Location: Dordrecht & Naaldwijk, The Netherlands
Waking Up at Van der Valk Hotel
Day September 21st has come round. By golly, waking up at the Van der Valk Hotel was a good thing. The breakfast was quite an experience — reminiscent of a buffet I had at a Marriott hotel in Riyadh earlier this year. While Riyadh might still win for variety, this breakfast was still enjoyable. It was wonderful to meet up with everyone staying at the hotel for the reunion — about 16 of us. We parted on a high note, everyone wishing me well for the journey ahead. It’s so much fun that others can come along and enjoy the ride, even if it’s in a different way than I do!
Returning to Naaldwijk
After breakfast, I made my way back to Naaldwijk to stay with my sister Dickie and her husband Hans. This would be another night filled with farewells. I especially looked forward to seeing Tim and Heather from Secfeld, Netherlands. Many people I met over the past couple of days had connections to both the Netherlands and Seattle — Tim and Heather being part of that last group. I know them from living in Seattle and helping them buy and sell homes, which is part of my real estate work in the U.S.
An Unexpected Reunion
The last time I saw Tim and Heather was a wonderful surprise. Back in May, while traveling through Malaysia on my way to Singapore, I noticed a Facebook post from Heather with photos that appeared to be taken in Singapore. Since I was nearby and would be in Singapore the next day, I messaged Tim to ask if they would be there. To my delight, they said yes, and we arranged to have dinner the next night. It’s amazing what technology and being abroad can make possible, though I must admit, traveling without all this tech used to be simpler!
Dinner at a Hidden Thai Restaurant
We had a fantastic dinner at a Thai restaurant that was hidden behind a bookcase door — it didn’t look like a restaurant from the street. The food was absolutely wonderful. Tim and Heather also brought Tim’s father, Gerard, who shared fascinating stories from his time living in Nigeria. One memorable tale involved always checking under your car after parking to avoid unexpected problems — an African tale worth keeping in mind!
Visiting Family
The day ended with a visit to my younger sister Ada and her husband Fritz. Spending time with them made for another great “see you later” day. Tomorrow is departure day — we’ll see what that brings. Thanks for coming along.
