We. Are. Rotterdam.

Resilient.  Re-built.  Re-designed.  Re-vamped.  This.  Is.  Rotterdam.
Flattened like a pancake during the Second World War, its historic and medieval edifices bombed to smithereens, Holland’s second largest city is a testament to the spirit of determination and perseverance, successfully rising from the rubble to re-build and restore.  Its stunning landscape, juxtaposed with old-world charm and cutting-edge modern, pushes the envelope of architectural creativity, ingeniously melding steel and concrete into a showcase of design and innovation.









The Erasmus Bridge.  The Euromast.  The Cube Houses.  The list goes on and on.  So much to see, so little time.  So, there we stood, two clue-less tourists with only a couple of hours in which to discover this bustling maritime port, oblivious to the plethora of landmarks that dotted the scene.  With neither map nor GPS to guide us, we wandered, directionless, meandering along the riverfront in hopes of stumbling upon a watering hole picturesque enough to warrant an hour or so stay in which to guzzle a beverage or two before moving on to the next best thing. 






Our only issue being was that we were unable to come to a consensus regarding the type of establishment to park our weary tootsies in.   Quite the big deal if you only have four hours or so to document and explore.  Whilst I was gravitating towards hanging out on the top deck of a quaint and artsy boat, my travel companion was edging towards a more trendy venue, arguing that an outdoor patio would offer more of a cosmopolitan feel, an urban oasis where one could mesh with both locals and tourists alike.  There’s something to be said about indulging in a bit of imbibing and when interspersed with a smidgen of people watching – Voila! - You have a near perfect recipe for a dose of cultural observation mixed with a splash of mindless entertainment.











So immerse ourselves we did.  What better way to understand the vibe and soul of a city than by settling into one of the denizens of outdoor bistros that littered a bustling pedestrian promenade?  Sipping vino after vino we languished the afternoon away, curious observers of human urban behaviour at its finest – From casually eavesdropping in on undecipherable foreign lingos, or bug-eyed in astonishment at the hordes of over-budgeted shopaholics schlepping home the bargain of the day to giggling hysterically at the frenzied antics of a bus-load of clue-less globetrotters out to conquer the world – was perhaps not the most productive way of biding one’s time, but certainly one of the most entertaining! 





And, to add icing to the cake, guess who was approached by a pack of lost and stranded travellers, querying for directions to the monument of the day?

So, then, that leaves the question that begs to be asked.  Did we squander our time away?

If only for a few short hours:  We.  Were.  Rotterdam.  Nonetheless, we were in Rotterdam.

And, as for those incredible “not to be missed” landmarks?  Well, there’s always next time.  The perfect excuse for a return visit.

Come languish the day away on an outdoor patio with a view, assimilating with the locals, playing tour guide to clue-less tourists and appreciating the ambiance of a cooler than cool urban Dutch metropolis.  This.  Is.  Rotterdam.


Next post – in two weeks!!  Stay tuned for the adventures of Pink Sneakers on the Go with side-kick Mr. Oz in the Netherlands.  Catch up on Wed, April 1st!!


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