Wish You Were Here: A city-hopping adventure through Belgium and the Netherlands
Santa Cruz readers report back on their museum-rich, restaurant-exuberant adventures in Europe this fall, including how to tour Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum with a Rembrandt expert.
We’ve tagged along — vicariously — as our intrepid readers have traveled the world over the last year, exploring Patagonia, cycling Oregon bike trails, discovering the delights of Scottish castles and more. Now they’re sharing their travel adventures and offering practical tips to inspire you.
WISH YOU WERE HERE
BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS: Last fall, Santa Cruz residents Sean and Elizabeth Seman enjoyed “an epic three-week adventure taking trains to various towns and villages, from Antwerp to Bruges, on to Ghent, Brussels, Delft and glorious Amsterdam,” Elizabeth says. They traveled light — carry-ons and backpacks, only — and built their museum-rich, restaurant-exuberant itinerary with tips from YouTube travel videos, such as Suitcase Monkey and Rick Steves’ Europe, and Steves’ travel books.
TRAVEL TIPS: “Any city that offers boat tours should be considered, especially in Bruges and Amsterdam. Although train reservations are always less expensive if made in advance, the short distances and frequency of trains between the major towns make it exceedingly easy to book a ticket a day before. You MUST try the Belgium Frites and DO buy chocolates — Pierre Marcolini! — before leaving Belgium! Finally, we made a very wise choice when we arrived in Amsterdam and booked licensed tour guide and friend Eric Armitage for a walking tour of Amsterdam and a guided tour of the Rijksmuseum. Having worked at the Rembrandt house for 23 years, he was incredibly knowledgeable, giving nuanced expert descriptions that made the art come to life.” (Find Armitage at www.rembrandtpaintmaker.com.)
Join the fun! Send a photo of yourself on your latest adventures — local, domestic or international — to jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com. Tell us where you are, who everyone is and where they’re from, and share a travel tip or two to help fellow readers go there, too.