Day 25/1: Holwerd - Harlingen

Will be provided later, has melted!😲

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Slept well, had breakfast and off we go. We say goodbye to our host, get our Pilgrim cart from the garage, have a short chat with the neighbors, and head straight to the bus stop.

The departure times are not updated here, which causes a lot of confusion. A helpful young woman checks for us.

The bus driver drives at a breakneck speed and misses two stops, but is kindly reminded by the passengers. We will definitely reach Leeuwarden ahead of schedule!

We continue by train to Harlingen, one of the 11 Frisian cities. Perhaps also known as Elfstedentocht, a legendary long-distance speed skating race. Today, another B&B is ready for us. The way there is difficult and long. The disappointment is written all over our faces. While waiting - as agreed - we discuss what to do, check in, and then make the long walk back to the city.

Strolling through the streets, we discover a shop with handmade tiles called 'Fries blauw', with old and new designs. The talkative saleswoman tells us all about it - many Dutch people are very communicative😉 - there is also a restoration studio included. By the way, she is also an enthusiastic hiker.

It's hot! Aad has a blister on his outer heel that bothers him. We buy some thinner socks and I tend to him on a bench. Continuing towards the harbor, we take a short break along the beautiful facades, we are tired.

We continue through the streets and later stop at a pub with locals and have a beer. I fall asleep twice for a few seconds.

It's time to eat something and we head to a seafood restaurant - what else!

We make the long walk back to the B&B, shower, and fall into a coma!

A domani!

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Slept well, had breakfast and off we go! We say goodbye to our host, get our Pilgrim cart from the garage, have a short chat with the neighbors, and go straight to the bus stop.

The departure times of the buses have not been updated for some time, which causes a lot of confusion. A helpful young woman looks it up for us and we appear to be on time at the bus stop.

The bus driver is driving like a maniac and misses two stops, kindly being reminded of it by passengers. We will definitely reach Leeuwarden on time!

The train continues to Harlingen, one of the 11 Frisian cities. Also known for the Elfstedentocht, the legendary long-distance ice skating race. Today, another B&B is ready for us. The way there is more difficult and long. The disappointment is written all over our faces. While waiting at the reception - as agreed - we discuss what we're going to do, check in, and then make the long walk back to the city.

Strolling through the streets, we discover a shop with traditionally handmade tiles called 'Fries Blauw', with old and new designs. The talkative saleswoman tells us all about it - (many Dutch people are very communicative😉!) The shop also includes a restoration workshop, and the saleswoman turns out to be a fervent hiker as well.

It's hot! Aad has a blister on his heel that bothers him. We buy a pair of thinner socks and I patch him up on a bench. We take a break in the harbor and continue along the beautiful facades, we are tired.

We walk through the narrow streets and later stop at a pub with locals and have a beer. Meanwhile, Alda falls asleep twice for a few seconds.

It's time to eat something and we head to a seafood restaurant - what else!

We walk back to the B&B, exhausted, shower, and fall into a coma!

A domani!