Day 2 - side trip to Aachen, Germany.
Aachen, Germany is a small town just on the border between Germany and the Netherlands. It probably would only have taken 20 minutes by car, but we didn't want to be bothered with parking and such, so we took the bus. Fortunately, most people speak at least a little English, especially if they are in the service industry. I know a little German, and Dutch has some similarities, but there is no way I could understand either if spoken. I can pick up the gist of something that is written, like a menu or train schedule, but that is about it. I have always said that I would learn at least a little of the language before traveling to a foreign country, but this trip was too last-minute for that.
So, we make it to Aachen and head off for the city center. It was a bit of a walk. No wonder you don't see many overweight people in Europe - most either walk or bike to get where they are going. I wanted to see the cathedral, so we found that first. It was impressive, with a gothic design and impressive carvings all around. The stained glass and mosaics were equally amazing and we gladly paid one Euro for the privilege of photographing inside. After touring the cathedral, we roamed around the town. It was very quaint, with narrow, cobblestone streets and cafes. When the rain started getting heavy, we found a place to eat. In the courtyard, you could see the remains of an old Roman aqueduct. The Romans came to this part of Germany for the mineral springs. And speaking of mineral springs, something else you should know if you plan on traveling to Europe - when you ask for water, you don't just get the stuff that comes out of the tap unless you ask for it specifically - you get a bottle, and you have to specify if you want still or sparkling. Actually, the tap water in the hotel was better than some bottled water here in the states.
When the rain died down, we roamed around some more, looking at the shops and scenery. Some person dressed up like an orange dragon was in the square - advertising something, I guess - so I took his picture. We stopped for coffee and apple strudel, then decided to head back to the hotel. Jet lag hadn't quite released it's grip on me, so I slept well!
Day 3 - side trip to Amsterdam
Well, I can't say that I had a huge desire to see Amsterdam, but being in the Netherlands, it seemed like we should at least spend a day there. It has the reputation of being a seedy place, and some parts of the city are just that. Don't plan on just getting coffee at a coffee shop. This is where the marijuana trade occurs, and where folks partake freely. While it is legal in the entire country, it seemed much more prevalent here - probably more due to tourists who get a little giddy with the whole thing. I don't really care one way or the other, but I never have liked the smell, so I'd rather just avoid it when I can. There also was the red light district, which is a unique aspect of the city. Sex shops and prostitutes standing half naked in windows were about all you saw here. I have to say, though, that if I were a guy (or a girl who leans that way), I would have been quite disappointed by the women in the windows. Most were not very attractive. One looked like she could have been 70 yrs. old! No lie! They must not have a very good pension.
Well, there are other aspects to this city, but unfortunately, it was raining most of the day, quite heavily at times, so that hampered our exploring. The fact that it was Saturday, and the city was packed to the gills, didn't help any either. We did get a few breaks in the rain, though, that allowed us to get the cameras out. The architecture is beautiful along the canals, and some of the houseboats are interesting, too. One houseboat actually had barbed wire on the top. Maybe he'd had too many unwelcome visitors. Walking along the streets, you notice that many of the houses lean. Apparently, after a big fire that destroyed much of the city, they mandated the use of stone and brick for building materials. Problem is, that Amsterdam is basically built on a swamp and the soft earth doesn't support these heavy homes. After a while, they start to sink, and lean. Some looked like they should have been condemned! Had it been a nicer day, I probably would have enjoyed these avenues more, but I was getting cold and cranky, so we headed back early.
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