Afgelopen dinsdagmiddag stond ik op de boulevard van Scheveningen een bord te bewonderen. Daarop stond de tekst: “Het is verboden muziek ten gehore te brengen”. Zo’n deftige formulering leek meer geschikt voor een rondreizend strijkkwartet of een groep Franse accordeonspelers in streepjestruien dan voor tieners die scheurend langs de boulevard hiphop door hun open autoramen … Continue reading Paulien Cornelisse: Bedankt voor de foutjes
Silver wedding
We didn't know where we were going, and it was for the best. Two common complaints about time are: “If I could turn back the clock …” and “If I knew then what I know now …” Both reflect the fact that wisdom is hard won and tends to arrive with a tinge of regret: … Continue reading Silver wedding
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Epilogue
Until the next big trip. We're home and the stats are in. In the 16 days since I left The Hague I've clocked up 4,272km through the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Iceland – 2,099km of those on the European mainland (including 12 doubling back to the hotel room in Germany because I'd forgotten to hand … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Epilogue
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 16
Sunday, July 26 The end of the long road home. Photo from Wikipedia Travel time: 5 hours 30 minutes Distance: 485km Destination: The Hague I’ve always felt German hotel breakfasts to be severely underrated. French breakfasts aren’t much more than a croissant, a few preserves and some underwhelming coffee; Danish smorgasbords are heavy on pastry … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 16
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 15
Saturday, July 25 The signs are unambiguous: we are back in mainland Europe. Travel time: 11 hours (ferry), 5 hours 15 minutes (car) Distance: 525km Destination: Neu Wulmsdorf The boat is on Faroese time, the same as BST, but my over-zealous phone picks up a signal from the Norwegian coast and jumps forward in the … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 15
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 14
Friday, July 24 The Faroese capital Torshavn is buzzing at 3am. Travel time: 24 hours (ferry) Distance: 525km Destination: Torshavn and beyond Just before 3am the boat shudders violently, jolting me awake, and I realise we must be pulling in to Torshavn. I take the opportunity to grab a bag from the car and a … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 14
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 13
Thursday, July 23 Leaving a deceptively dry, calm Seyðisfjörður behind. Travel time: 1 hour (car), 13 hours (ferry) Distance: 75km Destination: Seyðisfjörður and beyond Time to start the long journey home. It will take four days and cross two time zones, but it’s a more leisurely transition than the stress and sudden wrench of flying … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 13
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 12
Wednesday, July 22 A puffin coming in to land at Hafnarhólmi. Travel time: 3 hours 20 minutes Distance: 250km Destination: Hafnarhólmi rock Today was supposed to be a non-travelling day. But we’ve only ticked off four of the Icelandic Big Five – whales, geysers, waterfalls, glaciers and puffins – so I decide to drive 125km … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 12
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 11
Tuesday, July 21 Canoeists taking their chances with the icebergs on the lake at Jökulsárlón Travel time: 8 hours 15 minutes Distance: 630km Destination: Eskifjördur It’s the big travel day: a 630km trek across the south coast, and the first time I’ve really regretted not being able to stop and linger longer along the way. … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 11
Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 10
Monday, July 20 The descent into Raufarhólshellir. Travel time: 0 Distance: n/a Destination: Selfoss and Golden Circle Today is a day of activities. I’ve booked a guided tour so that we can knock out a few of the attractions in the area known in the brochures as the Golden Circle and – crucially, from my … Continue reading Dad’s gone to Iceland: Day 10