Conversations with Myself

Monday

6

October 2014

Netherlands – The Hague

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Happy Monday Friends!

Did you enjoy your weekend?. 

On Friday evening we went out to hunt for a good steak restaurant.  Yes, I was craving a beef steak.  We got a juicy steak at La Maison des Halles.  On Saturday we did some shopping in the morning and took an evening walk. Then church on Sunday and hang around at home after church.  That’s it about our weekend and back to The Hague.

We were based in Netherlands – Rotterdam (more on Rotterdam on the next post) for three nights and we decided to take a day trip to The Hague.  We took a train  from Rotterdam central station.  The journey was about 35minutes.

The Hague known as Den Haag by the locals is a capital city of South Holland and the seat of government in Netherlands.  It is a city of huge squares, wide range of shops, friendly people and a centre of exotic arts and antiques.  On our arrival, nearby the train station we were greeted by a spacious parking space for bicycle. Like in Amsterdam bicycling in The Hague is very popular.

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It was Saturday, the city was dead.  There was life though as we get closer to Chinatown district.  Entering Chinatown feels like you are in another world.  The area has colourful Chinese signs, smells of spices and the best of Asian cuisine.  There are also spas, Asian galleries and craft shops.  It is a lively site worth a visit.

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I like this pic below because it has no filter.  Cullo took it at the heat of the moment when Muli did not want to corporate.  Once she is in this mood, she makes it impossible to explore the area.  I had to come down to her level and negotiate for peace using a language that only a 3year old can understand.  Phew!

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After a while it all sank in and we had the fun that we deserve ha!

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With Muli and us on the same page, we continued our journey.  Just next to Chinatown is a busy street, we walked through the shops.  It can be a good place to just sit and watch ‘The Hague chic’ shopping in style.  We browsed through the shops and continued down the streets.

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I was intrigued by the writings on this building: something strange happened here.

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Walking further from the shopping street, the town got quiet once again.

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Upon entering Beelden aan Zee Museum we were impressed to see the display of Nelson Mandela statue.  Arie Schippers was commissioned to make the 3.5-metre high bronze monument to Mandela in The Hague. The museum was celebrating that by displaying preliminary studies for this assignment.

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We paused for some few hours and played in the Garden.  The locals brought their wee once to blow out some steam here.  I must say The Hague’s community is friendly.

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Just see how many people are posing for pictures in this photo ha!.  If you cant beat them join them.

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At the heart of Dutch government building.

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We grabbed something to eat at one of open air restaurant.  I liked the afternoon atmosphere.

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This place was bustling with people.  We sat for couple of hours, chatting.  Then we headed to the train station back to Rotterdam. 

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We walked miles and miles down shady avenues of the city to former and current palaces.  We did not realised that we walked for hours because of the striking architecture in town.

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Take care,
Nez