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We had a wonderful time on our recent visit to our Soroptimist Friendship link Club in Gouda. We always receive the most amazing hospitality. We were taken from the airport and whisked off to Aneeka’s canal side garden, where thermal vests were cast aside as it was hot and sunny. After a light lunch and a walk we settled down to a glass or two of wine. Our individual hosts supplied our evening meal and we enjoyed chatting about Soroptimists and all things global with our sisters.
Next day, following coffee in a golf club we went by coach which was organised by another one of the Dutch Soroptimist clubs to see the incredible sight of the floats, which were all made from flowers. Different flowers are used but, especially hyacinths and daffodils. The smell was so over powering. These flower floats will be taken around the area and were so imaginative and humorous.
Next stop was for a golf club lunch and then on to an actual bulb growers farm with 6000 different tulip varieties. What a riot of colour those fields were and stretching for hectare after hectare. Later when we arrived at the famous Keukenhof Gardens the first thing we saw was a coach from Blakes tours in Tiverton. It truly is a small world!!!.
Dinner with our hosts and guests we had a good night’s sleep. On Saturday Marie-Christine took me into Gouda, I love the quaint town hall, the market stalls and all the bicycles. Everyone, is very friendly and the canals and streets are so interesting. Lunch was in a very old super café with some of our group. Then we all went on a walking quiz of Gouda. In small groups of 5 it was a well organise afternoon and great fun. We finished at a restored water wind mill. Betty, one of the hosts had asked her sister and family to show us around, they had lived in a wind mill for 27 years. So we gain a special insight into such a building that makes Holland so very special and how families of seven children lived in them.
We took it in turns to have afternoon tea,’ they are so like us’. Others had the tour, it was very interesting but, a little steep. However, we made it to the top and down again.
The restaurant was small, however, the two gentleman agreed to let the Soroptimists use it for a meal if we all helped. This proved to be great fun as our photos show. Good food, very good wine and delightful company made for an excellent evening enjoyed by all. Next morning we packed our bags ready for the trip to Amsterdam. We arrived at the concert hall and were given some background on the Project which all the Dutch clubs in the Netherlands are supporting.
The project SYRIE ‘Back to School’ a lost generation , is running for three years and already a cheque was presented to a UNICEF representative for 300,000 euros. We had a presentation from various Soroptimists and from the Dutch Ambassador to Syria. She told us of her love for the country. She painted a picture for us describing how the beaches and the towns were vibrant and busy. Now it is war torn and destroyed, its people scattered to all the four corners of the world.
We were in Amsterdam to hear Master pianist Misha Fomin perform, he is a very accomplished and a well know master of the keyboard. There was an excellent group of musicians who played with him and on their own. The whole afternoon was very special and the cream and gold concert hall was magnificent and when he played you could hear a pin drop.
We left our hosts, to have dinner and then travelled to our very smart hotel. We had a welcomed glass of wine to plan our day in Amsterdam.
Setting of early we managed a delightful trip on the canal. After a hot chocolate we saw Jenny safely on her way to the airport and decided lunch was next. We had an interesting trip on the ferry, which was, we thought across the waterways, however, we were stayed on the same side. Back on the right ferry again, we had the most amazing lunch. To see an enormous cruise liner coming up a very narrow channel is quite a sight. The building know as the Eye proved to be very interesting. Inside was an exhibition of film, as it was raining, we decided to spend time playing with the exhibits. Who would have thought that five Soroptimists could have so much fun watching a 1922 silent movie with Rudolph Valantino with Dutch subtitles. In the end we made up our own version of what was happening.
Time for a final walk around soggy Amsterdam. Close to the Red Light district were saw a lady in a red velvet bikini in a window.’ Put some clothes on dear you will catch your death’!!! We all have our thermals on much more sensible.
Kathy found us a super restaurant and Di choose the excellent wine. Ann and I just appreciated it all. We reflected on a trip that was truly one of friendship, goodwill and understanding. Soroptimists are amazing hosts the world over and the ones in Gouda are just so special.
Dear Ann. Kathy, Jenny and Di we all had a wonderful time, we all looked after each other and had fun in true Soroptimist style.
Cheers ladies here’s to the next trip.
Yours in friendship
Daphne xx