Netherlands 2004 - Day 5
Scott Andrew Bird
July 3, 2004
Leiden
strong>Last night's luxurious spa bath helped convince me that Leiden was the perfect place to spend the rest of the week; with the attactions of both Leiden and Den Haag easily accessible.
A thunderstorm hit late last night, and the weather was still pretty damp as I worked my way through one of the best hotel breakfasts I've ever had. Somewhat healthier than yesterday, consisting of juice, cold meat and cheese, and a banana roll. Suitably filled, I headed for town.
On the way I paused to watch a few ducks enjoy a swim in a roadside canal, and noticed a sign behind them, written in five languages; the English version of which was 'Dutch Space'. My first thought was that it was the headquarters of a large furniture company, until I spied part of an Ariane 5 rocket that I had initially dismissed as a sculpture. The environmentally balancing nature of the canal proved as effective here as a few hundred metres later when it partially occluded a cemetery.
By the time I arrived at the town centre the rain had all but disappeared, and I spent several hours exploring the markets lining several streets either side of one of the town's major canals.
The afternoon consisted of architectiral explorations including De Burcht (the citadel), 14th century stone churches (including the impressively large Hooglandskerk, where the organist was helping to set the mood) and a random assortment of breweries, private residences and bridges. An exhibition of architecture in Leiden and nearby towns (from Amsterdam to Den Haag) at RAP Archituurcentrum topped it off nicely.
After squeezing in a visit to a local photo exhibition and a bit of spectating as two girls' rowing teams battled it out in the Galgewater, it was time to head back to the hotel through the slightly odd mix of expensive car dealerships and university housing. Not even in this part of the world are students often seen driving S Class Mercs.
Back at the hotel it was time for another luxurious spa bath (definitely going to miss those), ham cheese and Grolsch.
«« Day 6 »»
The Entire Trip :
- Day 1 - Edinburgh -> Amsterdam -> Edam
- Day 2 - Edam -> Hoorn -> Zaandam -> Amsterdam
- Day 3 - Amsterdam
- Day 4 - Amsterdam -> Leiden
- Day 5 - Leiden
- Day 6 - Leiden -> Den Haag -> Leiden
- Day 7 - Leiden
- Day 8 - Leiden -> Amsterdam -> Edinburgh
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