So wake up 1am in the morning Friday, got ready, picked up my friend who was going with me and headed to Dover. We got there in plenty of time, well 5 minutes before last boarding. Lol. Ferry was dingy, nothing open, once we got to Calais, and started driving on the wrong side of the road, which was strange for about 20 minutes but then one gets use to it. Driver's attitudes were not bad; people kept to their lanes and pulled in quick after overtaking.
Wasn't long before we hit Belgium, the roads were better, smoother, longer, faster from what I could see. All drivers were going way faster than in France. Attitudes were very good while driving. Spent the morning in Bruges, breakfast and lunch. Bruges was a quiet little town, not much going on, lots of old people, lol. Still, was a pleasant walk sightseeing, nearly everything was close by. There was a stage in the town square as tourism season is starting.
Heading towards Holland, I could see the roads getting a lot busier, but most drivers were doing way above what the speed limit was, 130km on some parts, which is 81mph I believe. Got to Amsterdam in no time, or so it seemed.
Driving in Holland is such a pleasure, no one tailgating, no road rage anywhere to be seen and the outside lane pretty much clear all the way. Though about an hour outside Amsterdam it started raining. Pouring down, had to slow down to 20mph, at some points even less, it was torrential. As soon as we entered Amsterdam it stopped. Got there for 2pm. Found the hotel pretty quick, sat nav had it already in its database. Right next to the Dam Square. Sightseeing was a pleasure, especially near the red light district, lol. There was this one girl; everybody was keeping an eye on. A few guys from the UK sort of sat outside opposite timing people as they went in to see the lady of the night, during the day. Felt sorry for some, as they came out within a few minutes and these guys shouting at how long they took, or how quick they were, lol. Then some guy went in and didn't come out for over 40 minutes, that's when it got boring. Lots of lovely ladies, lots to see, lots to do, and blooming expensive, the petrol was, all over, Belgium was 1.64 Euros per liter, Holland was the same.
The next day, took some pics of the Dam square when it was quiet and headed off towards Wolfsburg, 5.5 hours sat nav said, stopped once for about an hour and then headed to Wolfsburg. Nice quiet place, lots and lots and lots of VW, especially golf's and passats. Didn't spend much time there, should of thought out where to go there before, couldn't find the VW plant, and with both me and my friend not knowing a word of German apart from Gutten Tag, it was impossible. Anyways, 2 hours later, headed towards Berlin, started raining and didn't die down all night, next morning it was still raining, rained for hours, it rained and rained till we left Berlin. Berlin was dark, I would have thought they have more lighting, but none, even the Autobahns don't have lights.
This is where the fun started, as soon as entering Germany, one can notice the attitude change of drivers, no more giving way or keeping it easy, people were behind you beeping and flashing as soon as you pull out to over take. The slip roads are so tiny as well, forcing you to brake to around 30mph ASAP. Drivers pull out without warning, one flash of the indicator and they are out, break hard, very hard, then keep tailing them till they move out the way. Even if they see you approaching very very fast, they pull out, but once they overtake what ever was going slow in front, they pull in and carry on. When they pull in, they pull in, literally inches away. That attitude in the UK would get people killed. The trip down south from Berlin was the most fun and also the most challenging as people were doing silly speeds, so many times I was flashed out of the way, a French driver in his M5 decided to make hand gestures, told him to bugger off.
Most of the cars that are speeding on the fast lanes turns out to be diesels, as anything else, you need deeeeeeep pockets for fuel. I cruised at 150 for good 20 minutes and realised I lost half a tank of petrol in that period, not a chance, not going to be doing that for long, specially since my only bank card I took with me was not accepted anywhere, had to use my cash reserve. Which was no good as then I had to limit myself at what speed I go, where I stop, what I eat etc. Blooming British bank, as soon as I got to the UK, loads of money left, barstewards.
Germany was fast, very fast, nearly 1200 miles in Germany alone and loved every bit of it, even little 1.0s were doing 110-120 on the slow lane. I found out today that the reason everyone pulls in as soon as they can is to avoid getting a ticket. If you stay on the outside lane and the inside or middle is clear, you are getting a ticket. Filled up with 100 octane V-Power and headed off. What a rush, I could feel the difference, but I could also see the difference in MPG as well, way too low as it was so easy to put your foot down.
Got to Luxembourg around dusk, the hotel was way up a winding road in the hills, was raining and very very wet. Not much going on, but when we hit the town square, the views were lovely, fantastic, especially with the lighting at night. So thought, this needs to be a day time thing, next morning, went back and it simply didn't seem as spectacular as it did the night before, though very picturesque. Again not much to do, since it's a small city/country.
The drive back to Calais was nice, took our time, through Belgium and then France. Roads in Luxembourg were soooo smooth. Makes you wonder how we manage over here, also the petrol, 98 octane vpower was 1 euro per liter, the cheapest I have ever seen in Europe.
Got home last night at midnight, took an earlier ferry back.
Pics on their way
Hafizur
]
