Utrecht

A dear, good friend, E, invited me to visit her in the Netherlands, in her home of Utrecht, which is about 20 minutes by train south of Amsterdam.  Having never been to the Netherlands, I hopped a train in Brussels and was to her in about 3 hours.  Upon arrival, E, being ill, sent her surrogate (otherwise known as her husband, Ferd) out to meet me and then serve as my tour guide on my walk around the ancient city of Utrecht. 

Although there is some evidence of earlier civilizations, which date back to the Stone Age, the founding date of the city is usually related to the construction of Roman walls, probably built in around 50 BCE.  It is a city that has three canals encircling it and is location of the singing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which settled the War of Spanish Succession (which was fought amongst the European powers to prevent a united monarch of Spain and France).

 

 But enough of a history lesson (though you know I could go on all day).  Ferd and I wandered around this charming town for several hours.  He showed me lots of very interesting architecture, including these beautiful glass porch entries.  Absolutely stunning.  

Dom Tower

 Though we didn't go up, the Dom Tower is the tallest tower in the Netherlands.  It also has the largest collection of bells on the continent. The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin aand was built between 1321 and 1382. In 1674 the nave collapsed in 1674 the Dom tower became a free standing tower.  The Dom Church is behind the tower, separated by a cobblestone street.

Dom Church

Graf Jan Van Nassau

 Utrecht is home to the largest university in the Netherlands and there were several students walking around with tubes holding their newly-received degree.  We were able to go into the main university building, which has a stunning grand entry way and staircase.

The grey building with the red shutters is one of the oldest buildings in Utrecht and it still functions as a....  museum? government office? I can't remember.  It was just striking though to see the red shutters against the grey stones.

an old CV2 with a trunk!

 The canals really are pretty and unlike in Amsterdam, you can walk right along side them and below street level.  Taking up every possible place for a house, you can even live/work i some of the small dwellings right on the canal. There were several private houses, but also hotels and cafes.  It was fun walking alongside the water and seeing what business was being conducted.

autumn leaves in Utrecht

another CV2

 Another sweet feature is under the street, below every street light is a sort of frieze of an activity that once took place along the canal. This one is a windmill; but there were cobblers, coffee peddlers, saints slaying dragons.  They are meant to tell a story or illustrate a saying.  It was fun picking them out and trying to decipher their meanings. 

And this photo really is for Will. Someone didn't want to waste any run-off water from the street above. They rigged up a shoot to the downspout and now can water their plants.  Because walking two yards to the canal might be too much effort.

 Ferd also showed me this very narrow, close streets with houses stuffed in.  These are close communities and they don't really like to see strangers walking along the picturesque allies, but I think that they are used to it.  It is about 6 streets with similar shutters and it is almost like a rabbit warren of homes.

And of course, this being the Netherlands, you are never far away from a million and one bicycles.  It truly is the preferred mode of transportation.  They are in all sorts of shapes and sizes and adapted to have carts, bags, people attached to them.  You also have to watch out when walking around-- you really could get run over by a bike!