Explored more of Rotterdam yesterday - walked for hours and hours it seemed, including the museums. Thought I'd head south of the hotel then see how I went.
There's a huge development going on in the park where all the museums are located as they're putting in an underground car park, so much of what would otherwise be a very pretty area is a construction site. But I managed to find the path through and eventually found the little natural history museum. I've never seen so many dead birds in my life before - all in one place. If there had been an English version of the descriptions though, the exhibit on canaries would have been far more interesting than it was - as even without it was fascinating that people can be so obsessive over a bird. It must have been almost the primary occupation of loads of people in the mid-late 19th century.
I did like some of the old bird cages though - the big ones. The tiny ones made me feel sad for the birds, only kept because they sang. If I were a canary it wouldn't have been all that inspiring.
The other thing that I found pretty awesome is a complete skeleton of some extinct dinosaur type, but I couldn't figure out what or anything about it, so still none the wiser. And the butterfly collection is really pretty. Never ceases to amaze me the diversity in the humble butterfly.
Then headed next door to the art gallery. One question. Is it part of the brief for designers of modern public display buildings that they be as confusing as possible for visitors. Every time I go into one that's in any way modern, I get completely lost as they seem to go around and around themselves and double back and end in dead-ends. Sigh. Fascinating exhibition of a photo journalist whose name escapes me. He photographed Castro, Picasso, Corbusier, Sadat and so many other prominent people as well as war zones all over from the 1950s to fairly recently. All his press passes and flight tickets were there too, he must have made a decision early in his career to keep them as mementos. Good call.
Other than that, the lighting in the gallery was appalling (strip lights way overhead) and reflected badly on a lot of the glass or gloss finishes making it impossible to see some of the images unless you got up to their level - not easy when you're 5ft tall and the images are 6ft up the wall.
The collection of really incredible paintings from the 15th to 18th centuries is huge, but again, the lighting made it really hard to get any sense of appreciation - and their sheer number meant you couldn't really see them all.
Oh another question. I carry a bag that has multiple carrying options - it's highly convenient and useful. In some galleries/museums you can't carry a bag at all, in some you can take your bag, but can't leave it in a cloak room as you have your personal belongings in it. In others you go through a security check, then all's fine.
So, I have this bag. In places you can't take a backpack, I have to either use the shoulder strap, or the hand strap. As soon as I put it on my back I get pounced on by the 'guards' and told "You can't have it here - it's a backpack". Me "but you watched me take it off my shoulder and put it onto my back. It was ok before". " Yes. You can put it back on the shoulder strap to carry it or you have to put it in the locker". Makes absolutely no sense to me. Then there's another anomaly. Some places (in other cities) you can leave stuff in a cloakroom. If it was a normal backpack, I could leave it regardless of what's in it. But it's multi-functional, so I can't leave it because I was carrying it or wearing it as a shoulder bag and it has personal stuff in. Why is it purposely so damned confusing? I have no idea. I understand security needs, but really - this gets laughable.
The dock area has heaps of huge yacht type boats, mainly old wooden varieties and quite pretty, then a little further along and across the other side of the river is the cruise ship dock and lo and behold, the same cruise ship I'd seen in Southampton was docked there. Is it following me??? teehee.
I really like how there's a lot of really modern buildings, but all with a sense of purpose and as everything is spaced out you can really appreciate the design of each rather than have them all blend into each other as you do in most cities.
Further around along a waterfront cafe area and on into the main shopping area and the beginnings of a Saturday throng of locals. I like the feel of Rotterdam. I don't feel rushed or stressed or the need to do anything strenuous. Back to have something to eat late afternoon in the same area I came to yesterday which is very quaint and has a heap of cafes.
Slept for 10 hours and woke up feeling really good. Spent some time online and phoned Zeb. Was wonderful to hear her voice. I miss you all.
Met up with Dawny and KLee and spent a really good afternoon. We wandered through the Beurstraverse and had lunch in the dining/cafe area of a department store. Great idea, you can choose whatever you want from any of the specialist kiosks and you pay for it before heading to a table. Loads of really yummy "good-for-you" food to choose from.
We talked and talked about everything from birthday restaurant surprises to virtual worlds - from kids to "what got me into computers". Again, it was as if I'd known both of them since forever and easy to talk and laugh. Thank you both for adding a creamy icing to my stay here. I enjoyed getting to know you both better and it's always good to give and get a hug in real life, instead of just wishing huggles.
Now I have to organise somewhere to stay in Berlin from tomorrow night. It's come around faster than I thought, and I've not done that yet.
haha, this is a great post mum, fun to read x
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