Onwards

I was bemused at Hoorn station to find no general information boards and no-one to ask which platform I needed. But of course - it was all in the app in which I'd bought my ticket. 

Working out different transport systems in different countries uses a lot of my brain RAM, and of course I don't know whether systems will have changed by the next time I visit but, for future reference: a ticket bought for a specific time is transferable to another train in the same time bracket (I think it needs to be the same day). Buying a ticket in advance is cheaper so it's worth doing even if I don't know exactly which train I'll catch. And, though it doesn't get the cheapest fares, you can tap in and out with a card on any public transport system. I learnt that from my amazing 'hitch-hike' driver whose late wife was the project manager for introducing the integrated Netherlands ticketing system. 

I waited at Leiden station for the rest of my choir arriving from Oxford and for our hosts, then was taken to stay with a lovely, welcoming family in Leiderdorp, all of whom speak excellent English. The 15-year-old, who plays violin in the youth orchestra we'll be singing with on Sunday, has many of her lessons taught in English, but even the 13-year-old, who doesn't, speaks impressively well.

An evening walk round Leiderdorp took us through trees, along the Rhine, and past a large church (so many bricks!) where we were invited in to hear a bit of its history.

Once again, I have landed on my feet.