Monday 6 November
This morning dawned bright and sunny, motivating Mate to wrap up warm and ‘take the air’ on a gentle stroll with Skipper into Heemstede. She observed that the Dutch towns visited so far, like those she knows in France, are clean, attractive and appealing, offering an interesting selection of local shops and services, and of course smell good near restaurants, cafés and bakeries. Butchers’ displays (not her favourite shop) include tempting salads and home-cooked ready meals alongside charcuterie and deli items, and there are some well-dressed fashion windows to browse at the moment, with seasonal touches like colourful leaves and cosy blankets.
Anxious to replenish her energy levels, Skipper suggested lunch in a very smart and busy café, where he enjoyed a towering rye club sandwich while Mate managed most of a bowl of veggie French onion soup. They found a much shorter route back home, where they relaxed over reading.