Biking - Haag to Leiden, Monday, April 20, 2015

The ride through the forest was beautiful.

I am posting Monday's Blog before Sunday's.  Sorry.  I seem to have gotten little ahead of myself.  Definitely check back for Sunday's adventure. 


 After a wonderful breakfast at our fabulous Hotel Des Indes, we set out for our 12 mile ride to Leiden.  Along the way, we traveled through beautiful forests.  Because bricks are so plentiful here and faster and easier to work with than concrete or asphalt, AND because the use of pavers is "traditional," the bike path was made of brick pavers.  Miles and miles of them.  Now I know they look pretty, but they certainly don't make for a nice smooth ride.  These little bike seats are uncomfortable enough without adding the bumpy brick roads.  Just sayin.   Here I am complaining about the uncomfortable bike seat.  Look at this poor guy's!!

Bike Seat??

Along the way, we stopped at Prince Frederik's huge estate, built in 1836.  It's now used as the Wassenaar town hall.  While we were on our cookie break, we met the most delightful lady.  

Robbie, Our Impromptu Tour Guide

Her name is Robbie and at age 80, she was out walking her daughter's dog and struck up a conversation with us.  Her current profession takes her and 5 
of her friends to the hospital of terminally ill children, where they dress as clowns and entertain the children.  This woman had so much spunk, tenacity and wisdom about her!  One of her comments as she was sharing information with us about the history of Wassenaar was incredibly prophetic.  She said, "We must always continue to learn right up to the point of our last breath when we finally breath out."

Bocca Coffee Shop

We arrived in Leiden around 10:30, which is typical Dutch coffee break time.  

Rapenburg Canal, Leiden

So in Dutch fashion, we stopped at Bocca, a small coffee shop located on Leiden's most beautiful canal, Rapenburg Canal and enjoyed our coffee.

Known as the birthplace of Rembrandt in 1606, and the location of the first and oldest University in the Netherlands, Leiden is a charmingly picturesque Dutch town.  Similar 

to Amsterdam, there are many canals here.  

The Rhine River, which flows through Leiden, is home to many large boats that are docked and used as homes.  

Appearing to be fishing boats, these are actually expensive homes on the Rhine.

They look like commercial boats or fishing boats, but are in fact, lovely floating homes.

No way to eat this whole pancake!!

Our lunch today in Leiden was at the Oudt Leyden, a local pancake restaurant.  Not a typical "short stack," the pancakes at Oudt Leyden were thin, but HUGE.  

They are topped with various toppings from the more savory, bacon
 and cheese to sweeter versions of bananas and powdered sugar.  They actually resembled a large pizza using a crepe as a crust.  Delicious and filling, just what we bikers needed to refuel and prepare for the trek back to our hotel in Den Haag.  

Young Rembrandt admiring his self portrait near his birthplace.

Before our ride back to the hotel, we did a city tour visiting Rembrandt's birthplace, and several Alms Homes.  

One of the courtyards of Alms Homes

These homes have been converted to regular apartments for students today, but back in the day, they were quite special.  And free to the poor, mostly women.

The Queen's Residence.  The flag is not flying, which means she is not home now.

Our ride back took us through the estate route, traveling past beautiful homes where high level civil servants, diplomats and ambassadors reside.  

Jenever Tasting

Later, after we returned to Den Haag, the Butterfield and Robinson crew arranged a special Gin tasting.  Jenever, or Dutch Gin, was developed by a renowned chemist and professor at Leiden University in the mid 1600's. 

We are quick studies!!

His recipe reduced the alcohol level of grain gin by adding juniper berries, giving the drink it's distinctive flavor.  It was originally sold as a remedy against muscular pains ... well hello!!  Isn't that what most alcoholic beverages are used for??  Any way, Alice and Abby gave us a lesson in how to drink Jenever.  First, we toast with a rousing salute saying "Proost."  (Pronounced Proast like toast.)  Next pound the glass on the table and finally, drink the whole glass.  We tried three major types of Jenever, Jonge Jenever, which is colorless, Oude Jenever, which tasted like tequila,  and Koorenwijn.  

Robert and Gerard, Proprietors of t'Ogenblik

They also served typical hors d'oeuvres of cheese with mustard dip, Bittr bal, which is a veal ragout mixed with potatoes, coated in bread crumbs and deep fried, also served with a mustard dip.  And finally, "Dutch Sushi," Herring, which was definitely NOT my favorite!  It was a lovely tasting with Robert and Gerard.  They opened their restaurant, t'Ogenblik Brasserie, only three years ago, but already have received several awards for best service and food.  King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima visit the restaurant frequently as well.  

After our Jenever tasting, we had dinner at Les Ombrelles.  The wine was good, the food was good and the company was excellent. The mishaps of Ellen and Susie have traveled throughout the land.  The Hotel Manager, personally called both ladies to check on them, inquiring about their injuries.  You may remember from a previous post, Ellen fell out of the bathtub at the Hotel Des Indes and Susie fell off her bike and into a canal while en route to the hotel.  Thank goodness neither of them were seriously hurt.  But we've certainly shared some laughs over them.

I'm back at the hotel, nestled in my bed and so tired, I can barely hold my eyes open.  Tomorrow is our longest ride of over 30 miles, so I'd better rest up.  More later.