Exploring

Prague – Part 2

Posted on March 7, 2013March 7, 2013 by ghotiindustries

There were some things about Prague I was prepared for, like the garnets, and the crystal. (Please note the flamingos and the goldfish at top left, none of which I bought.)

Though I can honestly say I wasn’t quite aware of just how prevalent it would be!

What I wasn’t expecting (not enough research, obviously!) was the puppets and marionettes …

… the black light theatres (Yes, there’s more than one. Yes, we went to a show.) …

… and the cannabis absinth!

So; a mellow psychoactive? I didn’t try any.

There was also a multitude of matryoshkas. This made more sense to me when I thought about it being a Slovak folk art rather than a Russian one.

On with the story! We arrived early and checked in to our first hotel (Hotel Liberty – the nicer one for the visit, and one I can thoroughly recommend), and of course needed to dump our bags there until it was actually check in time until we could shower. So after a quick breakfast, it was off and out into the city to see what we could find!

With the help of the English maps which the concierge had given us (one each, just in case!) we made it to the Astronomical Clock at Old Town Square, and decided what we really needed to do, was head inside and up the top for the birds-eye view of Prague.

So in we all trooped to purchase our tickets. Then we just all stopped and gaped.

The intricacy of the murals was breathtaking!

The view from the top wasn’t half bad either! Yes, it is another picture of the castle. I’m obsessed!

On the way down there were opportunities to take guided tours through the Old Town City Hall, which is the oldest Town Hall in Prague and gave a nice insight of just how rich and mighty Prague once was. Of course we jumped at the opportunity, and I ended up in my first two churches of the Czech Republic. The first was down in one of the dungeons. Torture devices in one room; through a small doorway and massive crucifix and saints in the next.

The cross was made from charred beams of the Town Hall and commemorates those who fell in a war.

But up above, we ended up in the small private chapel behind the Astronomical Clock. The tower was consecrated in 1381, and we were all brought to silence by the light streaming through the windows.

Inside the chapel’s nave were the sculptures of the twelve apostles which promenade across the outside of the Astonomical Clock every hour on the hour. We managed to time it just right so that not only did we have the chapel almost to ourselves while visiting, but it was also on the hour. So we saw the clock working from the inside!

Just as we were done and leaving, a tour group of maybe thirty under-twelve-year-old-school-children all trouped through talking at high pitched volume as only bored school excursions can. We counted ourselves very lucky indeed!

Then it was back to the hotel for check-in and shower time!

Weekend Walks

Posted on February 19, 2013February 18, 2013 by ghotiindustries

I love walking around Amsterdam. There’s always a street you haven’t been down, and even if you have, there’s always something new to see.

This young lady is obviously taking her Frisian cow for a walk in its clogs. What else would you do with your cow? Perfectly normal!

The houseboats have their own gardens. They are often bigger than mine!

How can you not love going for a walk when you’re surrounded by this?

We had a purpose to our wandering this week, and hence were walking up the northern end of town up on Haarlemmerstraat.

We were heading for the Spanish food specialty shop Hollandaluz so Himself could make one of his world famous paellas for dinner that night!

Of course being such a busy strip there are lots and lots of shops up there, both specialty and kitschy. We found this in a home wares store. No, we didn’t buy it.

But I do want a Nijntje (Miffy) night light!

Of course the scenery never stops being spectacular and photo-worthy.

There’s always good sport in searching for all the different types of wall tablets too. Before adopting street numbers these tablets, along with the differing gable shapes, were how different homes were identified. They often told the profession of the inhabitants.

Of course, having been surrounded by all these specialty stores all afternoon, we weren’t immune to the calls of their contents. We may have succumbed to one store, and brought home a variety of samples for later consumption!

I can tell you now with authority that there is a reason the Dutch are known for their chocolate. These were rich, creamy, heaven!

Errands and Handwerkbeurs

Posted on February 18, 2013February 18, 2013 by ghotiindustries

Wow! It never rains when it pours! Have a couple of quiet weeks, and then suddenly a week where I’m out constantly and feel like I’m doing everything!

I had a few errands to run during the week and whilst out finally made it into the secret convent garden of Begijnhof Court. The Begijnhof is the only inner court in Amsterdam which was founded during the Middle Ages, and therefore lies within the Singel — the innermost canal of Amsterdam’s circular canal system. The Begijnhof is at medieval street level, which means a meter below the rest of the old city center.

There is a plethora of information on this place and it’s inhabitants if you’re so inclined to go searching and reading.

It was beautiful, serene, quiet and a perfect place for meditation … until the next tourist group walked through. So I didn’t spend long there, and vowed to go back and visit the chapel on another day. It’s not going anywhere after all.

I then walked through to Dam Square where there was a bagpipe player. This is remarkably incongruous with the country, and so I had to snap a picture to prove to you all that I’d seen him!

Opposite him was the regular Batman. (Palace backdrop is quite effective, don’t you agree?)

Then on Friday I packed myself up onto a train with a group of friends from knit night and we went off to Zwolle for a craft fair! The snow in Amsterdam had melted away under the drizzling rain which had set in; Not so once you got a little bit more East though!

If you squint really hard you can see a farm house in this picture. I swear!

I was glad we’d all been able to go on the Friday as if it was this packed when the general populace was at work, then I wasn’t so keen to be under the crush of people who would have turned up over the weekend!

I’ll think about whether or not to thank my “friends” later. They may have introduced me to a remarkably dangerous store that goes by the name of Bart and Francis.

650m cobweb weight baby alpaca cones, three for EUR15.

You better believe it came home with me! I’ll figure what I’m going to make with them later!

It was only then that my new “friends” introduced me to one of their friends Loret. But by then I was out of budget! And she had the most amazing packs of yarns in colour pallets inspired by the Dutch masters! Oh well. I know for next time that I still need to have money left to hand over to Loret!

The floors were filled not just with stalls that catered to every kind of craft, but there were classes too!

I might look into those for next year when I know the language a little better.

All in all, a spectacular way to spend the day! Thank you guys for taking me with you!

Grocery Shopping

Posted on January 21, 2013January 21, 2013 by ghotiindustries

A quick simple trip to the supermarket has changed a bit since moving to Amsterdam. First, I never used to go to the grocery store for the major weekly shop. I’d get Coles, and then later Woolies to deliver it to me. (nasty supermarkets full of annoying people and queues!)

So when I got here, I needed to start grocery shopping again. Hindered a little by the language, though in all honesty, packaging is the same everywhere. And if you can’t see the product to figure out what it is (chicken fillets or vegetables) there’ll be a picture of what is in the packaging on the front. Mostly we eat fresh though, so no problems there.

What hindered me more initially was the fact that whatever I bought, I had to carry home. In our first apartment, that was up 4 flights of really steep stairs, in the second apartment that was a kilometer and a half home (though then I also used Mavis the bicycle). There’s only so much will fit in paniers.

In our third apartment we now live close and it’s only two flights of stairs. I also managed to get the kitty litter delivered to us (this relieved much of the weight!).

What I have found is that groceries here are either in bulk, or are in daily/two day serves. Which is awesome! Nothing goes off before you eat it, but you also end up back at the grocery store every other day. I guess given the size of the kitchen and the storage capacity, this makes sense. Like so. Standard household vegetables look like this.

In some ways this is incredibly convenient! With just the two of us, a loaf of bread would go off before we ate it, and often used to. But when you can buy a half loaf, there’s no such wastage!

Though I’ve yet to be convinced by what the locals put on their bread, I know my niece and nephew love hagelslag and vlokken. Check out all the types and flavours! (*shudders*)

I can get behind the massive cheese selection though! This is only about a third of this market’s display. The Dutch are wacky for their cheese! But there’s no cheddar or tasty. Cooking-wise this took a little adjustment.

Which goes well with the supermarket wine selection. I know it’s fuzzy, but all of these shelves are Australian wine. Rosemount, Yalumba, Lindemans. You name it.

I can’t think why, but this one scares me.

Though we’re no longer living with the Pyrmont Fish Markets just down the road, we do have other options in walking distance. We’ve bought a few pieces of fish here. They also have a good selection of more esoteric things like rabbit, hare, duck, and some delectable truffle crisps!

They are also the closest source of the widest selection of herbs.

But through all the learning of new customs, and new ways of doing things, the thing that I still haven’t gotten used to is the tea stations in Albert Heijn.

Yes. They expect you to stop your grocery shopping, with a basket full of things out of the fridge section which you’ve already been through, and have a complimentary tea!