Sunday 30 November 2014

De Heurne

Over the border now and in to the Netherlands
Some final essential shopping at Bocholt in Germany and we then cross to De Heurne


The weather forecast is for dry fine weather and all looks well for a three night stay at the excellent De Haar stellplatz


Brave souls would chance it but the van and winter grass don't mix as we've found out on several occasions to our cost


So we elect for the hardstanding right next to the service point
(also handy for the two resident dogs that like to be fed our emergency dog biscuits from the window)
Note from editor..I feel I need to point out the biscuits are a food supply for ragged Portuguese dogs not  us!


Those pooches…and a ball thrower...


Nice Pussy...


These guys are all the rage here


Size comparison chart..


Our new friend Rob


No rain and well, Holland, means the bikes are off and I have to say its damned cold riding but has to be done..
The local market in Dinxperlo


Tasty Christmas presents for the birdlife



I'd like to say this was a tasty treat for us turkeys but alas no..
It all looked really appetising, smelling vaguely of fish and chips bit thats where the similarity ended
Luke warm fried fish on white bread smothered in seafood cocktail 
Nina had huge battered scampi tails or so she thought..
Actually shaped crabsticks to fool the tourists….


Dinxperlo where the housing is split by the German/Dutch border along the Heelweg street. Quite bizarre to see as the road is Dutch but the pavement and houses the other side are German with different streetlights


Remnants of the former border control


So, soon after taking to two wheels we find ourselves back in Germany


Nina's face lights up as we come across another christmas market


Had to be done….


Very different to the hustle of Münster but guess it will pick up later in the day


Beat this for an advent calendar…


On our return Pendleton risks a fine as she's riding like the wind...


Not fast enough for the Nederlandse Spoorwegen which thundered one of its trains across her path


Sleepless nights no doubt at this house...














Thursday 27 November 2014

Münster

There is no convenient stellplatz for visiting the city of Münster so we took a gamble and headed for the P & Rs. The one south side was full so I engaged the local speed camera Polizei for some parking info and they duly obliged with directions.
Big fat parking area in town five minutes walk from the centre and not €12.00 per hour like we got mugged for in Vienna!



Arriving early doors congestion is minimal and off we go wandering in search of a total of 5 Christmas Markets on the go...


Main street Münster


One of several stunning churches that dominate the city, this one being St Lamberti's


After a good long walk in the wrong direction Nina spots the first collection of christmas huts




Not too long in to the venture and we are supping Glühwein at will from possibly the first stall we came across. It was a cold day!


A shopper today…..


What looks like unfinished architecture but was the fashion of its day…



More ambling around, more markets...


Yes you do...


St Clemens' Church


Still cold so another defrosting required..


Prost!



Smoked salmon 


The stalls went on and on and our female contingent was in her element..


Obligatory shots of reindeer 





This will do nicely 'zu mitnehmen' for tomorrow


St Paul's Cathedral, or at least one half of it..


Interior as ever is stunning and capacious..



You must be used to this angle shot by now….






A huge astronomical clock



Outside and its time for tired teddies to take their leave via yet more stalls


A short drive from the city and its my time for a treat..


Namely Brauhaus Stephanus in Coesfeld and surely our last private brewery trip for a while


The van is parked safely at the rear with free electric as we down the first of a few
The Ur-Typ above was quite nice but as ever my favourite was a strong dark beer at 8.8% called Winterdoppelbock 



A novel lighting idea with a good supply of extra shades available