,
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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