Haarlem

Our first flight home took us into Schipol, Amsterdam . The Stockholm airport staff had solved any faff with luggage since it was now in the hold & would go straight to Exeter ! With a 4-hour layover before our next flight, we decided we had just enough time to cram in a whistlestop visit to historic Haarlem.The views leaving Stockholm were great - but it was obviously really hard to capture the enormity of the archipelago through the plane's window.
15 minutes into the flight, and we were still over islands and lakes .

Haarlem, with its cobblestoned lanes, Gothic cathedrals, a bustling main Market square, canals and bridges bring the quintessential Dutch experience. For centuries Haarlem has been a Market town. The Grote Markt (Market Square), where 10 streets converge, is the town's centrepiece with its very obvious sloping cobbles .
The impressive Grote Kerk (Great Church), one of the most famous landmarks in the Netherlands, rises high from the square. Around the church various low buildings have been built up against it, formerly the fish market called De Vishal, which today is used for exhibiting modern art. Also, a number of low buildings used as shops are built up against various church buildings.

Such a historic city and lots more to see but given just over an hour and a half of exploring it was definitely worth the effort with a few fast train connections, but we made it there and back in good time. And so here we end this chapter , but no doubt we'll be back for more adventures. Till then, Hej så länge!Meer informatie