Our next houseguests after Philip and Phyllis, arrived four days later on April 4. Peggy Scott is our longtime neighbor and travel companion from Boston. Debbie Maniace is a stand-in stalker for her brother Dick who is not coming to Amsterdam. Debbie has homes in Concord and Osterville Massachusetts. This is Debbie’s first time visiting us and also her first time in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Peggy has visited us in Prague, Madrid, and New Orleans. We have also traveled with her to Scotland, Scilly Islands and Palm Springs. They flew overnight from Boston landing in Amsterdam at 8am. Neither one of them slept on the plane but we could not tell that by their looks or activity level for the day.
Arriving at our front door at 9:37am.Peggy’s request for this day was to go to Rotterdam. Jim paid extra for inter-city direct tickets but we ended up on a slower train to Rotterdam but the return trip was much faster..We arrived in Rotterdam about 1:15pm. Neither one of them nodded off on the train or even looked sleepy.First tour stop on Jim’s list was this sculpture titled “Moments Contained”? Note the photo bomber between the legs.Rotterdam is a very modern city compared to the others that we have been to. It was almost completely reconstructed following World War II and is now known for its bold modern architecture. The train station is designed to be pointing towards the city center. Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport.
We took a video of this building because when we looked up and the clouds were moving it appeared that the building was swaying. It was a dizzying effect for us but unfortunately the video did not capture it. You just had to be there.We loved all the modern architecture in Rotterdam, at least Jim did.This is the Nieuwe Delftse Port which looks like a three-dimensional graphic drawing. It is based on the Neo-classicist city gate from before the war. It is meant to symbolize a Rotterdam that is still a work in progress.Our first view of “the pencil building”. There is apparently nothing under the conical roof. It is only architectural decoration.Cube houses, one of the icons of Rotterdam. The city asked an architect to design something on the pedestrian viaduct over a busy roadway connecting the old harbor to the city center and this is what he came up with. Here is someInteresting info to read about the cube houses and the architect.People do actually live in these houses.Both the pencil and the cube houses were designed by the same architect.One of the owners of a cube house opens their home daily for tourists. For 3-5€ one can tour the whole house which consists of three floors. This is the view from the kitchen sink, looking down at the street below.Very compact kitchenThe bedroom is on the second level.This is the third level, quite hot in here with all the windows.Fairly steep stairs between levels.Markthal or Market hall consists of a multilevel food hall and artwork. We believe that the outer floors are mixed residential and business.This is the inside ceiling with windows looking into the interior space.Another view of the ceiling with windows and artwork.Numerous stalls selling all manner of food.Tada, still wide awake and going strong.This is a tribute to a comic book writer from Rotterdam.A bridge that Jim liked.Modern asymmetric architecture.A more traditional street. Must have escaped the bombing.This bridge is called the swan by the locals, it opened in 1996. Behind it is the SS Rotterdam which was a transatlantic steamship later converted to a cruise ship. It is now a tourist destination with hotel rooms, restaurants, escape rooms and tours.
Must see video of flags of the world whipping in the breeze.Monument to persons involved in World War II. The ones are very hard to see but it is 1940-1945.This is the last asymmetric building.This is the Witte de Withstraat which is the hippest and most lively cultural entertainment street in Rotterdam. Being hipsters ourselves we always end up at the hippest locations.Peggy and Debbie are still going strong after walking six miles. We stopped for a meal at this “best hamburgers in Holland” restaurant. Nah, we won’t recommend it or even give you its name.Walking back to Rotterdam Centruum. We assumed this to be outdoor art.Santa Claus with a bell and Christmas tree.One last picture of Centraal Station.They are still awake with not one yawn and they still look fresh. Two amazing troopers.
After we got home Debbie and Peggy both stayed up until 9:30pm and then slept through the night. What a way to beat jet lag.
What a spectacular visual Rotterdan is. Energizer bunnies-would love to know Peggy and friends secret for time travel. I agree with Jim-the architecture grbs my eye. This is my 2nd reply…donxt know if I am in the right place
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