To reach Holland, we decide to leave on Friday right after work and stop just outside
Innsbruck to sleep. We are going to stay in an agritourism based accommodation that was
recommended to us by the girl at the reception of the hostel the winter before. It’s a simple
but honest place where the food is good, the portions are generous, and the price is low.
Departing early in the morning, we cross Austria and Germany to arrive in the late afternoon
at the first city beyond the German border, Arnehm.
Finding a campsite and pitching the tent won’t be difficult. However, it will be very difficult the
first night since it won’t stop raining even for a minute, as well as for the next two days.
Here’s what our notes say:
27 – 28 – 29 – 30 August 2010
ARNEHM- Holland
Weather: Sometimes rainy, strong wind.
Temperature 12 °
“Our relationship with nature is growing stronger and stronger. After the peacock met in Innsbruck, this morning at 6 in front of the tent three rabbits were detected, one of which was about to be run over by Bruttone.
The night in the tent, was decent for me (if we don't consider the stiff neck), but for Bruttone a little less. The prince was cold and luckily he didn't even notice that it was raining (because he was sleeping).
Breakfast didn't come easy. To find a place we had to hoof it. In the end we went into a bar-bistrot, where we paid 7.40 euros for two cappuccinos and two microwaved croissants.
We realized we needed a foot-pump (since we don't have nozzles for the electric one), a wallet for the pocket cash (we found a horrible one for 3 euros + 2 euros that we lost under the counter) and hats (which we didn't find yet).
Arnehm doesn’t have much to offer other than a museum about a battle that took place here
during World War II.
While it was raining we sheltered inside a church, probably Protestant. It was based on a
circular plan with balconies on several floors. Near the pulpit there were children playing a
piano and drums; they were pretty good.
Around noon we entered what looked like a cathedral. Once inside we found ourselves
catapulted into the script of the Bible story “Expulsion of the merchants from the temple”.
Inside the church there were participants of the festival of human statues who were putting
on make-up, dressing(except one who painted herself naked) and there was an apse set up
as a bar, in case they wanted something. As non-practicing Christians, it made us
uncomfortable if not disgusted.
Back at the campsite, we barely had time to get into the car to prepare our bags for
showering, before we were caught by surprise by the rain. We were sure that it wouldn’t last
long, but instead we found ourselves waiting in the car for more than half an hour with the
biblical flood going on outside.
- For dinner we went to a bistro in the center and ate
Tomaten soep met creime fraiché = tomato soup with cream and basil - Grove mosterd soep met punboompitfen en bosuitejes = soup with mustard in grains and toasted pine nuts
The main was grilled swordfish on a bed of pesto risotto with boiled vegetables… very tasty. - Dessert: apple pie with cinnamon crumble and whipped cream, and a cinnamon ice cream.
All taken thanks to the advice of the waitress who sold us on the dish as Arnehm’s specialty.
Night: terrifying.”
