The first night of our holiday in Europe was in Amsterdam where we had dinner with our niece who is now officially recognised as a Dutch speaker and has Dutch nationality. She showed us around the university where she works. What a fabulous place it is! The Dutch take education seriously – her 14 year old daughter is learning 6 languages -and they treat students extremely well. During the day we took a tram to Grand Central Station and I was amazed at the barrier reef of bikes! How can anyone find theirs?
I find walking in Amsterdam dangerous and scary. The trams, fabulous to use, are silent, potential assassins of unwary tourists and marauding bikes whiz from every direction! Amsterdam authorities are considering banning foreign cars as it is so dangerous. I was glad when we drove away.
The poem below came to me as I watched a sexy tram draw away from the station.
Amsterdam – Grand Central Station
The tram shakes her hips at me
as she snakes away
from Grand Central Station.
I decide to walk,
cross the small bridge,
past bicycles high tech,
bicycles simple, ancient,
chained to iron railings,
in democratic abandon.
Looking down I see
brightly painted boats
laden with tourists fleeing
the marauding cyclists who,
on their tactically silenced bikes,
attack from behind, the side –
all around.
Next day at the station,
I see bicycles locked
in steel mesh cages.
These are the most murderous
that need to be restrained,
until the tourists have gone.
© Anthony Fisher June 2001
Amsterdam is not all bikes and trams, the canals are lovely.
We started to walk back to the hotel as we had spotted an interesting group of bronze statues and wanted to have a closer look. We found them placed in front of a statue of Rembrandt . It proved to be a representation of Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch” ; what an inspired idea!
It is in the featured image above but here is again:
and some more shots:
We caught a tram back to the hotel and changed before walking across the park to meet our niece.
The Next night we stayed in Dinant, Southwest Belgium, the home of Aldolphe Sax inventor of the saxophone. The cathedral there is a magnificent brooding edifice.
The Belgium owner of the hotel we stayed in knew Enfield as he was a Tottenham Hotspur fan. He also published illustrated books on football which were displayed in the foyer. It was a lovely quiet hotel.
The next day we set off for Epron stopping the night in a delightful small hotel near Orleans on the way.
Sounds like you had a lovely time! Love the poem too x
Summer