Brielle

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Brielle, South Holland, Netherlands

Tuesday 28 May,

Although still sick, I decided to entertain myself Tuesday afternoon by visiting Miniature World. I wrote about it 4 years ago. For the benefits of new readers a short overview.

In the old part of Hamburg you find the warehouse district. Once an industrial area, it has been transformed into a place to relax, wine and dine. The old warehouses now contain accommodation, restaurants, museums etc. and a place called Miniature World created by two brothers.

Buildings of Miniatur Wonderland

Inside The 7000 M2 building you find 1500 m2 of displays representing various countries in a scale of 1 in 87

1040 locomotives pull more than 10000 cars along 15.5 km of track on a very tight schedule which is controlled by over 50 computers. 14000 signals regulate the 3500 switches and crossovers, making sure everything run smoothly and on time.

All parts are themed to represent certain countries. In Scandinavia, there is the snow-covered Swedish mining city of Kiruna with coal trains coming and going and large mining trucks driving around. When you turn around, you welcomed by a view of the Fjords of Norway where large ships sail the crystal clear waters. The USA display has part of the Grand Canyon and the mountains of Utah and Colorado. Traffic consisting of cars, buses and trucks drive along the many roads. Walk around the corner, and you enter Switzerland with its 6 meters mountains and working ski slopes. There are more countries, Germany with a mini Hamburg, Austria. Etc.

Kiruna Mine

I came here to view its latest creation: Italy, with the recreation of Rome including an exact copy of the Vatican. Then there is Venice where gondola’s bob up and down in the water. Next comes Pompeii with a working Vesuvius. 400.000 miniature people keep you entertained as many are placed in amusing situations. A simulated fire starts somewhere and within a minute 10 fire trucks, police etc. arrive to put it out. And then there is the fictitious Knuffingen airport.

Mining Trucks in Kurina Sweden

52 planes carry out over 250 take off and landings, again following a tight schedule like a real airport. You see a sizeable A300 plane land and then taxi along towards the apron. At the terminal, it comes to a slow stop. The engine sounds stop, and the covered walkway moves forward towards the doors. Meanwhile, the luggage trolleys appear, and when all is complete, the fuel truck arrives. It is truly amazing.

Concert

Around all the displays there are 400 000 lights which are slowly dimmed every 15 minutes to turn day into night

The place attracts 1.1 million visitors a year and employs over 300 people and is truly a work of art.

Concert

https://www.facebook.com/MiniaturWunderlandHamburg/videos/461670841251225/?t=19

Wed 29 May

I had decided to take it easy and look after my condition first. Instead of continuing my planned journey, it would be the best reverse the route as I would be able the have some rest days in between. Planning an early start, I got up at 6 am. Shock horror it was only 6 degrees. So I wait an hour at set off at 7 Am …still 6 degrees.

Wearing two jumpers, three jackets and two pair of pants, I head for the freeway feeling like a yellow Michelin man. Planning to fill up the nearly empty tank before leaving Germany, I pass Bremen and head for the Dutch border. The GPS shows the position of the petrol stations; however, all is not foolproof because the petrol station is 50 meters inside of Holland. Instead of fuel, I enjoy a much-needed coffee instead.

Concert

The maps show that I need to ride another few kms then make a turn and head back into Germany. Well. I now ride a GS (Off-road Model) so there I go. Across a grassy field onto a farm from where a cow manure-laden dirt track brings me directly into the village. Amazing that 50 meters distance saves 0.55 Aus. Cents per litre.

Vatican

On the way through Holland, I visit a few friends and meet up with an old school mate who I saw last 55 years. I continue west along a 30 km dyke and head south- to Alkmaar-Haarlem- Rotterdam. South of Rotterdam the half a dozen oil refineries light up like a forest full of Christmas lights. Not much opportunity to look at them as there so many high speeds turns that you need to keep up your concentration with one eye on the GPS and the other on the road signs. My final destination is the town of Brielle and the house of my friend Ab and his wife, Ineke.

Ab and I met in 1984 in North Qld when he was travelling himself, circumnavigation Australia on a 125 cc Suzuki.