A Dusseldorf Daytrip- (15/12)

At 6.40am I was waiting with 2 good friends at Centraal Station for a coach to Dusseldorf still not 100% sure where it was on the map let alone what to expect from  the place.

However the journey of 3.5hrs placed us a mere 10 minutes from the thick of the Christmas Market (or should I say markets) so it wasn’t long before I found out. There were 6 strategically placed markets each with a particular attraction for instance Marktplatz had a 100 year old merry go round, Heinrich-Heine Platz a music pavilion and Gustaf-Grundgens Platz an ice rink. The latter was a lot of fun.

All the little wooden huts, nostalgic of times gone by, were surrounded by Christmas lights and decorations from giant baubles in a giant Christmas tree to life size craved nativity scenes to motion window displays.

Dusseldorf itself stood beautifully under a clear sky and later under a spectacular sunset. Under the wooden roofs were stalls stuffed full of pancakes and honey pots, handmade pottery and jewellery, chocolates and candles, huge cookies and roasting chestnuts, tree decorations and trinkets, sweeties and scarves, mulled wine and meats. Something for everyone. It was comforting to hear so much Dutch being spoken and we even stumbled upon a British singer songwriter performing on the corner of one of the markets. He was truly amazing, well worth the large crowd that formed around him. Rupert Blackman. We had to tear ourselves away from the guy in order to catch the coach back at 5pm. Great way to round off a pretty successful little daytrip. Hopefully the first of many!

Leiden #2 (08/12)

Click here to read about my first trip to Leiden. No 9km cycle this time, rather a simple 5 minute train journey from Sassenheim Station. I’d stayed in Sassenheim (a small village where some of my family live) on the Friday evening with my Mum and sister who were over for the weekend. Seeking some quality time with a sister I hadn't seen in over 4 months we decided to go out for the day. Leiden was an easy option and I was eager to see the place once more. 

I successfully navigated us around most of the places that I had visited back in August and was all too happy to add a spot of Christmas shopping and a lovely bagel at Bagels & Beans to the loop! All along either side of the canal, the Nieuwe Rijn and Vismarkt streets, it was also lovely to see a Saturday market underway. The traditional flower, cheese, bread, fish and fruit stalls were of course dominate but a few stalls selling watches, pet products, clothes and such shared the space. The Christmas tunes from the Dutch street organs* and the presence of my beautiful sister really got me excited for Christmas! Undoubtedly the soft sprinkling, somewhat diminishing layer of snow and icy cold air added to the festive feel but it also turned the clock back, exhibiting the town’s age and the beauty that abides with it.         

* I was fortunate enough to see a whole variety of such organs at a museum in Utrecht, the Spelklok Museum. 

Sinterklaas- (05/12)

Morning:
An even earlier start than normal allowed time to gather in the school playground awaiting Sint and his Piets arrival. The kids were so excited that they put on their Spanish flamenco dresses and even screamed a little less when I tamed their afros. Sint arrived with 2 Piets sitting in a horse-drawn carriage with police in tow. Once inside the kids all sang songs, watched a Sinterklaas show, received too many sweets and even got a present from the man himself.

Afternoon:
The kids only have school until 12am on Wednesdays (= very convenient!) so we set off to their cousin's in Eindhoven and were there early afternoon. 10 adults and 12 kids all sat and ate a lovely not-at-all-Dutch pasta dish, socialised and played games. It wasn't long until the kids got a little restless and so it was a quick diversion technique, a feigned sighting of a Zwarte Piet, a loud clunking noise of bags landing on the patio and present time was upon us.

Evening:
Truly an evening for the kids, the adults merely sat and watched as the mountain of presents slowly but surely revealed the floor below it. Throughout the proceedings everyone happily tucked in to all the refreshments, crisps, dips, spreads and breads on offer. Not very traditional but truly 'gezellig'.