19 AUG 2007
I arrived in Rotterdam around 7:30 Saturday. Unfortunately, 7:30 was too late!!! I found that when I arrived, the VVV (tourist information center) was closed. This was very troublesome because I did not have a map of the city and I had yet to make my way to the StayOkay Hostel. (Tip number 1: Always arrive in a city before 6:00PM if you need to visit the VVV.) Fortunately, I had borrowed a book on the Netherlands from a colleague and it contained a small map of the city. I slowly made my way to the Hostel, stopping several times to ask for directions.
Sunday morning, I grabbed a quick bite of breakfast at the hostel before heading out to explore the city and find the Kinderdijk cruise location on the river. Breakfast was fine (meat, cheese and bread), but the more I travel the more I find myself wishing I was back in Paris again picking up breakfast at the local patisserie.
After Den Haag, Rotterdam was a bit of a disappointment. It's a lively, beautiful city but it doesn't feel that different from walking around in St. Paul or Minneapolis. I stayed in a newer part of town, but as I made my way toward the river I was pleasantly surprised by the view. Across the river, the old facade of the buildings had been saved was was filled with little shops and cafes.
I arrived in Rotterdam around 7:30 Saturday. Unfortunately, 7:30 was too late!!! I found that when I arrived, the VVV (tourist information center) was closed. This was very troublesome because I did not have a map of the city and I had yet to make my way to the StayOkay Hostel. (Tip number 1: Always arrive in a city before 6:00PM if you need to visit the VVV.) Fortunately, I had borrowed a book on the Netherlands from a colleague and it contained a small map of the city. I slowly made my way to the Hostel, stopping several times to ask for directions.
Sunday morning, I grabbed a quick bite of breakfast at the hostel before heading out to explore the city and find the Kinderdijk cruise location on the river. Breakfast was fine (meat, cheese and bread), but the more I travel the more I find myself wishing I was back in Paris again picking up breakfast at the local patisserie.
After Den Haag, Rotterdam was a bit of a disappointment. It's a lively, beautiful city but it doesn't feel that different from walking around in St. Paul or Minneapolis. I stayed in a newer part of town, but as I made my way toward the river I was pleasantly surprised by the view. Across the river, the old facade of the buildings had been saved was was filled with little shops and cafes.
I explored the canals and walked the Walk of Fame.
The bridges were also very beautiful, but as I walked past them on my way to the boat I found myself thinking about the bridges back home. What a contrast looking at these strong new bridges and thinking about the one that had just fallen in Minneapolis.
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