A Day In Utrecht…
Posted in ramblings on 09/28/2008 07:11 am by
Eric
I’m sharing a guest blogger today… ramblings of another sort. Enjoy!
Today was, practically, my last day in Utrecht. I headed out early again, like last Sunday, only this time “who needs a map?” At this point, I can get around pretty easily. I sat on the bench immediately under a statue of a girl riding a horse, did a little work, waiting for the coffee shop to open. Once it did, I nursed a cappuccino for an hour or so, read a book. Sat. Thought.
I went back to the Dom Kirk and found an open door that was closed to me last Sunday. What’s a curious boy to do?
I walked through it.
And a beautiful, secluded, quiet courtyard opened up to me. With the towering gothic structure of the cathedral watching over me, I explored the vaulted hallways (pic attached) surrounding the courtyard (pic attached), which had a small burbling fountain in the center and a very pleasant-smelling herb garden filling the area.
I stayed there for awhile and thought about how small I really am…
Wandering around, I came across a huge marathon, with the main streets closed to the public. A small band was there, with trumpets, drums, trombones, and a huge tuba. Each of the band members was wearing bright red overalls with blue t-shirts…and traditional Dutch wooden shoes. They were playing non-stop as the runners passed by, encouraging them with happy tunes and occasional cheers. Their rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” was kinda funny. Da, da da, good times never seemed so good.
I only had a couple Euros left in my pocket, and knowing I’d get hungry later, I wandered back through the alleys back to the Oudegracht and found a small pizza shop on the water that had a TV crew in front of it last Sunday - I’m hoping it was because it was sooo good and not because it had “health issues.” I spent the last of my cash on a beautiful, magnificent, decadently yummy salami calzone, with soft thick pastry and fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic and salami. It was well worth it. That’s the end of my eating today.
And a few last parting shots of Amsterdam… just because I want to add them.
Almost makes you want to live there… beautiful.
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