NL Photos from the Weekend
japra | Jul 08, 2009 | Comments 15
Friday evening, we rode to Clingendael Park. There is a Japanese garden there that I wanted to see, and that seemed a good enough excuse to get on our bikes. BTW, the light green in the photo is an algae-covered canal. Mr. DJ said he used to call that stuff “frog spit” when he was a kid.
Clingendael park is beautiful! It’s actually an old estate (now owned by the city). There are lots of paths, interesting birds, loads of benches for relaxing, and picnic tables too. It feels far from the city.
One of the best things for me is that this park reminded me very much of my beloved Valley Gardens in England. I am not much of a plant person, but I think I recognized rhododendron bushes. Come spring, you know I’ll be there with camera in tow. Doesn’t this photo look like I could have taken it in England? Though if it had been England, the grass would have been a lot greener. And there’d be swans.
Too bad for me! The Japanese Garden is only open May-June. I’ll have to be sure to visit next year. The garden was created by baroness Marguerite Mary Van Brienen in the early 1900s and is the oldest Japanese garden in the Netherlands.
After our bike ride, we felt guilty about leaving Trudy home while we had fun outdoors. So we took her for a walk in a nearby park. Mr. DJ walked her while I took photos for you–hahaha! This sign means no entry “except for” bikes and scooters. Basically, this is a one-way street, but two wheels rule here in the NL ;-)
This is Trudy’s favourite sign: Dog Run.
Friday night wiv me mates in the park. These young blokes had a case of Heineken to entertain them. That blur on the bottom right is Trudy ;-)
Saturday we drove up to an outlet mall north of Amsterdam (nothing to write home about if you’re from the States–lots of US brands). We did enjoy the ride up there–especially seeing these windmills. This style of windmill wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I thought of Holland. They still were neat, though.
On Sunday, we went for a two hour bike ride and found ourselves out in the country a little way. It was very pretty! After 20 miles of almost non-stop riding (against the wind both ways, what’s up with that?), we were really saddle sore. I got on my bike on Monday to go to the grocery store and owie, owie!
As you can see, we’ve really been enjoying summer weather. But we finally got some rain two nights ago. No polite English rain here! We had a deluge complete with thunder. It’s cooled off a little bit as well, and we’re back down into the 60s F with lots of wind.
Today, Roxi and I rode into the Centrum for lunch and back-to-school shopping. The wind was fierce–at least for us anyway. According to the weather pages, we were enjoying 24 MPH winds.
Can you believe that in the one month we’ve been here, we’ve only used our car three times? Once to go to Ikea (ICK-key-uh as they say here), once to go to an electronics store in the Centrum (before we got bikes), and once to drive out to the outlet mall one-and-a-half hours away. The rest of the time we’ve walked, taken the tram, or ridden bus. Since getting our bikes, we’re down to walking and riding our bikes. I never would have thought I’d live in a place where bike riding was a serious means of transport. But here we are! And we sure do love it.
Filed Under: Blog • Expat Life • Featured • Netherlands • Outdoors • What to Do
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
I am in the wrong country.
About the wind…the best time for riding bikes here is in the winter when the wind/breeze is frequently 15-20 mph. I hate it – especially since I’m usually riding along the water. And that thing where it blows in both directions happens to me too…I still haven’t figured it out.
Julia, I know what you mean!! I was thinking yesterday how much I LOVE riding my bike. It will be hard to go back to driving most places :-(
And while I was riding yesterday, I tried to think positive thoughts about the wind.
I was wondering, does everyone in your family enjoy riding bikes?
Yes, my older daughter sometimes isn’t in the mood but we always have a destination in mind so that motivates her (usually it involves stopping at the grocery store for a Coke).
I’m pushing the limit of my bike seat for the 3 yr old (the weight limit is 40 lbs and she is right at that). I don’t know what to move up to – I tried a trailer and I could hardly ride with it empty. So, we’re in for a difficult stage until she can ride her own bike. #3 LOVES going for bike rides – probably because she doesn’t have to do any work.
When on a bike or in a kayak, wind will ALWAYS be against you. A law of nature.
So neat to learn about a new country! Keep the pix and stories coming!
Kathy, I don’t know why, but I never thought of wind being a problem for kayakers. It makes sense, though. All I have to say is good thing there wasn’t a lot of wind when we first got our bikes. I think it would have been rather discouraging!
now how do you transport your groceries and school supplies on a bike?
and do the seniors all bike ride too?
thanks for the lovely pictures… too bad about the windmills!
Christine, I think this would be a great topic for a post. I’ll work on it. But in the meantime… I go to the grocery store once every two to three days. Our fridge/freezer is pretty small, so this works out okay for us. Plus the store is just a few minutes away on bike. Not a real hardship. Ask me again how I feel about it in a few months when summer is over. LOL! All the groceries go in my panniers–they’re big enough to carry a handbasket’s worth of groceries.
Yes, there are some very fit “seniors” here who put us to shame. I am wondering how long it will take to tone up my legs! I am hoping that after a year of moderate biking, I’ll finally be rid of my personal saddlebags. LOL!
And as for the windmills… I am wondering about biking out to some more traditional ones. I’ll post pics when we do :-)
JAPRA – how wonderful to ride everywhere. We walked about 5 or 6 miles per day in Paris. No wonder everyone is thin! goodness! I love the photos – you are so talented!
Lucylucia, you’ve already been to Paris! I need to stop by your blog and catch up. Yes, isn’t wonderful to be able to walk everywhere? It will be one thing I’ll dearly miss when we finally move back to the Sates. Do you have good public transport where you live?
It sounds amazing there!
Oh great photos!
Hi Japra
keep getting lost but finally made it ! Lovely photos and interesting reading Glad you are feeling happy and settled Thank you !
Love the photos and getting to share your new adventure. A friend of mine from the States lived in Amsterdam for three years when her kids were little. She said the bikes were different and quite set up for transporting both kids with her. I wish she’d sent pictures. It makes so much sense when everyone just bikes or takes public transport. No wonder we’re all getting so fat over here in the U.S. of A.
Oh, I think I’d love all that riding and walking! I really love your last photo – I’ve never seen the countryside in Holland before. It is so pretty!
nice blog you have here,.. Lived in NL myself for 6 years, and sometimes when I miss the country, I search for pictures on the internet. After living there, I went to live in Indonesia and became the fastest bicycle rider among friends there. Thanks to the years of “training” riding the bike against the strong wind..