Day 18: Weener - Winschoten

Had a terrible night's sleep in our miserable room.😱 Fortunately, we had some instant coffee left from Norderney and were able to brew ourselves a cup of black coffee. After packing up, we headed straight to the train station. We were able to use our Dutch train card here; it's almost the border area.

It's raining and we're glad we're not walking. When we arrive in Winschoten, NL, our destination for today isn't far from the train station.

We're waved at from a distance. We enter an impressive Art Nouveau house inhabited by a retired couple, who have tastefully decorated it. The four of us sit at the table with a nice cup of coffee and talk about various things. She's an artist who works with felt and paints oil paintings, and he's a former PE teacher.

Shortly after, we want to explore the town. It's market day. Since we haven't had breakfast yet, we treat ourselves to a herring sandwich. The rain is getting heavier. Our plan to visit the old harbor falls through. We arrive at our accommodation soaking wet. We take off almost everything, especially our dripping jackets. The landlady leads us to her studio on the lower floor and shows us her artworks - a true talent.

Since we set off, today is the first day that we spend mostly indoors - it takes some getting used to. Our room is in the attic and very cozy. It's nice to relax with an exciting book, while Aad can watch Formula 1 with the landlord.

We have been particularly pensive about yesterday's Weener and also a little about Emden. Many houses and shopping streets are empty, the town seems deserted. It has nothing and nothing is happening. The people seem numb and seem to be affected by poverty. Katja confirmed our perceptions in a conversation yesterday and also that the authorities really do nothing about it.

In the evening, we eat at the local brasserie and take a walk to the harbor, which we missed in the afternoon due to rain.

Until tomorrow!

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Had a very bad night's sleep in a very bad room... fortunately, we still had instant coffee with us from Norderney and were able to get up relatively well, but nothing kept us in Weener, so after packing up, we went straight to the station, where the train to Winschoten was already waiting for us! It's a nice detail that we could just pay with our public transport card!

It's raining and we're very glad that we didn't walk. Arrived in Winschoten NL! yes, after 2.5 weeks in Germany🙂, the house where we sleep tonight, thanks to friends on bikes (once), is just around the corner from the station.

We are waved at from afar, we arrive at an impressive house from the Art Nouveau era where we are warmly welcomed by a retired couple, he used to be a sports teacher and she makes art from felt and paints. We quickly sit down at the table with a nice cup of coffee and chat about all sorts of things...

After visiting the apartment where we are staying, we head to the town to eat and stroll around the market. Unfortunately, after eating our herring sandwiches, it starts raining heavily, so our visit to the harbor falls through! We arrive home soaking wet, where the lady of the house welcomes us and then shows us her studio.

This is the first time since we started our journey that we spend several hours indoors, a strange feeling! but it's very relaxing and I can even watch Formula 1 with the man of the house!

Yesterday's Weener and also a bit of Emden from the day before yesterday made us think about the situation there, many houses and shops are abandoned and the town is deserted, there's nothing and also nothing to do, we talked about it with Katja yesterday and she confirmed that the municipality does nothing about it and people have given up...

In the evening, we eat at the local brasserie, very delicious! And then we take a little walk to the harbor, which we still had pending...

See you tomorrow!