For a number of reasons that do not need to be discussed (mainly because blogger isn't very user friendly, in my opinion!), I am switching my blog to wordpress. My subsequent adventures in Europe posts and other thrilling thoughts and photos can be followed at:http://corylanephotography.wordpress.com/
Thanks friends!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Holland, The Final Installment: Den Haag and adventures with Ward
One of our most adventurous days was making our way on bike through Den Haag (The Hague). Laura and I had mapped out a grand plan of how to get to Scheveningen, the port of Den Haag (note: this word is nearly impossible to say correctly for anyone not a native Dutch speaker -- apparently it was used as a pass word of sorts during the World Wars to uncover German spies!). However, as we quickly found upon arriving in Europe, we were not so skilled at reading maps, and all the dutch street names began to run together in our minds. After circling the train station on our rented bikes a number of times, we decided to ditch the map and go with our gut sense of direction. Astonishingly, that worked quite well and we ended on on the wharf, which I had been to before when I visited Holland with the Gray family in 2002. It all looked quite familiar with the grand hotel, many open air bars, shopping, and of course ice cream and herring stands.
We also ventured onto the beach at the end of the wharf and admired the Netherlands' remarkable dike system.
We also ventured onto the beach at the end of the wharf and admired the Netherlands' remarkable dike system.
I must say, I was quite happy that "via" is a somewhat universal term. :) It helped us with sight seeing efficiency!
Doing what we do best (except at the end of the trip!) : waiting for trains.
Grand hotel right on the wharf
Sea gull christening a sand sculpture
Sea gull wanted lunch too
These funny little statues, as well as giant ice cream cones, are everywhere!
Fish and chips, a healthy choice.
Open air bar...
The other side of the Atlantic
It's fun to see sea shells that wash up on different shores...
so beautiful along the water....
Den Haag from afar
The dikes doing their job of holding back the sea
More photos in the city of Den Haag
Love these huge houses!
Dutch Parliament...we saw some cars with tinted windows and fancy license plates coming in and out of the gates..
And now onto adventures with Ward...
on our last evening in Holland we took a little excursion with Ward, who is the beloved brother, uncle and brother in law of my good friends the Grays!
Little village near Amersfoort (I didn't write down the name!) that used to be a thriving inland fishing village.
Caught a woman walking through the streets wearing traditional clothing that the town is known for... a true "fish wife" :)
He then took us to a lovely palace nearby!
This charming photo is courtesy of Ward! One thing that was so refreshing about Europe is that you didn't see any obese people. Everyone leads pretty active lifestyles, and despite the abundance of rich food, they know how to consume in moderation. They say french women don't get fat and apparently the same can be said of the dutch!
Near the palace
Probably my favorite photo of the trip! :)
Yet another sand deposit left over from glacial movement during the ice age. Ward called it an "oasis". Perhaps in Holland's lush landscape a deposit of sand would be considered such.
Ward explaining glacial movement, no doubt!
Just a few more of my favorite images from Holland....
(for more on this photo, see earlier posts!)
Gorgeous poppies that were in bloom everywhere!
Best play structure ever!
The dutch seem to like their nubby trees
And for a multi sensory experience, here's a video of me almost crashing my bike while trying to videotape. Brilliant footage! ;)
Doing what we do best (except at the end of the trip!) : waiting for trains.
Grand hotel right on the wharf
Sea gull christening a sand sculpture
Sea gull wanted lunch too
These funny little statues, as well as giant ice cream cones, are everywhere!
Fish and chips, a healthy choice.
Open air bar...
The other side of the Atlantic
It's fun to see sea shells that wash up on different shores...
so beautiful along the water....
Den Haag from afar
The dikes doing their job of holding back the sea
More photos in the city of Den Haag
Love these huge houses!
Dutch Parliament...we saw some cars with tinted windows and fancy license plates coming in and out of the gates..
And now onto adventures with Ward...
on our last evening in Holland we took a little excursion with Ward, who is the beloved brother, uncle and brother in law of my good friends the Grays!
Little village near Amersfoort (I didn't write down the name!) that used to be a thriving inland fishing village.
Caught a woman walking through the streets wearing traditional clothing that the town is known for... a true "fish wife" :)
He then took us to a lovely palace nearby!
This charming photo is courtesy of Ward! One thing that was so refreshing about Europe is that you didn't see any obese people. Everyone leads pretty active lifestyles, and despite the abundance of rich food, they know how to consume in moderation. They say french women don't get fat and apparently the same can be said of the dutch!
Near the palace
Probably my favorite photo of the trip! :)
Yet another sand deposit left over from glacial movement during the ice age. Ward called it an "oasis". Perhaps in Holland's lush landscape a deposit of sand would be considered such.
Ward explaining glacial movement, no doubt!
Just a few more of my favorite images from Holland....
(for more on this photo, see earlier posts!)
Gorgeous poppies that were in bloom everywhere!
Best play structure ever!
The dutch seem to like their nubby trees
And for a multi sensory experience, here's a video of me almost crashing my bike while trying to videotape. Brilliant footage! ;)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Holland Part 2....so many months later
No excuses......
Just simply going to keep posting about Europe and pretend the four months since the last post didn't happen! :)
One of my favorite things about Holland was the beautiful homes....everyone takes particular care of their property. I'm convinced the entire Dutch population has a green thumb. There isn't much space for everyone in such a small country, but the space they have - whether it be a small deck, patio, front stoop, or yard- is usually immaculately cared for. Here is selection of some of my favorite homes around Amersfoort and Gouda.
Cool little drive way! I would love to drive my car over a little bridge every night! :) This was one of the most charming neighborhoods we saw!
More of Gouda.....As a cheese fanatic it was fun to be in a town which a famous cheese is named after. We spent the early evening sitting in the town square devouring Gouda cheese and bread....basically the staples we survived on during our whole trip! :)
BIKES EVERYWHERE! If only for this reason alone, I could be convinced to live in Holland. Bicycle infrastructure is amazing!
Yes, those are wheel of cheese decorations (or perhaps lights!) suspended in the air!
World cup fever
Gouda town square
More Photos in and around Amersfoort....
Taken our first afternoon there, right off the plane! Jet lag, what jet lag? :)
In love with thatch roofs...not an exaggeration :)
Sheep or cows are never far off...
Dutch Montessori school!
Sign on the bike path
Groovy apartment building
Contrast the above picture to this....all within a mile of each other..
And onto Amsterdam....
Honestly not one of my favorite places in Holland. I much preferred the countryside. Laura and I out of curiosity took a very quick walk through the redlight district, which was deeply saddening and disturbing. That probably clouded my view of the city the rest of the day......
Here are photos of the more savory parts! :)
What did i tell you about the green thumb? ;)
More world cup fever!
To me, this photo is quintessential Dutch. :)
Floating flower market taken with my crappy camera
Our first time trying Indonesian food. The guide book said that outside of Indonesia, Holland is the best place to get it! It was quite delectable...somewhat similar to Thai food, but with it's own distinct charms!
My favorite building in the city, right outside the train station. A beacon of light near the redlight district.
Next post coming up soon... Den Hague and adventures with Ward!
Tomorrow is my last day of work before Christmas break, which means that more time (hopefully) awaits me next week!
Just simply going to keep posting about Europe and pretend the four months since the last post didn't happen! :)
One of my favorite things about Holland was the beautiful homes....everyone takes particular care of their property. I'm convinced the entire Dutch population has a green thumb. There isn't much space for everyone in such a small country, but the space they have - whether it be a small deck, patio, front stoop, or yard- is usually immaculately cared for. Here is selection of some of my favorite homes around Amersfoort and Gouda.
Cool little drive way! I would love to drive my car over a little bridge every night! :) This was one of the most charming neighborhoods we saw!
More of Gouda.....As a cheese fanatic it was fun to be in a town which a famous cheese is named after. We spent the early evening sitting in the town square devouring Gouda cheese and bread....basically the staples we survived on during our whole trip! :)
BIKES EVERYWHERE! If only for this reason alone, I could be convinced to live in Holland. Bicycle infrastructure is amazing!
Yes, those are wheel of cheese decorations (or perhaps lights!) suspended in the air!
World cup fever
Gouda town square
More Photos in and around Amersfoort....
Taken our first afternoon there, right off the plane! Jet lag, what jet lag? :)
In love with thatch roofs...not an exaggeration :)
Sheep or cows are never far off...
Dutch Montessori school!
Sign on the bike path
Groovy apartment building
Contrast the above picture to this....all within a mile of each other..
And onto Amsterdam....
Honestly not one of my favorite places in Holland. I much preferred the countryside. Laura and I out of curiosity took a very quick walk through the redlight district, which was deeply saddening and disturbing. That probably clouded my view of the city the rest of the day......
Here are photos of the more savory parts! :)
What did i tell you about the green thumb? ;)
More world cup fever!
To me, this photo is quintessential Dutch. :)
Floating flower market taken with my crappy camera
Our first time trying Indonesian food. The guide book said that outside of Indonesia, Holland is the best place to get it! It was quite delectable...somewhat similar to Thai food, but with it's own distinct charms!
My favorite building in the city, right outside the train station. A beacon of light near the redlight district.
Next post coming up soon... Den Hague and adventures with Ward!
Tomorrow is my last day of work before Christmas break, which means that more time (hopefully) awaits me next week!
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