Tag Archives: travel

The Netherlands Day 4 1/2 and 5

Posted on by under Travel

Brenda and I left Amsterdam and trained to Delft.  By the time the train stopped at Delft station and we made it to the town square it was well past lunchtime. So we stopped at a little cafe called Rossio’s

Yummy fresh Dutch bread!

Yummy fresh Dutch bread!

After our lunch the waitress was kind enough to hail us a cab and we taxied to our hotel, a place on the outskirts of town called the Shanghai. We were surprised (though I suppose we shouldn’t have been) when all the channels on the tele were in Chinese.

But I don't speak Chinese!

But I don’t speak Chinese!

Fortunately we were given free tokens to the bar downstairs. When Brenda and I went to get our free coffee we noticed Ice Road Truckers was playing on the public set. So back in our room we fiddled a bit with our TV  and lo and behold English started coming out! Huzzah!

Not that we watched a whole lot because we were there to tour!

Here are some shots of Delft:

After visiting the Oude Kerk we visited the Nieuwe Kerk which is the burial-place for The Dutch Royal Family.

Hey! Come back tomorrow for more of Delft!

The Netherlands 2013 Day 4

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I think my sister roused me around 5:30 A.M. So that we could have breakfast (fresh bread, cheese, fruit and coffee of course) before catching our train from Womerveer to Amsterdam Centraal. Brenda does not have a car so our journeys were primarily by mass transit.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal

We hopped a tram headed for the Free University where Brenda had a speaking engagement before we could trot off to Delft.

Apartments in Amsterdam

Apartments in Amsterdam

A Lone biker by Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

A Lone biker by Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

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It’s an unwritten rule in our family that early is on-time, on-time is late and late is unacceptable (Dad’s rule). Naturally we arrived a half hour before the missionaries. So we took those moments as a photo op for the Amsterdam skyline.

 

Brenda gave her lecture on drama in ministry and we had a photo opportunity with veteran missionaries George and Muriel Thomasen.

Brenda teaching

Brenda teaching

 

Brenda, Muriel and George

Brenda, Muriel and George

 

Once Brenda was finished it was back to Centraal and off to Delft!

 

 

The Netherlands 2013 Day 3

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At Last the Plane

A Haibun

The trunk slams. A hug, a kiss and she’s gone. I’m left standing on the corner with my bags. Checked in, belt off, shoes in the box. Then some old guy says “Put out your arms.” He pats me down. “Thanks,” I say. I’m through. Sitting in the window as the sun goes down.

The Em’rald Isle

Winks Golden before sunrise

Brownie magic.

Four hour layover means Irish breakfast in Dublin: Black and white pudding, ham, boxty, eggs, ‘shrooms and hot tomatoes. No tea for me just a strong black coffee. First on last off the plane.

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Train from Schipol

Zaandam bus to Womerveer

Pumpkin greets me.

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The Netherlands 2013 Day 2

Posted on by under Travel

Day two into my vacation and still no plane…I had a little farther to travel on this journey before I could even board the jet. God told me in advance I had things to do, necessary preparations, before I could take my window seat on flight 613.

In 1997 I went to England on a missions trip in April during my daughter, Amanda’s birthday. She wasn’t happy. This year I was scheduled again to be gone to Europe on her birthday. I joked with her that her birthday was really good to me and that she should have them more often. Still I wanted to make sure we celebrated together before I left.

100_1634We traveled up to Keene, New Hampshire and had a birthday dinner at The Olive Garden and then walked through the Old Colony Mill Mall. We stopped to listen to this gentlemen playing the piano. We visited Michael’s Craft store and then drove into Dublin to visit a favorite used bookstore of ours.

100_1637On our way home we stopped for some photo opportunities.Winter has not entirely left our region but spring is on its way if the rushing of the rivers is any indication.

I’m just curious what are your vacation preparations like?

The Netherlands 2013 Day 1

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This journey does not begin on a plane. It begins in an art gallery. 100_1627My friend Clayton was playing at the Greater Gardner Area Art Show on Friday night the 12th. I felt I should go. I suppose it was work. I suppose it was relaxation. In my world the two things have a tendency to become blurred. Is work a got to or a get to ( If you are wondering about that read my post https://josephelonlillie.com/2013/04/06/got-to-or-get-to/) ? What about vacation? Is it a got to or a get to?

100_1628When you enjoy your work,  so much of it is an adventure. When you understand you are called to your position,  a day in the office can be the same as a plane trip to a foreign country.

100_1630You just never know what’s around the next corner: Pleasant surprise or terrifying trouble. When the Shepherd of your soul has sent you into a thing…when you know He is with you either thing becomes just a tool in His hand to bring blessing.

This is a good starting point.

 

 

 

True North

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God  shared with me a few years ago that my travels needed to be ordered and approved by Him. I sort of concluded that meant I would be travelling less. I expected that I would be shelving my love for wandering… at least for a while. Nothing could have been further from the truth. If anything my journeys have increased in number; But now they are with a purpose.

This week’s trip sent me north to Waldoboro ME, to help out my brother-in-law who was recuperating from surgery. It was not a vacation in the strictest sense of the word. It was something far better.

I arrived at Midnight on the 21st.

Midnight in Waldoboro

Midnight in Waldoboro

I met and chatted with my brother-in-law’s friend, Janet who had been his driver to and from the surgery and who  stayed with him until I could get there. I walked Gideon (the dog), stowed my gear and finally bedded down on the couch about 2:30 A.M.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were spent walking the dog, making meals, visiting with Cliff and making sure he was taking his medicine. I am the mean nurse :). We did shoot out to the bank and the store on Friday to make sure he was stocked up for the weekend storm. We shared faith and watched a lot of movies. I finished my sermon and kept tabs with my office by cell phone. All in all it was a quiet three days in Maine farm country.

Here are a few photos:

I left Cliff much recovered on Saturday morning and headed down the coast stopping in Haverhill MA to see my daughter and her beau for lunch. Not to worry folks I kept it limited to veggies and fruits in keeping with Lent! Can I just say, travelling for God’s purpose is so much more fun than just going on vacation!

James Franklin and Melanie Lillie

James Franklin and Melanie Lillie

What have you been doing for excitement this winter?