A holiday with a touch of fairytale Part 1

What does a good fairy tale have? 

A great setting: woods, a river, possibily an edible house. 

A tower to lock someone in.

An unknown mysterious path to follow.

A chance encounter with a  helpful magical beast.
A royal ball.

The lure of food. 

Then, that said, our first week of the autumn holidays had a touch of the fairy tales about it. Together with 2 of our favourite German families were packed up 3 cars and headed over the border into... The Netherlands. As far as journeys go it wasn't the longest ever at and hour and a half but that took us to a holiday house in an amazing camping ground in the middle of a huge national park area. The house, whilst not made of gingerbread had the pre-recquisite sloping roof and European fairy tale form and, as the camping ground was closed for the winter season we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. Hansel, I mean Herr Fitz had to work so we locked him away in the tower, ok, an upstairs bedroom and let him out for the feasts that were every meal and on Friday afternoon for the big hike. We had great weather. We had packed clothes for all weather conditions (I hopefully packed swimmers but left out the snow jackets) and we only had to wear full rain gear out once and it didn't even rain so we had the lovely sound dry rain gear makes as our soundtrack.

 There were no less than 5 windmills in the little town that was nearby.

The kids folded hundreds of boats and they floated (I was skeptical). A few even made it to the second jetty. Herr G saved some from the reeds. The Bear's is on it's way to the North Sea.

The weather the first day was marvelous. I thought briefly we might get a swim.

The plot thickens. 

Herr Fitz was safely locked in his tower. 

 Herr N was banished to his homeland and office even though he had performed the heroic deed of rescuing two princesses from the tower (or the bathroom after the lock broke).

So it was up to Herr G our brave knight to lead us for a ride into the woods...

and after 8kms we found the bakery. Luckily there was no witch so we bought lots of bread. That is our bread all bagged up...it only lasted 2 days. and of course we bought some sweet things.

We let Herr F out sometimes and Herr N was allowed to return after a couple of days hard labour. That meant that Herr G had time to make pancakes for all under the watchful eye for the two other knights while the 3 fair ladies took their trusty Drahtesel (steeds) for a trip back into the town for afternoon tea.. 

There is a swan in every good story.

As the kids provided the on board entertainment programme which included a disco, where the standard of dancing by the fair ladies was unique to say the least, and a royal gala concert it was only fair they got time to relax. Frau N was the story teller. Every night the kids all got into their pyjamas and 4 Bazi stories were read. She tried to stop at 3 but the audience would have no fewer than 4.

Herr Fitz took on the story teller role sometimes much to the Mouse's delight as he read her favourite book.

Everyone had a role in producing the feasts that we had at every meal. A huge table with 14 people at it meant that the butter, or the potatoes or the apple juice was often "auf der Reise' to the other end.

As the kids found their way home from the 16km roundtrip bike ride we took them out again, this time into the heather field.

Then again into the woods for a Schatzsuche/ Treasure Hunt.

Then one last time into the hills (or as hilly as the Netherlands get). Frau G who had lead us bravely on the treasure hunt took the wheel and the convoy set out. Again it was covered in heather, only a few had their flowers still so now we have an excuse to go back as it must be amazing in the late summer / autumn. This time we packed a picnic. We had just found a great vantage point to stop for our snack when we spotted little white clouds floating on the other hill. As we ate our biscuits the little white clouds got closer and closer. Some in the party got a bit nervous but then we all just stayed still as the shepherdess and her sheep dog drove the flock right to us.

 Even though they didn't speak it was pretty amazing.

In Part 2 we head to the City.