Netherlands

A 17-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

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Trip start
September 24, 2018
Netherlands skip's retirement travel
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Day 3
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 1:07 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Netherlands Station Rotterdam Blaak 51.92044, 4.4877251°55’14” N 4°29’16” E
Rotterdam
September 26, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and largest outside China. This is the home of Erasmus (2nd pic) for all you theologians and philosophers.
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Day 3
Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 1:07 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Netherlands Station Rotterdam Blaak 51.92042, 4.4876651°55’14” N 4°29’16” E
Rotterdam markethall and cube houses
September 26, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Many cities have market halls, but this is the only one where apartments have bee included. They wrap around the structure.
Across the square are the cube houses. Interesting architecture, but not very practical, in my opinion.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 3:48 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Netherlands Burcht van Leiden 52.15811, 4.4922852°9’29” N 4°29’32” E
Leiden
September 27, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Leiden is a city on one of the branches of the Rhine. The first pic is over the city from the top of the man-made hill with a citadel on top that served as a refuge from floods and attack. There are canals like much of Holland. The garden pic is in an almshouse, social housing back in the day where the rich built houses for the poor. Then a statue of young Rembrandt in a park across from where his childhood home was located. Then a couple windmills: one old one still operating and a new grin milk build from original plans.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 3:48 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Netherlands Burcht van Leiden 52.15809, 4.4922252°9’29” N 4°29’32” E
Pilgrims!
September 27, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Before the Mayflower, many of my pilgrim ancestors fled Henry VIII for Holland. Most settled in Leiden. Here are a couple commemorative plaques, Pieterskerk (their church home while there), a museum of a house typical of where they would have lived and filled with memorabilia and information. Finally, the site where John Robinson's house was located across the street from Pieterskerk.Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 5:15 PM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Netherlands The Hague Central Railway Station 52.08052, 4.3250952°4’50” N 4°19’30” E
den Haag
September 29, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
The Hague is the capital of the Netherlands. A look at the Hague old and new with Parliament the on the right. It is said to be the oldest Parliament building still used for a sitting Parliament. Then the Royal palace, a wide boulevard build when Holland was part of Spain, then world smallest park (really), the original castle and the Peace Palace. The last is the building for the international court and some related agencies.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 2:53 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Netherlands De Pijp 52.36157, 4.8921352°21’42” N 4°53’32” E
Rijksmuseum
October 1, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
The major museum here. First is the building, then Rembrandt's Night Watch, probably the major work here. Then one of the tapestries, the top floor center room with stained glass, the fall of man and iconoclasts at work in the last painting. This sample doesn't do the museum justice, but there just isn't room to do so.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 2:54 PM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Netherlands Anne Frank House 52.37533, 4.8839652°22’31” N 4°53’2” E
Anne Frank house
October 1, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
They don't allow picture taking inside. So this is all I have. I can say that the tour was good. As we entered the "secret annexe," conversation stopped, and there was a hush. Deeply touching.
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Day 8
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 2:55 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Netherlands Westertoren 52.37392, 4.8821752°22’26” N 4°52’56” E
Amsterdam 1
October 1, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
This is called Amsterdam 1 because I expect I'll have more than one post about this amazing city. For this one, the first pic is a view over Amsterdam from the balcony of the Airbnb where I'm staying. Then the red light district in daytime. Then a Royal palace and an ancient tower. Some of the old houses with their tilting. And an example of the Dutch school of architecture at the harbor building.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 2:55 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Netherlands Bijbels Museum 52.3677, 4.8868652°22’4” N 4°53’13” E
Canals!
October 1, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Amsterdam is of course known as a city of canals. Here are several typical pictures taken from a canal boat.
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Day 9
Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 3:16 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Netherlands Rembrandt Huis 52.36972, 4.9009652°22’11” N 4°54’3” E
Rembrandt's house
October 2, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
The house where the artist lived and worked. First is the house, then his studio and his students' studio. It be okay for his portraits hanging by in the house. Then a couple etchings: Three Trees, probably his most famous, and several other examples. There was a demonstration of printing of etchings while I was there. The skyline print toward the bottom was done me as I watched, using a reproduction press made from a design of the period and a modern reproduction of an original Rembrandt copper plate etching.Read more
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Day 10
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 11:59 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Netherlands Maartensbrug 52.09068, 5.1217852°5’26” N 5°7’18” E
Utrecht
October 3, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
University town not too far from Amsterdam that goes back to the Romans. The first pic is Dom Tower, tallest of its kind in the Netherlands and a symbol of the city. The second is Roentgen who lived here for a while with photo of the X-ray of his wife's hand. (He discovered x-rays.) Then one of the canals, followed by the statue of Adrian, the only Dutch pope. Next is a corner bastion of the fortress built by the Spanish when they were in charge. Next is a corner bastion of the fortress built by the Spanish while they were in charge. The last is social housing of the time--homes for the poorRead more
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Day 12
Friday, October 5, 2018 at 5:14 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 53 m
Netherlands Maastricht 50.85099, 5.6908950°51’4” N 5°41’27” E
Maastricht
October 5, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
City where the treaty was signed creating the Euro. First is the tower of the church from the 10th century. Then is an old city gate and part of the original or first city wall. Next is also the first wall, but shows the stonework outlining the houses of the poor that were built against the wall. Then a street and the interior of an early 18th century church built in the round.Read more
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Day 13
Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 11:45 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Netherlands Zwethkanaal 52.01198, 4.3590552°0’43” N 4°21’33” E
Delft
October 6, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Best known for pottery. The first pic is in the only remaining traditional ceramic factory. Delft is also the home of the famous artist, Vermeer. This is also the city from where William of Orange led the rebellion against Spanish rule. The third pic is his statue in the Prinzenhof (his home in Delft) garden, followed by his tomb in the New Church in Delft. Dutch royals are still interred in the Royal crypt. And, of course, Delft has canals and towers.Read more
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Day 15
Monday, October 8, 2018 at 12:36 PM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Netherlands Bovenwijde 52.72574, 6.0903252°43’33” N 6°5’25” E
Giethoorn and enclosing dike
October 8, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Small Town with most of the village accessable by water. Called Venice of the north. The place is well cared for and known for the gardens.
The last pic is of the enclosing dike across the Zuidersee taken from the point where the two construction crews coming from opposite sides met.Read more
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Day 18
Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Netherlands De Hallen Haarlem 52.38146, 4.6352852°22’53” N 4°38’7” E
Haarlem
October 11, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Artsy community not too far from Amsterdam. The organ shown is old enough that Mozart played it when he was only 10. It is in the church in the first pic looking across the main square. There was also an exhibit of done of daVinci's drawings, but not photos. The last is one of my favorite psych signs.Read more
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Day 18
Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 2:24 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 1 m
Netherlands Station Zaandam 52.4387, 4.8172752°26’19” N 4°49’2” E
Zaandam
October 11, 2018 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Another small town near Amsterdam. Peter the great stayed here back in the day. Town is largely new construction, at least what I saw. The last pic is at Peter's house
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Day 62
Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 6:00 AM
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 2,598 m
Colombia Santa Ana 4.69411, -74.031444°41’39” N 74°1’53” W
Bogota
November 24, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Back on the road again. Starting almost 4 months touring South America here in Colombia. First is an overview of the city from Montesserate. Then Plaza Bolivar, the main square, followed by the oldest school in Bogota (1604), Independence Square where freedom from Spanish colonial rule was declared, journalists square (named for the journalists murdered after trying to tell the world about Pablo Escobar and company). Finally is an example of street art.Read more
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Day 64
Monday, November 26, 2018 at 10:43 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 3,037 m
Colombia Monserrate 4.6051, -74.055594°36’18” N 74°3’20” W
Monserrate
November 26, 2018 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Pilgrimage site in Bogota on a mountaintop. Rode up a funicular to a beautiful site, centered around a church. The walkways have 15 statues from the Stations of the Cross and many fanciful pieces of plant and animal art. Inside the church is a black Madonna that was the central icon until it was realized that they were venerating a black person while owning black slaves. It was moved to a side chapel, and the Fallen Jesus was placed above the altar.Read more
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Trip end
October 10, 2018