Time for a change

http://mansies.posterous.com/

OK, it's time for a move. Blogger is too cumbersome to cope with lots of photos so I've migrated over to Posterous. The old posts from here have been transferred over and some news ones already added. Happy reading :)

Weekend

I made vague plans to go to Fife on Saturday - but it didn't eventuate. Instead I went into town for a haircut, nothing drastic. I then had a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant David Bann, followed by a stroll through some art galleries. I popped into the Fruit Market gallery for a look at a Dali they have on display, The metamorphosis on Narcissus. Then over to the National Gallery to have another look at Van Gogh's Ochard in blossom and Seurat's La Luzerne, Saint-Denis. Beautiful works. Topped off with a spot of shopping.

Sunday was lazy day. Torrential rain was forecast so I hung about inside reading and playing computer games. All very relaxing :)

I won!

I won a royal wedding sick from an online store. What a winner :)

Saturday park and shade seeking

Wilhelminapark

I had planned to do some shopping on Saturday morning so I could fill up my pack before checking out of the hotel. However, virtually all the shops were closed and the few that opened didn't do so until after 12:00. Instead I went for a leisurely stroll to a park, buying some supplies for a picnic along the way. I had a nice few hours lying in the sun getting redder and redder until I eventually came home with a beetroot face. It's so easy to forget about the sun when you're not used to it. There were a few groups of people about, also opting for a gentler option.

After the park I wandered back into town to see what was happening. Everything it seemed. The stages were all busy again, there was a carnival with rides for children, the markets were still going strong, and the canals were hectic with party boats all trying to drown each other's music out. It was a great spectacle from shore, but I wouldn't have wanted to be kayaking amidst all that!

I had a great holiday in Utrecht and was sad to go. It was really relaxing, just what I needed. I'm dead keen to explore the Netherlands some more. I may go to Rotterdam later in the summer and then trip around from there and do some cycling.

Friday evening markets and music

From about 6pm on Friday several blocks of town were designated traffic free for a 24hr market. I understand it's the one day a year stall holders needn't pay tax, so everyone clears out their attic and sets up a stall. Some have trestle tables, while others just spread an old sheet on the ground. You can buy anything. Kids were selling old toys and books, there were old clothes and electronics, exercise machines, CDs. I only saw one copy of The Da Vinci code, but two copies of the same Bert and Ernie LP. People who had crafts or art to sell were at at, with preserves and painting etc. I saw people with five bags worth of goodies they'd bought themselves. There were only a few stalls that looked like they were off the back of a truck.

There didn't seem to be any licensing laws. People had bulk bought cans of Heineken and were then selling it on. And little kiddies sat around with buckets of ice and coke cans for 50 cents.

There were some inventive ideas too. One guy was standing behind a stand made of chicken wire selling people the chance to throw eggs at him. Icky. While another bunch had a ramp with toys cars going down. You won a prize if you could hit the car with a mallet. Of course there were buskers too. Not just professional sounding one, but any kid taking a few music lessons was out strumming two chords. Good on em!

There were also stages set up through out the city for bands and djs which went on 'til past my bedtime.

The whole place had a really nice community atmosphere. There were no intimidating rowdy drunks, just people of all ages having fun. Some had dragged couches onto the footpath and just sat drinking and eating as people walked by, watching the spectacle.

Friday afternoon - kayaking the canals

I hired a kayak to explore the canals. I was a bit nervous at first. A few big tourist boats passed by, so I pulled over completely to let them pass. I must have looked a bit silly allowing so much room to pass. Then I heard a really loud boat behind me and started to get worried, as I tried to pull over I crashed into the back of a barge, and as the loud boat passed it was only a peddle boat with two guys in it. I got a bit more assertive after that. And when I remembered how to stop and turn, well then I was virtually a pro.

I was a beautifully sunny and warm day - not the rain and thunder storms that had been forecast. It was really quite different seeing the city from the water. And Dutch people are so friendly, just smiling and waving hello as you go by. I spent and hour and half paddling about. I had been thinking of going again on the Saturday to explore a different route, but I found out later Saturday was not the day for kayaks on the canal ...

April 30, Saturday, is the Queen's birthday in the Netherlands - the largest national holiday of the year. But it really starts on Friday evening. Everyone wears orange - hats, wigs, bandannas, clothes, crowns. I got a free bandanna and shopping bag handed out so I looked the part in a conservative way.

Friday morning - Reitveld-Schroeder Huis

Reitveld-Schroeder Huis

Centraal Museum

Friday morning I borrowed a bike from the Centraal Musem and cycled to the Reitveld-Schroeder huis, about 15 minutes if you know where you are going and are a competent cyclist. I was pretty nervous about being knocked over or riding into a small child, but bikes generally get the right of way and people seem to be keenly aware of them, so no disasters at all.

The house is fascinating. I never thought when I was an undergrad that I would actually get to visit it! Unfortunately you can't take photos inside. It wasn't built for longevity and is pretty rickety and fragile. The downstairs is pretty standard in terms of layout, to keep the building inspectors happy. Upstairs was described as an attic on the plans, so free from any restrictions. It's an open plan living space with sliding walls to section off rooms as needed. So radical for 1924. There's such clever uses of space and light. It was so great to see it in person.

After cycling back to the museum and having an early lunch at the cafe, I had a look around the museum where they have some of his creations. I think the beach buggy is my favourite.

Thursday in Utrecht

Transporting kegs to pubs along the quayside

Museum Speelklok

House boats

Deer in public park

Der Ster windmill

Thursday was all about wandering around to see what I happened across. In the morning I explored the old town streets more thoroughly, walking along the various canals. I went to a recommended cafe for tea and cheesecake. In the afternoon I visited the Speelklok museum, a museum of mechanical instruments, eg. clocks and music boxes that play themselves, through to the massive fairground and dance hall contraptions. It was really interesting. I had tried to go to the sewage museum, but it closed at the beginning of the year.

After the museum I took a walk across the train tracks out of the old town. I came across this beautiful windmill. I think it's a cafe by day, but it was after 5pm when I came across it. Right next to it is a children's park with farm animals.

Further along, and a few canals over there's a larger public park. The animals here are a bit larger, with a collection of deer for people to look at.

For dinner I wanted to go to an Indonesian restaurant I'd read about, but when I found it, it looked a bit bar like so I pressed on. I ended up at a Thai place where I had a delicious meal, and it was quiet enough to read.

Utrecht

Utrecht city centre

Frites

I headed off to Utecht on Wednesday morning. I had a flight to Schipol (near Amsterdam), then a train ride to Utrecht itself 9about 30 mins), arriving at the hotel around 3pm. I roamed the streets a bit and bought some fries with mayonnaise for dinner.

Oudegracht

 Apparently Utrecht is the only city in the Netherlands that has quayside restaurants and bars. There's also homes at water level; you can see people sitting on chairs outside their front door right next to the water while the city throngs up above them.

Beach weather

A few Saturday's back I had a nice afternoon lazying on the beach. It was cool enough to wear jeans, but warm enough for jandals. During Scottish summers you can see people wearing jackets and jeans next to others in shorts and t-shirts, it's a funny juxtaposition. I did manage to get a little sun burnt on one side of my face, but I figure that's because I have such a Scottish tan!

Anyhow, I'm off on another holiday tomorrow - to Utrecht for a few days. I was hoping to get away from the Royal wedding hoopla, and we got a day off work for the occasion. The Dutch Queen's day is on Saturday with markets all night starting at 6pm on Friday. I think there's lots of street entertainment, etc. I'm looking particularly forward to seeing the Reitveld-Schroder House. I will endeavour to update promptly on my return!

Stirling Castle and Bridge of Allen

Bridge of Allen

Stirling

Stirling Castle

Jacobite wares

We've had a few weekends of sunny, even warm, weather lately. The other week I went up to Stirling and a small town a few minutes north called Bridge of Allen. At Bridge of Allen I had a wander along the main street and looked at the glass shop. I bought a picnic lunch from the deli, including a Bundaberg!

After eating lunch next to the river I headed back down the line to Stirling for a look around. The farmer's market was on with people bustling about. I then headed up the hill to the castle. I got a membership for Historic Scotland for xmas so have been enjoying free entry to castles about the place.

I really like Stirling Castle, in part because Stirling itself is such a nice town, but it seems more vibrant than Edinburgh with lots of events and restoration projects. There were some Jacobites showing off a collection of their wares; I'm sure I heard them speaking with American accents! There's also a project to replicate the series of tapestries that used to hang in the great hall in the 1600s. Four are finished and you can watch weavers working on the remaining ones.