The buffet runs early hours.

Bastion Hotel, Bussum Netherlands

These early buffet breakfasts are definitely not our cup of tea. 7 am to 10 am on weekends and 6 am to 9 am on weekdays. We made it in time today, but the small restaurant area in the hotel was full of German tourists. But we managed to get some food.

My cousin Tom-Peter Twigt picked us up at 11 am and drove us back to his house in Utrecht where his wife Wendy had prepared a lunch. We sat there for a few hours chatting about life both in Canada and in the Netherlands. They live in the middle of old Utrecht in a house that was built in 1890, and they had totally renovated. A very nice combination of old Dutch and new Dutch.

Later in the afternoon, the four of us drove to my aunt and uncle's house, Riek and Adri, who are Tom-Peter's parents. Tom's sister Henriette came over and we all went out for supper in a restaurant located in the Naarden vesting. Think of a vesting as a fortified town from the 1500's. The ramparts are still there as well as some old cannons. Very historic. The restaurant is located in a 300-year-old building that was formerly a warehouse for peat, which people used to burn for heat in their fireplaces. The food was good and so was the conversation. The service was a little average and Tom-Peter spoke to them about it after the meal. All in all, a good time.

Tom-Peter and Wendy drove us back to our hotel and we said our good-byes because we will not see them again on this trip.

It was surprising to me how much Dutch I can understand and how there are some phrases that I can actually understand and even use in conversation. New good memories of the trip so far. As I would like to practice and use my Dutch, big grin, they all seemed prepared to use their English. We had a super time with Lee's relatives. Tom-Peter and Wendy are super hosts, and I look forward for more contact before we return home.