CHEAP TRIP

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 3

CHEAP TRIP

How to travel from London to Holland, spend two days there and return to London, with Is 6d change from £ll, was the subject of Mrs I. Raffel’s amusing address to the Canterbury branch of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Navy League yesterday afternoon.

Dressed in slacks, thick jerseys, and a man’s raincoat, she made the journey alone in mid-winter. Her £ll had to cover her travelling expenses and accommodation. Once on board an “unbe lievably small ship” she found herself in a cabin of six people, none of whom spoke English, but they were all rather intrigued when she began to shed her numerous garments one by one, said Mrs Raffell. Her first impression of the Netherlands was the trains which were grey, electric and very plushly upholstered. The railway stations were also luxurious, with restaurants and bars. In the heart of Rotterdam there was a huge statue by the sculptor, Henry Moore. From all sides of the towering structure a heart was visible —symbolising the heart of Rotterdam. TRAIN JOURNEY

Her train journey from Amsterdam was an amusing experience, said Mrs Raffell. When the guard asked her where she was going she had to admit she did not know. The whole carriage, including a handsome businessman and a woman with a huge basket, shared her consternation. As no-one else (not even the guard) spoke English, the rest of the carriage were unable to help her—until a schoolboy brought her a map and he traced the route of the train with his finger and she remembered when she saw the name, said Mrs Raffell. The whole carriage rejoiced and the guard was swiftly in formed that “the English lady had found out where she was going at last.” When the train stopped at Edam she was besieged with gifts, including a cigar, a box of chocolates (from the hand some businessman) and two sandwiches (from the woman with the large basket). Although she was very hungry after two days on short rations, Mrs Raffell did not eat the sandwiches (because she did not know where they had come from) or the chocolates (because she was sure they were drugged).