![\"a](\"http:\/\/www.mortimer.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/DSCN4368b.jpg\")
<\/a>a canal ‘superhighway’<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>My first Dutch castle beside the canal in Muiden<\/p><\/div>\n
I then spent two days exploring Utrecht: a very interesting university city. The cathedral is a centerpoint here as well, though the building is a bit eccentric. The nave (largest part), fell down in a big storm in the 1500’s and was never replaced. The tower remains, but separated by a square and some replacement buildings. The remainder of the church is very weird: high gothic and immense- but truncated. The entrance to the nave was bricked off, and now supports a large organ. When I went in, there was a choir rehearsing for a concert- and singing one of my favourite choral works “Cantique de St. Jean Racine” by Faure. A VERY different sound with 80 voices in this building, and in Dutch.<\/p>\n
<\/a>someone who has travelled with me on my journeys specifically appreciates the floral displays: the Netherlands have the best!<\/p><\/div>\n
Some boat work, and then pottering along on the little canal to Gouda. There was a delay for about 30minutes while a diver attached a hoist to a piece of metal that he was removing from the canal, and then on I went. This canal has the most vivid displays of multi-coloured hydrangeas, all in bloom.<\/p>\n
Then on to Rotterdam, where I met a former student who overcame all the hassles of my stagecraft program to become a lead lighting hand on the Diana Krall tour. It was great to chat about his adventures and life events (married, two boys, and a very successful career in touring with artists like Michael Buble, (and Justin Bieber, but no one can choose all their music!).<\/p>\n
<\/a>an apartment building in the center of Rotterdam. Either someone forgot to finish the center, or there was a catastrophic collapse… the people living in the center of the arch have windows on their floors.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>instead of trains, or cars, in the Netherlands, they have boats and water<\/p><\/div>\n
We walked the city, finding interesting architecture. We also found this toys set: in Canada, trains, or perhaps race cars, in the Netherlands, canal sets. Just think of the fun your kids or grandkids could have with all the water!<\/p>\n
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Back to waterways adventures. After spending the day in Naarden, I moored in the harbour of a little island in the Gooimeer. The wind was up and I wanted serious shelter, and not an urban marina mooring. I found the … Continue reading