Vacation in 2020 was something special. With all the corona jitters, everything has run into a heap. And there were also some other priorities than holidays. But in the meantime it is approaching autumn, the weather remains nice and in terms of Covid panic the highest waves have already dropped a bit.
A short break close by
So a very modest holiday could be booked. And then you come to surprising results. With 'something nice' for classic enthusiasts, a car and motorcycle museum is of course a thing. For our better halves it is useful to have something roughly urban in the neighborhood in terms of 'Nice Shops'. Something cultural and / or historical is then optional. The accommodation location must be clean and have good beds. The latter is thought very minimalist because almost every hotel restaurant nowadays has a fitness room and rents out E-bikes. That is, if you hop across the German border. Because this time we left England and France for what they are.
Under 'car and motorcycle museum' we found an old acquaintance: Automuseum Ibbenbüren. That was at least twenty years ago we had been there. The opening times are still a bit different. It also fitted in perfectly with the small-scale holiday thinking. Ibbenbüren is located about 150 kilometers from Arnhem.
150 km from home is really abroad
Some Googling brought us to the Emslandhotel Saller See. Of course we contacted the hotel itself, which is first offered online by dozens of hotel platforms whose operators take at least 12% per booking. If you book directly as a customer, you do not have to fill in and hand over your whole heart and soul. If you mention that you want to pay in cash, you will hear the person on the other end of the line breathe relieved. The German catering industry has also had a difficult time.
Simply, all the way through
From Dieren, all the way through to our holiday address was more than 150 kilometers. Just over the border, we refueled for 50 cents less than in the Netherlands. Your vacation couldn't start better. The route on secondary roads is extremely calm. The Germans themselves see the 100 km / h speed limit as a nice guideline. But so between 80-90 km / h, the region without hairpin bends and steep slopes is ideal for classic drivers. Funny is that local village garage owners often have one or more classics in the showroom. And Germany wouldn't be Germany if those brave survivors weren't in top shape.
A few hours drive further
After a few hours of strolling and a few stops, we arrived completely relaxed at our holiday address. So our base was hotel restaurant Saller See. A few sturdy traditional buildings linked by something fairly modernist with a lot of glass. The spacious room, we had a suite, was fine, the beds excellent. In terms of Corona settings, the restaurant scene was subdued: every evening there was a choice of a few dishes from warming trays, just honest food without pretensions. For the elderly among us: think of Van der Valk from the past. And brag? We did that ourselves. Of course with the mouth mask in front. When entering the restaurant and when bragging, that breathing cloth was mandatory.
Cheap eating out
But a three-course meal for € 15 pp and the first liquid consumption for nothing? You can't say much about that.
In short: we have proven for ourselves that you can really be abroad on holiday a stone's throw from home. And for retirees and freelancers among the readers of this story, Germany is an absolute must to do a midweek break this fall. The people are very correct, road users are civilized, petrol is cheap and the catering industry has an unprecedented price-quality ratio for us. And how your buttocks feel after your very first E-bike ride after just 60 km of paddling? Eight, there are other sites for that. Fortunately, Saller See also has a sauna.
Oh yes: The museum visit has been canceled because we got talking to someone who is building a BMW 700. We could tell him that there were still three of those BMW engine blocks at Loods 8 in Arnhem. He invited us to view his collection… Ship models. Also beautiful.
Sunday evening, just back from a similar holiday, this was an extra nice article to read
We also went about 150 km from home, but then we do not get further than Arnhem at Van der Valk.
So just refuel for a thieves price and have to conclude that the Van der Valk of the past idd is hard to find in terms of food.
Room and breakfast fine, but a very limited menu and not too gnawing, they even manage to ruin the apple sauce there.
Then we moved to the Cantharel, that was a lot better, and for the other days we went to the city center, but that was good to very good.
Unfortunately, because of the Corona, everything worked in terms of entertainment, with reservations and time slots.
To let yourself rain soaking wet in the open-air museum for 50 euros, including parking, is not very attractive.
Then I picked a few addresses that seemed nice to end up at Loods 8.
Interesting address with nice stuff like the Capriolo that is there.
Unfortunately, a Crown Oil light box that I wanted to buy was the only thing he didn't want to lose in the entire shop.
The problem with Kiat is that he is more of an enthusiast than a dealer 🙂
Cornlis, The style of writing might suggest that you are related to the freelancer who wrote the above article.
Just as smooth and wonderful to read, especially if you are a visual thinker like me.
Are there also pictures of Dolf op een Fiets available?
Publication of this is avoided with all the power. But such an E bike does have something
Hans, not that difficult to imagine.
Enough pictures of him on a 2-wheeler with a fossil engine,
some more drops of sweat and a tongue out of the mouth… .. with voilà