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On 26 March 2020 from | comments closed

Sometimes you can discover something new in the pl

Sometimes you can discover something new in the place you grew up. Pearl Bloom sculpture in the Garden of the Holy Heart. Apparently, it's only been here for the last 12 years.

Maastricht, the only Dutch city that allows for a

Maastricht, the only Dutch city that allows for a "mountain" hike not far from the city centre. Even when the mountain is a closed quarry, and the highest point is man-made.

Election Day! Voting ✅

Election Day! Voting ✅

Even though my timeline is getting a bit empty wit

Even though my timeline is getting a bit empty with the lack of international travel, it doesn't mean I'm only at home. Most good weather weekends are spent with one or more hikes in nature. De Horsten is one of the closest areas.

Winter in the Netherlands. Last time the canals fr

Winter in the Netherlands. Last time the canals frooze over enough for skating was in March 2018. Perhaps I should get ice skates before it happens again, maybe already in 2024.

Winter in the Netherlands. Every couple of years t

Winter in the Netherlands. Every couple of years the landscape looks like the 17th century old masters painted it.

Ever since visiting Rotterdam Zoo (aka Diergaarde

Ever since visiting Rotterdam Zoo (aka Diergaarde Blijdorp) the 2-year-old wants to see this "epiyapi", or "ijsbeer" in proper Dutch. Polar bears really are the most majestic animals in the kingdom.

Autumn is almost over (or already over if you're a

Autumn is almost over (or already over if you're a meteorologist) and we were lucky to enjoy many forest hikes due to the mild weather this year.

Sightseeing the Netherlands without leaving my agg

Sightseeing the Netherlands without leaving my agglomeration. All under the watchful propellors of "The Flying Dutchman", a Douglas DC-3 airliner.
1. Golden Bend of Herengracht, Amsterdam
2. Maritime Museum, Amsterdam
3. Muiden Castle, Muiden
4. Nijenrode Castle, Breukelen
5. Peace Palace, The Hague

No pancakes today in the Netherlands' premier panc

No pancakes today in the Netherlands' premier pancake village (restaurants are closed again). The autumn foliage was just as beautiful though, especially in the brief moments when the sun came out.

It's always a good time to visit the World of Wond

It's always a good time to visit the World of Wonders, Netherlands' most famous theme park Efteling.
1. Park Show Raveleijn
2. Vogel Rok
3. Pagode & Gondoletta

Last weekend of summer, and visited the outer reac

Last weekend of summer, and visited the outer reaches of my allowed territory, since the neighbouring countries put Western Netherlands on the Red List. Country claustrophobia slowly setting in.

Linderhof Palace, the little brother of Neuschwans

Linderhof Palace, the little brother of Neuschwanstein Castle, also built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The gardens alone are great for wandering around a few hours, and the drive there from Reutte in Austria past the Plansee is one of the most scenic drives this trip.

The longest Tibet-style footbridge at 406m long an

The longest Tibet-style footbridge at 406m long and 115m high, the highline179 (top of photo, the name comes from the B179 road underneath) connects the castle ruins of Ehrenberg (bottom of photo) with Fort Claudia. Not for people suffering from vertigo.

Hello Verona! Ideal daytrip from the mountains. 1.

Hello Verona! Ideal daytrip from the mountains.
1. Ice-cream from GROM on Via Giuseppe Mazzini
2. Verona Arena
3. Famous Balcony of Juliet's House

Life is better at the top, part 3. View of Marmola

Life is better at the top, part 3. View of Marmolada and Pordoi Pass from Rifugio Maria at 2950m. From the pass at 2239m (great drive up) it took only 1 gondola ride for the most amazing view. We hiked another hour to Rifugio Piz Boé for great views of the Afternoon Valley.

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