{"id":939,"date":"2025-06-30T06:38:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T06:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/?p=939"},"modified":"2025-06-30T21:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T21:45:09","slug":"the-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/06\/30\/the-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"The Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Finally, after months of research and planning.we were dropped off at Cape Town International Airport by our friendly Uber Collette and equally amiable assistant Raymond. Check in went smoothly and quickly which left us time to reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to do this type of trip, and have a final meal in SA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We decided on a Spur burger… don’t judge us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then it was time for two long flights, maybe we are just getting old but it was hard and not helped by the fact that even sleeping tablets didn’t help Roy to catch 39 winks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final flight was delayed as 10 passengers didn’t board. No big deal but when combined with slow passport control at Amsterdam Schipol and a false start getting public transport to our hotel (two very helpful staff members at the station gave us incorrect guidance) meant we arrived at the hotel a little hot and bothered. Oh, and it’s rather warm here in Amsterdam. But we are not going to complain about the weather!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick shower and freshen up and then we took an arbitrary walk to experience Amsterdam for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching locals sunbathing by the canals, dodging cars and bikes (they drive on the wrong side, man that’s hard to remember) and admiring the architecture as we explored various neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course it wouldn’t be a day in Europe without a Gelato, we couldn’t resist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinner was an authentic… Italian craft beer and pizza. Unconventional but we found a little pizzeria frequented by locals only and decided to do as they do. It was a perfect way to end off a very long 24 hours of travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Final SA meal, Spur cheddamelt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
This is Amsterdam. We’re actually here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
We’re very taken by the Architecture. Beautiful buildings far away from the tourist spots. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Yip. We found ice cream within hours of arriving. We’re pros!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Authentic Italian pizza and craft beer <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Finally, after months of research and planning.we were dropped off at Cape Town International Airport by our friendly Uber Collette and equally amiable assistant Raymond. Check in went smoothly and quickly which left us time to reflect on how fortunate we are to be able to do this type of trip, and have a final […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":943,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9,6],"tags":[68],"class_list":["post-939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royandnikki","category-travelogues","tag-amsterdam"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/img_2622-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Ocy4-f9","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":968,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/02\/amsterdam-is-hot\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":0},"title":"Amsterdam is hot!","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"We (Nikki and I) seem to have the knack of finding those record breaking years in Europe, when it comes to summer temperatures. Today it hit 36 degrees Celsius! No complaints though we know what we had left behind in Cape Town. If yesterday had been exploring the lesser known\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Amsterdam"","block_context":{"text":"Amsterdam","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/amsterdam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2696-1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2696-1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2696-1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2696-1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":944,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/01\/exploring-amsterdam\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":1},"title":"Exploring Amsterdam","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Today was a day spent getting to know Amsterdam. It started by catching our local tram (Nikki's favourite mode of transport) and a short walk around the central Amsterdam before catching a ferry to Amsterdam Noord for a bike tour. We did make a brief pitstop for some bitterballen. Then\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Amsterdam"","block_context":{"text":"Amsterdam","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/amsterdam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2640-2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2640-2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2640-2-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2640-2-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":981,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/03\/aiamsterdam\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":2},"title":"AIAmsterdam","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Today started slightly earlier than previous days but for good reason. Our first stop was the Anne Frank House. We timed it perfectly and after a short wait were second inside for the day. This meant the whole experience was unrushed, quiet and cool (as in temperature). It was a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Amsterdam"","block_context":{"text":"Amsterdam","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/amsterdam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2740.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1094,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/10\/goodies-gaudi-and-a-grand-finale\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":3},"title":"Goodies, Gaudi and a Grand Finale","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning was spent transferring weight. From the bank account into our luggage.\u00a0 We made our way to Placa de Catalunya where after avoiding the pigeons (we both had bad\/good luck with them in Amsterdam), Nikki partook in some retail therapy (I also had to get a few necessities).\u00a0 In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Roy & Nikki"","block_context":{"text":"Roy & Nikki","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3315-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3315-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3315-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_3315-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1003,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/04\/test\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":4},"title":"A whole new language","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Today was a travel day. Those always start with at least a touch of dread. Making our way to the airport nice and early meant no stress, even after we hit a small road(rail)block. As much as we thought we were prepared for the Mallorcan heatwave leaving shelter of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Amsterdam"","block_context":{"text":"Amsterdam","link":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/category\/travelogues\/royandnikki\/amsterdam\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2853-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2853-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2853-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/img_2853-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1130,"url":"http:\/\/eishonline.co.za\/travel\/2025\/07\/12\/adios-barcelona\/","url_meta":{"origin":939,"position":5},"title":"Adi\u00f3s Barcelona","author":"Roy","date":"11 months ago","format":false,"excerpt":"Today was a farewell to Barcelona. 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