Day 1: The Tour Officially BeginsLocation, location, location: We had been settled in at the Ambassador Hotel for a couple days, and we loved its central location. We were a block away from Grote Markt (Market Square) and within walking distance of anything we wanted to see in Haarlem. Our room was very comfortable as well, and we enjoyed learning how to make use of our power adapters and door keys to provide power to the room.
Power of the People: We were originally a little nervous about traveling with a group of strangers, but we could tell as soon as we gathered for our orientation meeting that the people on our tour would be one of the highlights. Lisa, our guide, was fantastic right from the start, and our group members connected immediately with each other. Great food, culture and company: Our first group dinner was a traditional Indonesian rice table meal. It was not only a wonderful sampling of traditional foods, but it was also a great opportunity to get to know our group members better. Great food, new experiences and great people . . . what a combination! History, culture and art: Our waitress doubled as our walking tour guide. It was great to have a local guide to give us insights into the history and traditions of Haarlem. We listened with curiosity at how the Dutch people don't close their windows because they are a very open people who watched out for each other. |
"Today is the official start to a trip we'd been dreaming about for 25 years. It is a trip that will be packed full of culture, history, art, food and wonderful people. Haarlem is the perfect city for the beginning of this fantastic experience." |