We were traveling to Delta Works (more on that, later) by train. It was to have been without any connections to the town of Vlissingen. When we got to Roosendaal, there was a long announcement on the speakers, in Dutch; Marcia, especially, had the sudden sense that we were on the train, all alone. She checked with the conductor (she had to look for him), came running back saying, "We have to get off, now!!!" Just as we got off the train, the lights went off, and the train jerked. It was being disconnected from the front part of the train, on which we should have been. We should have read the sign on our train that simply said, "Roosendaal" instead of "Vlissingen", where we wanted to go. We had been warned about that in one of our guide books, but hadn't really taken note!!! We were able to get on the front portion of the train in good time. We can just imagine what the train staff had to say when they got home to tell their families of those crazy Americans!!!
The next day we were returning from Den Haag (the Hague) to Assen, by train, where our Dutch family was to be waiting for us. It was to have been a straight through, no-connections 2½ hour trip. Again, there was a long announcement on the speakers, in Dutch. The person next to us asked where we were going (why do we seem to look like lost Americans?). We told her. She said, the announcement just told us that because a major power line (the trains are almost all electric) had been damaged on a stretch of the track, we were being diverted and would need to make connections in Amersfoort, Deventer, and Zwolle, and would be at least 1 hour late.
That was the bad news.
The good news was that we met some wonderful people along the way, who helped us make the connections, and we did make it. In the U.S., we would probably still, today, be stranded in Den Haag. In Holland, although we had to go out of our way, connections were made, rather easily. At one point an additional train was added. All the trains were quite crowded because of the diversion, but people did get to where they needed to go, remarkably easily.
It was funny, how they complained about the inconvenience. We were simply impressed that corrections were being made and people were getting where they needed to go, even if a bit late.
We had a great time meeting some wonderful people along the way, who, among other things made sure we got where we needed to go: A couple of American engineers (one was born in Keokuk, Iowa), a geologist, a human resource person, a head hunter, a coordinator of transports for the fishing industry, one couple who were vacationing, and a young man with two delightful youngsters. It was a great experience and we learned a bit more about how the train system functions!!!!
We arrived in Kassel, yesterday, after having traveled at 250 km/h (150 mph) by train.
The flat in which we are staying includes the rooms with the windows to both the right and the left of where Marcia is standing on the balcony, pretending to be royalty. It also includes its own kitchen, full bath, and toilet. All of that and breakfast, too. We were expecting a small room with a shared toilet and maybe even bath!!!
perspective (a very positive experience for them).
