Today was our final day of our road trip around Western Europe. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the hotel (including Dutch chocolate hail on biscotti's - yum!) and set off for Utrecht which was the closest town to where we were staying. We had a bit of a look around the town, wandering around the streets and paths following the canals. Unfortunately all the shops were shut as it was a Sunday. Coming from NZ where everything is always open it was quite strange and eerily quiet.

We hit the road again, this time aiming for Zwolle in search of a real Dutch croquette for lunch. After much searching (first to find restaurants and then to find open ones) and scanning menu's we had success at a pub. It was a delicious lunch and it was good to find out that they didn't taste too different to my ones :) My Netherlands goal complete, we made our way back to Schoonebeek.

We had a great catch up with Aunty Margareth and Uncle Albert and enjoyed a delicious multi pot dinner! (a novelty after camping) ;)

Over that afternoon and the next day we unpacked the car and bags, did washing, cleaning and other extremely exciting domesticated duties :)

With some nervousness, we returned the rental car on the 12th. At first the guy just said it was all fine, then we asked him "what about the damage excess" and he just wrote on our receipt "No damage". Being the honest people we are, we suggested he have another look at the car and pointed out the crack in the plastic below the passenger door - it appeared he didn't check too closely! Thankfully the excess wasn't nearly as bad as we were expecting so I'm sure our insurance company will be pleased.

While enjoying our second stay in Schoonebeek we also got to meet up with my cousins Martin & Jan-Willem and their families. I last saw Jan-Willem when I was 9 so his almost 2m height didn't seem quite so tall this time around ;) It was good to see them again and meet their partners and children.

Other than a small amount of shopping in Schoonebeek and Emmen there isn't too much to report on. Only three cities left to go now!

- Rebecca