Monday 30 November 2009

Getting around in the Netherlands without owning a car


Not owning a car has its drawbacks. Whenever I want to visit family and/or friends, I have to rely on public transport and the goodness of said family and/or friends. Like last Saturday...

On Saturday morning I woke up bright and early (not by choice I have to add) and after having a shower and my breakfast I made my way to the busstop for the first part of my journey. It was 8am. On arriving at the busstop with my suitcase, handbag, knitting bag and presents bag I realised the first bus wasn't to leave until 9.21am!!! So, home I went again, got online, played a few games and an hour later I made my way again to the busstop.

After arriving at my parents' place just before 11am, my mother decided to come with me to my niece's birthday party and off we went in their car. We got to my brother's house at 1pm and were met by a great number of children aged between 1 and 8. The birthday girl was still in bed, as was her big sister (who is three), but all the other children ( I'm guessing there were about 12, but I could be way off) were making enough noise as it was!

A few hours later we had to leave again, since I had another birthday party to go to. So, we got in the car again and drove back to my parents' home. From there I would be picked up by my friend. I had to wait a bit because he had lost his way a bit, but in the end I arrived at my friends' place and was able to celebrate with the birthday boy who had turned 2.

Aren't my family and friends just the best?

7 comments:

  1. Yes they are. Sounds like you had a nice time.

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  2. I BELIEVE YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IN THIS PICTURE IS THAT CORRECT?
    IMSURE YOU KNOW THIS, WE DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE.
    SO CONFUSING WHEN WE GO PLACES OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHEN DRIVING, FEELS BACKWARDS TO US

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  3. You have a great family! And it sounds as if you had a fun day, even if you were rather early for the bus!

    Funny how dependent we are on cars these days, isn't it? My grandfather was the first in his village to get motorised transport, and it was a motorbike, not a car. Of course, it didn't take long before many people had cars, but really, it's not that long ago, is it?

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  4. @Just Breathe: I totally agree with you and I wouldn't call it a nice time exactly, not with all those children present! But it was ok.

    @Cry: Well spotted! Yes, in this photo I am driving on the right side of the car, probably while I was on holiday in Ireland with my sister, several years ago. In the Netherlands we drive on the left side though.

    @Jay: don't get me started on the bus again...

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  5. I find it someone ironic (but refreshingly so) that one who earns her living by driving has no car. It can be difficult to live without one, especially over here unless you live near a downtown core ... and even then ...

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  6. @Anvilcloud: everybody is always quite shocked that a professional driver (albeit bus) doesn't own a car. But I found that paying out nearly fifty euros, just to have the pleasure of seeing the car parked in front of my house and not having driven one mm yet, is a bit too dear for me. Especially with the plans I have...

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  7. Your family does indeed sound wonderful! I know I like to be chauffered around a strange city when I visit - then you get to look at all the sights too!

    Speaking of driving on the right side or left side of the road, I refer to the left side as the "wrong" side, but doable!!!

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!