Notions Of Change

Amsterdam, Part Two

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My cousin invited me to go try a fun dance class with him in Rotterdam, which is about an hour-long car ride to the south of Amsterdam. We passed through an area known as the Green Heart of Holland, but that day it wasn’t green at all. Look at the glorious sunset!

Green Heart of Holland
Green Heart of Holland


One of my sisters lives in Delft, so later that week I hopped on the train to go visit. The town itself is really small, much smaller than the stories from my childhood had painted in my mind. We decided to bike around the seven or so blocks that comprise the center of town. It was fun! Definitely rent a bicycle to ride around the places you visit in the Netherlands. Jostling along as your tires meet the uneven cobblestones, with the sun shining on your face, as you pass colorful markets…it was a nice way to experience life. Continue Reading

Groet

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The next day, Uncle Jean took me to Groet, where another of my sisters lives with her family. This part of the Netherlands has a very rural feel and its charm is in the small communities that dot the landscape and wide open spaces. When blooming, the fields around Groet apparently rival Keukenhof’s tulip display. I’m sad because the timing for this trip doesn’t coincide with the tulip season. But there are crocuses and daffodils already, so there’s some comfort!

Two things were most striking about the area (didn’t take many pics here because I focused on enjoying them with my family). The Dutch have always been extraordinary engineers, especially when it comes to reclaiming land from the sea. If I understand correctly, a year ago, around a seven mile long stretch of beach and dunes was created near Camperduin using a new sand transfer technique. Very impressive!

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Haarlem

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My uncle came once again to pick me up, but this time we traveled together to the city of Haarlem. There was a fine mist or haze permeating the Dutch landscape, which gave the distant windmills an almost mystical appearance.

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Uncle Jean wanted to show me the heart of old Haarlem, which is apparently considered a miniature version of Amsterdam. We made our way on foot from his apartment to the historic areas. I really feel the best way to get to know a city is by walking around as much as possible, and Haarlem confirmed that yet again. Continue Reading

Leiden

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My uncle and one of my sisters welcomed me to the Netherlands when I flew in from Iceland. It was great to see familiar, friendly faces! Together we went to a beachside café and had an excellent meal while gazing at the North Sea. Just the sight of waves (these ones not as icy) was calming and refreshing after a relatively short flight.

Afterwards my uncle dropped me off at my cousin’s place in Oegstgeest, a residential area filled with charming homes, some of which used to be farmhouses. Apparently, the builders of this area modeled the layout after a tree trunk and branches, and you certainly notice this when traveling along the meandering streets that seem to flow into each other and away without a clear pattern.

I started working remotely again the day after I arrived and spent a good number of hours just catching up. Afterwards, with excellent instructions from my lovely cousin’s husband, I took the bus to nearby Leiden to visit the old section of the city. (Dutch transportation is great, but you pay for distance rather than for a ride, so you use a transit card to “check in” and “check out.” And you don’t want to forget to scan your card when you get off!)

Leiden
Leiden

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