Destination Gouda

Wednesday's are my day off and now that the weather has been nice I've been going on little bike adventures. Anyone that is actually reading this probably knows that I live in a big (well, big as in just about 600,000 people) modern city, which I love! But by the time Wednesday rolls around I've usually had enough of the city and really feel like seeing some country and all those stereotypical Dutch things one hears about. So, with this feeling I planned a trip to Gouda (yes, like the cheese). Google maps told me that it would be about 25 kilometers (16 miles or so) but it felt like waaaay more. Maybe because I took this really roundabout way and there was lots of wind. But I did finally make it, after stopping to take lots of pictures, read my book (White Oleander), and talk to my new friend, Bart! I finally got there around 4, looked around the center, got a tiny scoop of ice cream, shopped around De NatuurWinkel where I got a sample of cheese (good thing seeing that I was in Gouda!) and then made my way to the train station. I was way to tired and lazy to ride home. Here are some pictures to show off my adventure... 

I tried to explain these little garden houses to my mom. I think a picture might help.

More on the way pictures...


No need to stop to throw your trash away, just toss it in. Why don't we have these in the states?

Famous for it's cheese, Gouda!



So this should have been up with the "on the way" pictures but this one has a story so it gets a special spot down here...So while I was still in Rotterdam, winding along a big lake I passed by this boat that looked like a great (and cute!) photo opportunity. I stopped and asked "Do you mind if I take a picture" I got to talking with the dog's owner, Bart. Bart owns a restaurant in the center, Branco, and thinks I should work there! Apparently it has a FABULOUS terrace that is PERFECT in the summer. He offered me a job within about 2 minutes of meeting me and reminded me a few times to "just come on down whenever you like, you got a job"...

Pasen

School holidays mean LOTS of eating! hahaha. :) :)

EGGS!
PANCAKES!
BISCUIT BUNNIES!

Caroline setting up our supplies-

Painting-

I really love Albert Heijn's baking kits. Just add water! It came with everything, even the cookie cutter!


I haven't really mastered the whole pannekoeken thing yet. Timo politely told me that they were to thick (yes, I am American)-


The Dutch word for Easter is Pasen. Every time I think or say it I just automatically think of Passover but I really don't know (because I don't know enough about christianity or Juidaism...I'm sure my dad will have something to say about this!) if the word "Pasen" has anything to do with Passover what so ever. But anyway, from what I saw, Easter here isn't all that different from in the states. They do have this yummy bread here called Paasbrood. It's hard to explain but it's sweet with raisins and this really good sugary almond paste stuff in the middle. Just really good stuff! I'm adding this to the growing list (hagelslag, speculoos, stroopwafles) of foods I'll be bringing back with me.

Friday night I took the train to Utrecht (about 40 minutes by train) to see friends from San Francisco, Drowning With Our Anchors. So nice to see familiar faces. Plus, Utrecht is nice! Gotta go back there soon.

Dutch News in English :)

My favorite headlines from the past few weeks-

Scared prisoner sent home...
A 20-year-old man who was remanded in custody on suspicion of manslaughter has been sent home from jail because he is 'shaking with stress', the Telegraaf reports on Wednesday....more

So, next time you find yourself in jail for murder, just tell them you're scared and you want to go home. hahaha.

Midwives should report circumcision...
Initial research indicates three in 1,000 women giving birth in the Netherlands have had their genitals mutilated...more

This figure seems high...does anyone know how this compares to the US? Apparently (I talked to Ineke about it a while back), male circumcision is very uncommon here. I'm waiting for the US to follow Europe's lead here.

Terrorist attack threat remains 'real'...
The Netherlands' presence in Afghanistan and the perceived attacks on Islam in Holland mean that the country is considered a legitimate target by radical Muslim groups, the ministers said in their assessment of the current terror threat...more

Scary!

Five in one

Museum Park...

Yes, that is a statue of legs(no torso) in the middle of the park...

Five museums in one day...all free! Thank you Museum Weekend.

1. The Netherlands Architecture Institute
2. The Sonneveld House
3. The Chabot Museum
4. The Natural History Museum
5. The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Notes...

The NAI had a pretty awesome program going on called "Building for Bouwkunde". Here's the story, last year one of the architecture buildings over at the Technological University of Delft burned down. So apparently, a contest was created to find the best new ideas for the new building. There were more than 400 entries from 50 different countries submitted. Probably about 50 are on display at the NAI right now. My favorite was from a group from Australia. Their whole idea centered around the university being housed in trains! I doubt it would ever get chosen or ever actually work well but DUDE! that's an awesome idea. You can see the winners here...


The Sonneveld house was the home of Mr. and Miss. Sonneveld and their 2 daughters back in the 30's. The pamphlet says "Visitors can experience what modern living was like in the year 1933" It goes on to explain how this house in one of the best surviving examples of the "Nieuwe Bouwen" style of architecture. It was pretty cool. I mean, it was nice to see how wealthy, modern people lived here in Rotterdam back that long ago.


The Chabot Museum was boring. I was in and out of that place within 5 minutes. What a waste of a nice house (I feel bad for saying this...maybe I was just too tired and hungry to appreciate the art)

As far as the Natural History Museum goes...it was ok. I was surprised at how small it was. All descriptions and such were in Dutch. Poor me.


The Boijmans Van Beuningen was the coolest! The exhibit titled "Elixir: the video organism of Pipilotti Rist" was awesome. If I could guess how an acid trip would feel while running through a meadow and playing with finger pants, this would be my guess. The different "stations" were all different places you could lay down (on the floor, beds, cushions) and look up at the ceiling where there were weirdo psychedelic videos being projected. CRAZY FUN.


Did you know that this is legal here?