Located on the North Eastern coast of England in North Yorkshire, Whitby is a seaside town that clings to its cliff faces and serves some of the best fish and chips in the world!
It is known for being where a young Captain James Cook learnt his trade, and where the Endeavour was built in 1764 as a coal carrier. When she was bought by the British Navy she was re-fitted. Would you like to know more?
Day four was really consumer driven. I’m not entirely sure that it was meant to be that way initially, it just turned out that way. *shrugs* Oh! That’s right! It was the one day where I cancelled what was in the itinerary because of expense (Westminster Cathedral) and silly rules about being able to be taken on a free guided tour so long as you were a voting resident (Big Ben). So we skipped it. That’ll learn ‘em!
We did happen to be living up the road from the Conran Shop though, and it seemed a shame that while living so close we would only ever walk past when the doors were closed. Sacrilege even! So in we tromped this morning.
As I have had enough people look askance at me when I mention this shop, allow me to briefly explain that Terence Conran is a world renowned designer. More information can be found here, and getting involved with him really does become a complete and evolutionary lifestyle choice! Would you like to know more?
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!
So much has happened, and continues to happen. Yet it’s all settling down and shuffling itself into a routine now. We both have local mobile numbers and Skype has been set up to keep in touch with those slightly further away.
Letters and postcards are being, and have been, sent to people we love, and with the abundance of beautiful cards available, will continue to be sent too! If you’re so inclined to return the gesture, leave me a message and I’ll email you our postal address! 😉
Himself heads off to the office each day, while I maintain house & home, and work at having merchandise in my store before it re-opens.
Things that continue to take my breath away and bring massive grins of disbelief to my face when I see them are the swans floating down the canals in the centre of town. Doing what swans do, just swanning around. Getting in the way of the boats.
There are so many little alleys to explore, all with hidden secrets and gems to be discovered.
So many times (to the frustration of Himself) we’ll be powering at speed down a street and I’ll stop and veer off to one side to get a closer look at a marionette,
some intricate masks,
or a shop where the entire theme is ROOD! (red) (I’ll take one of everything!!!)
I could spend a lifetime exploring these streets. Everyday there is something new and different to find, explore, and experience.
Oh! And I’ve been knitting too! I’m finally on the edging of the shawl I began on Boxing Day back in Robinsons Bay!
Just 44 more repeats to go!
I have been checking out some of the local shops, as I am want to do, and discovering that I could spend an awful lot of money here, and need a residence ten times what we’re looking at living in!
We shall begin with de negen straatjes, the nine little streets. These are located on the West side of the Dam. And check it out!
One for Nita.
One for Naomi.
One for the fun.
And one for me!
Then, just as you find ducklings in the canal and think it can’t get any better …
you see that the canal is full of floating Nemos!
Damn I love this city!
I may have to go back and buy this little girl. She looks so lonely!
ghoti industries 