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We set Scotland aside for a later date and decided to travel across northern France, visit the legendary D-Day battlefields on the Normandy coast, and see the fantastic beauty of Mont Saint Michel.
After much hesitation, we left in mid-July. The countries through which our route extended were at the “norm” of the pandemic at the time. There should be no quarantine on return.
Upon entering Poland, we found out immediately at service stations and shops, all wearing masks. It was a bit of an odd image, because we were already a little used to those masks. Our first night was in Gdańsk, which we reached in 8 hours. A good hotel in the city center was really cheap. The hotel’s kitchen staff displays an excellent breakfast, all the dishes and snacks you want, and she prepares it. Tourists cannot touch food.
The next day we went to Hamburg. Hamburg seemed unusual: crowded streets, few people and cars, people with masks inside. Then it became quite clear that you would have to get used to wearing masks again. The social marks of distance on the floor everywhere, in service stations, stores and offices, caught my attention. It seems that all people, realizing the seriousness of the situation, are properly following these behavioral standards during the pandemic period.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
In cafes, where food is also prepared to go, people do not push, keep their distance, do not rush, most wait outside. In short, being in Hamburg during rush hour makes you feel like a Sunday morning.
Then it became quite clear that you would have to get used to wearing masks again.
Until the Netherlands, we do not accept motorcyclists at all. On the third day of our trip we arrived in Amsterdam. Here I prepared a “surprise” for my friends and, instead of a normal hotel, I booked cabins on a boat moored on the Amsterdam canal in the center.
When we got to the boat on motorcycles, everyone was delighted that we had successfully arrived, we would live downtown a few nights. That joy did not last long, until my traveling companions saw the cabins where we had to sleep.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
The cabin size was 4 square meters. There they were placed at an angle one above the other, one above the other (the beds are difficult to call), in the corner there was a small sink, where the tap water (which, by the way, did not mix because there was only cold water ) did not run, but “cried” with a small stream of cold water. .
The shower and the galjuna (ship’s bathroom) were on the same floor a few meters away. There was already warm water and a normal flow, just that there was almost no room for turns and hand bridges to wash the tired body of the rider, so it is likely that not all parts of the body have been washed properly.
The positive side of this hotel on the water was that the terrace had a great view of Amsterdam, there were tables and chairs that we could freely use as much as we wanted. When it was cold and cold to dine on deck, it was possible to land in the ship’s dining room, which is open 24 hours a day, and extend the cozy night there.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
It was great fun seeing the happy faces of the newly arrived tourists as they collected the keys (they left them in envelopes with their names written on them) until they saw their cabin. We heard many international curses that day. The man who had just arrived the first time, going to that cabin from there, would have come back from looking completely different.
We heard many international curses that day.
While reading Amsterdam accommodation, I read reviews on Booking.com (interesting, unusual experience, etc.), I decided to take a risk and now I can say that I do not regret it. Parking in the center of Amsterdam costs more than one person per night on this boat. Parking is a very expensive “treat” in the central part of Amsterdam, because when I was at the AC / DC concert in Amsterdam 11 years ago, I already paid 30 euros a day in a private parking lot, now the price has increased significantly . Many tourists leave their cars outside the city and reach the central part by train.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
The next morning started positively. When we boarded the ship’s dining room, we saw all of our ship’s “crew”, the residents, in one place. Very strange, but we, like everyone else, feel perfectly rested and well asleep. Breakfast was wonderful. Perhaps because you were able to stand up and bake your own egg while watching the tourist canals, the small boats, and the sunlight gently caressing the towers of Amsterdam by slowly sailing out the ship’s window. Great summer day in Amsterdam.
The only silver lining to the pandemic is that there were only about 20 percent. tourists than usual. And this meant that without any congestion, it was possible to visit a number of attractions that were operating at full capacity. In some places the visitor’s temperature is measured, masks are emitted, marks on the floor, people are tolerant. The first time I saw Amsterdam was 26 years ago, and the most interesting thing is that almost nothing has changed since then. At least in the central part.
The only silver lining to the pandemic is that there were only about 20 percent. tourists than usual.
It is time to move towards the Normandy coasts. Rainy morning, amazing scrambled eggs on board and a long way. On this day we drove over 800 km and then spent an intermediate night in a small town in northern France. It rained most of the day, but luckily we had no roadside attractions that day, and it was only one of the only days on our trip when it rained. When I saw the sun in the morning, the positive was flooded. Because it is today that we will cross the Normandy coast, where the battles of 1944 took place, we will visit the war museums, we will see the Falaise d’Aval rock, which recalls its elephant shape submerged in water.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
Just by visiting a few museums and looking at the bunkers, one can somehow imagine the horrible and grandiose events of the Battle of Normandy in 1944. I used to play in the CALL OF DUTY game format.
The north coast of France is very different from the south, where we have been many times. At midnight we arrived at our final destination, Mont Saint Michel. The entrance to the entrances is well closed and guarded, so it was not possible to approach with motorcycles.
We met several people with cameras, cameras and drones who spent the night in the area around the monastery to take photos or other images at night and at sunrise. I have seen many images of this monastery, and they are all different: in some the island is completely surrounded by water, in others it is as if it were on land. This is because this monastery is built on an island, and when there is a low tide in the ocean, it is like on land, but when the water is flooded, it is in the water.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
In the morning, when we got to see the mountain in daylight, the view was simply breathtaking. On the plain, it looked like some kind of alien structure. Amazing view. It is a castle-city, with streets, houses, hotels, shops and pubs, a church, a cemetery and a monastery. While having coffee in one of the cafes, the owner said that currently only 12 permanent residents live here. 10 servants and monks of the church, 2 “locals” who inherited the house of their ancestors. All the others are tourists and staff.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
Now, as in Amsterdam, only around a fifth of tourists are here compared to what it was the year before. Therefore, the cafe owner said that we were very lucky: we can freely walk everywhere. I have never seen such a “rough” mountain.
After accumulating a lot of luggage, we headed home. In 2 days we had to cover about 3000 km. I can say that the return trip did not take long. This year, we all bought the new BMW R1250GS motorcycles, which we tested and compared perfectly on the road. On German motorways, where speed is not limited in most places, we drill handles and share our impressions at each service station.
In France, we paid for the fuel without going to the service station and were surprised that large sums of money were blocked on the bills. Of course, that money was later unlocked.
Personal Stock Photo / Travel Moment
These are just a few excerpts from the travel memories. This trip changed the mindset about wearing masks. Now, seeing a man in a mask, I value his self-determination as a reverence for me. Because especially now you don’t want to feel the smell from a stranger’s mouth and the air you breathe out.
Now, seeing a man in a mask, I value his self-determination as a reverence for me.
The tests carried out on the return were negative. I think those thousands of people would meet during the trip, most of whom wore masks, and hygiene had the biggest impact on that.
Everyone already understands that the world will no longer be what it used to be, but somehow we will have to learn to live and travel in new conditions. We tried to travel in new conditions, I liked it. There really are many benefits to that. Be healthy and protect each other.
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