A canal near our apartment, which was on the Amstel.
Click to see a larger image.
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We had tickets to one of the best concert halls in the world, the Concergtgebow.
In Amsterdam, Rembrandtplein, a square surrounded by cafes and restaurant, stands Rembrandt's "Night Watch" and, of course, the man himself. Click for a larger image.
In Coldenove, Holland, with Jana & Josef (& Bello). We rented a couple of bungalows. Behind us is a small example of one of them. Here for several days to explore Holland and celebrate a birthday. Click for a larger image.
Dinner in one of our two bungalows at Coldenhove. This one had a fireplace. Click to see a larger image.
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A sunny day in Zutphen, a beautiful old city near Coldenhove.
Sightseeing in Zutphen. Click to see a larger image.
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Lunchtime parade, they had a dozen brass bands playing the whole afternoon in Zutphen.
We bought plants in the street market in Zutphen.
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After Coldenhove, we went to Utrech and had an apartment by the canal Click to see a larger image, with Lorraine sitting out in front of the apartment.
Oslo: a nice small city. Walking around, on the main pedestrian street leading to the Royal Palace, we stopped in front of Stortinget, Norway's parliament. This is an expensive country, two glasses of bad wine cost $25. Click for a larger image.
Oslo Cathedral, from 1697. Click to see a larger image.
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On Aker Brygge, old shipyard converted to a row of fabulous fjord-side restaurants.
Oslo Fjord, busy with ships, ferries and sailboats. Restaurants on Aker Brygge on one site, the old fort on the other.
Click for an even larger image.
Copenhagen: Amalienborg ... a complex of royal palaces. Behind us is Marmorkirken, a church that is a large copy of St. Peter's in Rome. We watched the changing of the royal guards, just below. They march from Rosenborg, see photo below, to reach Amalienborg at midday. Click for an even larger image.
Changing of the Guards at Amalienborg. Four rich families built themselves nice big houses in the 1750's. In 1794, the king's main palace burnt down and he bought all four of these, as a "temporary" measure. As of now, the Danish Queen still lives in one of them and the Crown Prince and his family in another.
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Amalienbord. Click to see a larger image.
With Hans Christian Andersen across the street from TIVOLI. Click to see a larger image.
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On the Stroget, a series of pedestrian streets with shops and restaurants, full of people all day.
Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" in Copenhagen.
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The man who installed the mermaid in 1909, Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of Carslberg brewery, also built a fabulous Glyptoteck Museum, with Greek and Roman tresures, but also a large collection of French Impressionists.
Click to see a larger image.
Copenhagen: Rosenborg royal castle, 400 years old. In the basement, all the royal treasures. Click for an even larger image.
Rosenbord in Copenhagen.
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Danish sandwiches for lunch ... everyone seems to walk around with one, or eat them in sidewalk cafes.
Christian IV became king at 19 and ruled Denmark for 59 years. This is his coronation crown, 7 pounds of mainly gold.
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The other crown jewels in Rosenbord.
Nyvhaven in Copenhagen used to be for sailors and pubs and bordellos. Hans Christian Andersen lived in three of the buildings, one a long-term hotel ... now tourists come from the whole world to enjoy themselves, eat and drink and take harbour cruises. Click for an even larger image.
Copenhagen! Neither of us have been to Scandinavia.
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Shopping in Cologne.
Haus am See in Cologne with Sasha. Sunny weather. Click for an even larger image.
Mons, Belgium
Mons, Belgium. Lunch in the Grand Place.
Grand Place, Mons
Driving from Paris to Germany, we stopped for lunch in the center of Mons in Belgium. A historic town, one that suffered a lot in both World Wars, now restored and wonderful. Click for an even larger image.
In Paris, in 4 days, we used the Metro a few times, but we also walked 55 kilometers. Here, Montmartre!
Click for an even larger image.
The artists' Place du Tertre on Montmartre hill. Click for a larger image.
No explanation required. Click for a larger image.
We went to say hello to Mr Hollande at the Elysee, but he was not at home. Maybe he was out with a friend ?
Paris is fabulous. We did not get enough of it this time. Must come back, see more museums and sit in more cafes ...
Our apartment was very close to the Isle de la Cité and Notre Dame ...
... it was just half a block to the right of this photo ... Click for any photo to see a larger image.
At the Louvre, there was nobody around, except Lorraine and friend. Click for an even larger image.
(It's a lie, there were, as usual, hundreds of people, but with patience, one can get close.)
This was our apartment building, at Boulevard St.Michel and the Seine, right behind the fountain on the top floor.
the view at the end of our square, Notre Dame!
In Luxembourg Gardens, we looked for the small "Statue of Liberty", actually an early model for the real thing that France donated to the United States.
It turns of the statue in the park needed restoration and in 2012 a copy installed in Luxembourg Gardens. It so happened that a few hours later we ran into the restored original, now in the Musee D'Orsai. Click for any photo to see a larger image.
Luxembourg Gardens, our first day in Paris. While they were cleaning our apartment, we had a nice outdoor lunch in the park. The Eifel Tower in the back. Click for an even larger image.
Place de Vosges, one of the earliest squares in post-Roman empire Europe.
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