You doing anything out there?

A few minutes ago I was chatting with my brother on msn. His first message was: “You doing anything out there?…no pics…no blog…”
Very true. I am not going to apologies like I did last week, because after all I don’t want to be enslaved to the blog. I am not posting because I don’t have anything to post about. Au contraire! Last week I was working on a post about an interesting lecture I had, but didn’t get that finished yet. So, instead this one will be first – because it is easier to do

So, what is new over here in the country of wooden shoes, windmills and Frikandel Speciaal? Well, first of all I have less then three weeks time left in Holland. That means I there are many things which I hope to be able to do yet in these 19 days (425 hours).  However, if all goes well, I may post more about these things at a later date.

Last weekend I visited friends in Rotterdam. On Saturday I toured the oldest city of Holland, Dordrecht. Although the weather was a bit cool and rainy outside it was a very rewarding day. I walked through the commercial district, browsed the markets and explored the old city. Het Groothoofdspoort (built 1618/1619) was neat to see. The city’s shield is mounted on the inside of the gate, and on the outside is the stedenmaagd. (The stedenmaagd is a methodological figurine). It is interesting that when this gate was built (or rather fortified, as the original gate was built circa 1450), the city also witnessed the only National Reformed Synod. So, I also visited the church where this monumental synod was held: het Grote Kerk (translation: the Great Church).

The late-Gothic style church was rebuilt after a city-wide fire destroyed it in 1457. Although normally the church is supposed to be open Saturday afternoons, this Saturday, being a rainy, cold November Saturday, the custodian decided not to open the church but rather took the day off. However, I was able to climb the church tower. After climbing 275 narrow treads, I could look at the workings of the clock, hear the bell chime real close by, and had panoramic views of the city and the three rivers which join within her. Here are a few pictures:

Looking down the stairwell:

At the clockwork:

and of the view:

In the evening, my friends and I went to the Euromast and had a very nice view of Rotterdam at night:

The Euromast at 185 meters tall:

And lastly of the Eurasmus Bridge:

Well, that is enough for tonight. Hope you all are doing well.

Bye for now.

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