Trip to Europe part 4: Amsterdam

Posted on September 28, 2024 by myeye1

On our last full day of our Europe trip we decided to visit Amsterdam. It’s about 2 and a half hours from Brussels, so again not too far to drive which was great.

We first went to the area where the museums were, we sadly missed out on getting tickets to the Van Gogh museum, so we went in to the Stedelijk museum instead, which turned out to be a poor substitute. We then went to get some lunch and after turned towards the famous canals.

We visited Anne Frank’s house which is now a museum, We didn’t go inside but just paused to reflect. We then walked around the main streets, passing shops and restaurants. After stopping for ice cream we decided the best way to see the canals was via a boat ride. Out guide pointed out one resident and his pet egret on a canal boat who never flew away.

We passed the well known Seven Bridges canal passing under all of them.

We then headed out towards the IJ waterway, known for being Amsterdam’s waterfront, where the Nemo Science and the National Maritime museums were located. I thought the Replica of the Dutch East Indiaman ship Amsterdam docked nearby was pretty cool. The guide said it had been used in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. There were also swimming areas here which was very busy on what was a very hot day.

Replica of the Dutch East Indiaman ship Amsterdam is docked right beside The National Maritime Museum

After our canal ride we visited some shops to get some souvenirs and then headed home. On the way back we spotted a few windmills which I loved seeing. I managed to get a slightly closer look at this one. A nice way to end our trip, I thought.

Trip to Europe part 3: Bruges

Posted on September 26, 2024 by myeye1

On our third day we wanted to explore more of Belgium so we decided to spend the day in Bruges. It’s only an hour and half from Brussels so we got there in good time.

We went to Markt square where there are museums and a cathedral. You can also get rides on horse drawn carriages. The buildings were gothic looking and dramatic but quite beautiful I thought.

We decided to go on a canal boat ride after looking around. It was nice to hear some history of the town and feel the breeze and relax. I heard about Bruges from the film In Bruges that came out a few years ago. The brown wooden front building is featured in the film, which was cool to see. The Belfry of Bruges with it’s tall viewing tower is not too far either.

After our boat ride we looked around some shops on the main street before heading home. I really enjoyed our day trip, there were lots of shops, beautiful buildings and it looked well kept. Would certainly recommend a visit.

York

Posted on September 27, 2023 by myeye1

I visited the city of York for the day. York is one of the oldest cities in the country and is known for it’s cathedral.

We looked around the shops and the markets in an area called The Shambles – one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. It has cobbled streets and was very busy. I came across the York Chocolate shop where a well known brand started up. And yes I did buy some.

We then visited the Cathedral. We didn’t go inside but the exterior was quite beautiful.

Next we decided to take a boat ride down the River Ouse. The weather was lovely and we took in the nature and the sights. The emblems on this bridge caught my notice.

After stopping for a quick lunch we finished the day with what I thought was my favourite part of York – the city wall walk. Walls were erected around a city to protect it and the ones that remain intact around York are longer than any other city in England. We found a set of steps and made our way along the wall.

Some wall sections ended quickly, others went on for much longer. It was quite interesting to see the old stone walls were right above modern day houses and gardens with some residents waving hello as we walked by.

We spent an hour or so walking and then made our way back to the car and home. The whole walk takes about 2 hours and I’d like to do it again in full one day
I enjoyed my visit to York but there’s lots more to do and explore and I hope I can come back one day to do just that.

Scotland Trip – part 3

Posted on November 25, 2020 by myeye1

After having spent the morning at a market and a museum we decided to spend the rest of the day at Loch Lomond, which is a well known beauty spot in Scotland. One little village which sits on the loch is Luss so we started there.

It was a grey, overcast day but we decided to make the most of it. Due to the mishaps of the morning we arrived a at Luss in the late afternoon so we decided to go into the shops first as they would close soon. They had a strange but interesting fairy house and a giant toadstool nearby.

As we arrived so late we missed the chance to take a ride on a speed boat.

We instead decided to take out a pedal boat which were still available to hire. It was harder than it looked but the slower pace allowed us to take in the scenery around us. The lake was huge and the distant hills seemed to go on for miles.

After the boat trip we decided to go to some other notable points around the lake. One tucked away spot was where there was a waterfall. We took a beaten down path through the woodland and followed the sound of roaring water.

The waterfall looked amazing, but I didn’t get a chance to try any fancy photography tricks as the air was filled with tiny little midges which were flying into our faces! There was also an iron tunnel nearby which led to a closer view of the waterfall.

Having spent a while exploring the area and getting tired of waving our hands around our faces we moved onto the next, hopefully midge free spot. Driving further around the loch we found a walkway that stretched out over the water which was very peaceful.

This last stop we made was to a viewing tower over looking the loch. There were also benches to sit on and lots of wildflowers around to admire.

Climbing to the top it was now dusk. If the weather had been clear we would have a seen a beautiful sunset over the lake. I was a bit disappointed but not too much as the view was still pretty amazing.

After spending some time at the top and taking in the view and the quiet we decided to start the long journey back to the hotel, along dark, winding, narrow roads to get some rest and some food. Although the day didn’t quite go as planned we still enjoyed it and managed to explore some of what Scotland has to offer.

Boats and ropes

Posted on January 13, 2015 by myeye1

In my travels around London recently I happened across St Katharine Docks. It seemed hidden away in the centre of London near Tower Bridge and the River Thames. This is one of the things I love about London, there’s so much history and interesting things to discover when you least expect it.
St Katherine Docks was built around the 18th century and although it has been around for almost 200 years it has been well kept with some modern embellishments

The colourful tiles just outside the entrance to the docks display facts of London and of the kings and queens of old. The inside of the entrance has larges panels of colourful tiles depicting different prints and scenes.

The boats that were tied to the docks were quite beautiful; with painted names and adornments added to the exterior, adding colour and personality.

I think what I liked the most though, were the details of the old, used ropes and chains, with lots of textures and colours, and with each one having their own story to tell