Our last day in the Netherlands (by Niki)

Dinner with Ron and Ria in Noordwijk

Today is our last day and with that realization brings some excitement for our departure to Turkey but also some nostalgia at having to leave. We used the morning wisely to pack up our bags and get ourselves organized. Then as the sun peaked through the clouds, we decided to venture out.

Since we have exhausted Leiden as a destination (well, that might be an exaggeration), we decided to go to Noordwijk for the day. Again, the beaches are somewhat surprising with their beauty and we enjoyed trekking through the sand with the sun on our faces. We had smiles on our faces as we saw the surfers out maneuvering the choppy waves. Sometimes it really feels like Vancouver Island here and I don't know why they don't develop the beach life more there. For example, there are great beach cafes here all along the beach in the summer that have beautiful patios surrounded by large glass windows so to shelter people from the wind.

Beaches of Noordwijk

We followed the crowds into town and are enjoying a "koffie" on their touristy shopping street. The shops look great but we are saving most of our shopping for Turkey and India. That and we can't fit much more into our packs! We plan to meet Ron and Ria for dinner soon and enjoy one last evening of their company then it is off to Izmir, Turkey tomorrow!