Blogs from Netherlands, Europe - page 10

I wanted to have an easy day to start off our Amsterdam trip, especially since we had a concert at night. Of, course working out a schedule with days closed for one thing and not for the other, I had to work around all of that. So, for our 1st day of sightseeing, we went to the Oude Kerk (Old Church), from 1306. This is a church but also used for various exhibits. Today there was an exhibit on change using fabrics and other mediums. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oude_Kerk_(Amsterdam) The church itself is very plain as much was destroyed by the Calvinists when they got some power, isn’t that the way it is with religions? One gets in power, doesn’t matter which one and there you go. Anyway, much was destroyed but the ceiling was spared as it was ... read more

We needed a really long sleep, as we were jet lagged, and completely in a different time zone, +9 hours to be exact. When we finally woke up, we needed to get down to breakfast at our scheduled time. Here, they take Covid seriously. In the breakfast room tables are separated so that guests need to schedule breakfast in order to accommodate everyone. We appreciate that they take Covid seriously. We’d thought we would do the City Walk from Rick Steves but also thought that we could change plans if need be. With that in mind, we picked ourselves up and started to walk. We walked first to the train station, where the walk started and immediately found a concert we wanted to attend, but alas, we didn’t make it this evening. From the train station ... read more

Gouda http://www.heygo.com Located between the Gouwe and Hollandse Ijssel rivers, Gouda can trace its roots back to the 12th century when peat-harvesting was the main economic activity. A canal was built in the 13th century linking the Gouwe with the Rhine river in the north. In addition, a harbour was constructed at the confluence of the Gouwe and Hollandse Ijssel rivers south of the settlement. This created an era of prosperity for the city as it became an important shipping route between Flanders and France, and the rest ofHolland. Today Gouda is best known for its cheese, stroopwafels (syrup waffles), its gorgeous 15th century Stadhuis (Old City Hall) and stunning Sint Jan (St. John) Church. Dedicated to John the Baptist, this impressive church stands in the centre of Gouda, constructed in the 15th century, the church ... read more

As I write this particular blog, we are on an airplane flight to Amsterdam. So, it won’t be posted until after we are settled into our motel room, sometime tonight, whenever tonight is. This trip came about when we were in Portland, so long ago. When? I have no idea but would need to look at my photos. It is a fact of life that, if it were not for photos, I’d have no idea where we were whenever. But it is a fact that we’d planned a trip to Oregon and then our truck was stolen, so we flew to Portland. We salvaged our trip to see our grandkids, and kids. While we were in Portland, actually sitting on our son and daughter-in-law’s couch, I got an email from United. It was United’s 40’th birthday ... read more

Good morning Amsterdam Mark started the tour this morning overlooking the National Maritime Museum and the Nemo Science Museum before hopping onto his little electric bike and making his way to the centre, as he cycled we passed houseboats and a beautiful building The Shipping House, richly decorated with sculptures and wrought iron, which refer to the history of shipping in Holland. Symbols include seahorses, dolphins, waves and anchors. The entrance sculptures depicted the four oceans (the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean). As Mark quietly glided alongside the canals there were plenty of opportunities for capturing the reflections in the water. Arriving in the Red Light District it was the 3D Print steel Bridge that was so unusual to see in such a setting against the ancient backdrop of houses and ... read more