.
    At 8:40 pm (US) we boarded Diamond Girl for our overnight flight, touching down in a much cooler Manchester at 7:55 am (UK) the following day.
    Coffee ☕️ for breakfast at the airport before catching the 9:45 train from Manchester Airport to Poulton Le Fylde arriving home 🏡 about 11:30 am (6:30 am US time) 23 hours after leaving Greg and Patti's apartment. 🥱🥱😴    Read more

  • Going to America
    Day 17

    Time to Go Home 😭

    May 12, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Travelling day so another early start.
    Alarm at 6.00 am and out of the door an hour later but first another quick last look at the view.
    After saying our goodbyes 👋 to Patti it was into our chauffeur driven car, once again by Greg, who kindly took us the 1 & 1/2 hour drive from Longboat Key in Sarasota to Tampa International Airport, via the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
    Arriving at the airport, we said our goodbyes 👋 to Greg and thanked him for all he and Patti had done for us and vowing to meet up again soon we joined our 1st queue. Outside on the pavement is a fasttrack queue for Delta Airways. As we are flying to New York we waited in line only to find out about 15 minutes later we are in the wrong queue and we should be inside the airport. So off we go and while Jayne stands at the back of a long Delta queue I go and check to confirm that's where we should be. Following another announcement we joined another (but much shorter) queue for international destinations where we were finally able to Check-in and dispose of our cases. We joined the departures queue checking tickets before joining the queue to go through Security and baggage check. After this we stood in the non-queue waiting line to take the short shuttle ride to the Hub where our gate is.
    Hurray, finally through and no more queues. To celebrate I joined the the coffee ☕️ queue that went half around the Starbucks kiosk. Checking the Departures Board and we still had plenty of time as our flight was delayed 1/2 an hour so we slowly 🐌 made our way down to Gate E66.
    It's a good job we didn't rush because when we arrived at the Check-in desk our flight was further delayed to 15:45. Being true Brits we then joined the queue to find out what was going on with our flight and ongoing connection. Apparently there was a mechanical problem with the aircraft; as they say in America....No Bathrooms! Well I'll go before I fly I thought its only 2 & 1/2 hours, but no the aircraft can't leave. What about our connection we asked, no problem you still have over an hour to make it.
    Fortunately the plane left well before the re(re)scheduled time and we arrived at JFK with time to spare.    Read more

  • Going to America
    1
    Day 16

    The Last Supper and Sunset

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Only a 1 hour wait, time for a beer, an enforced listening 🎶 to the band (who didn't know how to play .. Far Away 🤣🤣) then just as Greg's shrimps 🍤 were coming off the barbecue we were called to our table. Those that know me will be surprised to read that I had the Red Snapper; along with Patti, Jayne went for The Grouper and Greg had the Wahoo.
    During the meal we shared more laughter about the English language and how we say certain things and call things names that they (Americans) couldn't relate to.

    Red snapper is a large saltwater fish found in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The most common red snapper caught and eaten is from the Gulf of Mexico. They have a “stronger” taste than other species of fish because they eat more crabs and shrimp, which makes their meat more flavourful.

    The Grouper fish can be found in 25 to 50 foot depths 1 to 12 miles off the coast of Sarasota where the black grouper are the prevalent grouper. The blacks average 6 to 12 pounds and come and go all year long but seem to be best in Spring and Fall. They hang out on all the reefs, breaks and structure they can find and some are better than others. They hide deep in the structure which makes them hard to pull out with light tackle. Since most of the fishing done in this area is on light tackle, most are lost.
    Wahoo have elongated mouths and razor-sharp teeth. These creatures are bad-ass, almost prehistoric looking fish, that swim fast, and fight fiercely — making for a fun day on the water in the Gulf of Mexico

    Wahoo have elongated mouths and razor-sharp teeth. These creatures are bad-ass, almost prehistoric looking fish, that swim fast, and fight fiercely — making for a fun day on the water in the Gulf of Mexico.

    After our early dinner it was a quick drive back to the apartment to catch our final sunset and then joy of joys pack our cases.    Read more

  • Going to America
    Day 16

    Saving the best till last

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Owens Fish Camp is a Sarasota staple! The ambience is very niche, and really underscores the theme of the restaurant. You can't prebook this restaurant plus it only opens at 4:00 pm and they only take 'in person' reservations. It is, however, definitely worth the long wait when you get there. One consolation is that If you didn't have to wait for a table then you would miss out on the great outdoor seating area out back to enjoy music and drinks and appertisers while you wait an hour or so for a table.Read more

  • Going to America
    Day 16

    Avenue of Art

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Sarasota...... just when you think you have seen it all you walk 🚶‍♂️ around a corner and wham... The 'Avenue of Art', started as a Chalk Festival event during covid. Artists have already completed 150 sidewalk paintings for viewing pleasure. This social-distancing cultural community event started in 2021 to celebrate Sarasota County Centennial from 1921-2021. 

    Artists of all ages and skill levels, local, regional and national are participating in this event. Lori Escalera traveled from California. Lori participated in the Sarasota Chalk Festival since its inauguration in 2007 and every year since. There were also two sisters, aged 2 and 4, that did a sidewalk painting of the sarasota sun, handprints and footprints.

    Phase I of the Avenue of Art is complete and QR code are affixed to the bottom right corner of each painting. The QR code directs visitors to information about the painting and how it is celebrates Sarasota County, as well as the artist and sponsors. Visitors can take this walking tour through the Burns Square historic district to view the street paintings anytime day or night.

    The stroll starts at the South West corner of Laurel Street and S. Orange Avenue. Proceed south on the sidewalk towards The Fountain where it continues on the other side of the building heading north up the east side of S. Pineapple Avenue to Laurel Street; at Laurel Street cross over to the west side of S. Pineapple and walk south towards LBoutique. The Avenue of Art stroll ends at the corner of S. Pineapple Avenue and Oak Street.    Read more

  • Going to America
    1
    Day 16

    Driving back to Longboat Key

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After a very leisurely breakfast Greg chauffeured us back to Longboat Key passing the infamous yellow American School Bus, houses that look like mansions. An Osprey nest was safely built amongst a road sign and traffic light and an amazing boat 🚢 park, where all the boats are stacked up and only taken down when the owner books his boat out.
    Last chance for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico Sea 🌊 the whilst walking along the beach ⛱️ for the last time I came across a pelican flying school taking it in turns to take off, hover and land!!    Read more

  • Going to America
    1
    Day 16

    Amish Village

    May 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Greg manages to stand out in a crowd!!

    You know you're in Pinecraft when you come upon large populations of men and women dressed in traditional Plain clothing and prayer coverings, often riding large-wheel adult tricycles with large baskets on the back -- a replacement for horse-and-buggy transportation, which is not allowed on city streets. Pinecraft Park is a hub of activity, with matches of shuffleboard, horseshoes and volleyball going on much of the day.

    Visitors to Sarasota delight in going beyond the beaches and heading to Pinecraft, where they can slow down a little and enjoy delicious fresh food, charming locally made gifts, and the simple pleasures in life … and pie!    Read more

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