Goedemorgen en afscheid, Leiden

"In the main street stands the chief architectural adornment of the city, the old Seventeenth Century Town Hall." R. Lovett #QotD

"In the main street stands the chief architectural adornment of the city, the old Seventeenth Century Town Hall. It is well able to hold its own as a picturesque and typical example of Dutch building of that day. The spire is especially fine."   p. 191

"Holland and Delft" by Richard Lovett in Holland as seen and described by famous writers (1906) Edited by Esther Singleton

... the Breedestraat, the main thoroughfare, has several handsome buildings in addition to the ancient Town Hall" R. Lovett #QotD

"Leyden is only a few miles north of The Hague, and the railway runs through a fertile agricultural district. It is situated on the Rhine, the waters of that river entering the city in two branches, the Old and New Rhine, uniting near its centre and flowing slowly through the town. Like Haarlem, it conveys the impression of being well-to-do. The people are well dressed, the houses are clean and commodious; the Breedestraat, the main thoroughfare, has several handsome buildings in addition to the ancient Town Hall; and the great University has not only earned a world-wide reputation, but also brings yearly into the town hundreds of young students, drawn to a large extent from the best families in Holland."   p. 188

"Holland and Delft" by Richard Lovett in Holland as seen and described by famous writers (1906) Edited by Esther Singleton

Kicking off Catalogue of Life/@Biodivlibrary/EOL/GBIF, et al meeting in Leiden at Naturalis

"Dans le port d'Amsterdam / Y a des marins qui chantent ..." Jacques Brel #QotD #Amsterdam

Dans le port d'Amsterdam
Y a des marins qui chantent
Les reves qui les hantent
Au large d'Amsterdam
Dans le port d'Amsterdam
Y a des marins qui dorment
Comme des oriflammes
Le long des berges mornes
Dans le port d'Amsterdam
Y a des marins qui meurent
Pleins de bire et de drames
Aux premires lueurs
Mais dans le port d'Amsterdam
Y a des marins qui naissent
Dans la chaleur paisse
Des langueurs ocanes

 - Jacques Brel, "Amsterdam"

These views aren't the port, exactly, but the open waters near the new library. Fitting to be quoting from Brel today as I head out of the Netherlands for a meeting in Belgium!

 

A visit to the Albert Cuyp street market in Amsterdam

As regular readers know, I love to visit markets whenever I have a chance. On this trip to Amsterdam, I had the opportunity to visit the Albert Cuyp Street Market. Lots of interesting stalls and shops, some amazing fish stands, cheese,

Another highlight of the market was a group of Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) that perched on the fish stall waiting for scraps.

Some other market visits include:

• Panama City, Panama
• Little India, Singapore
• Fish Market, Busan, South Korea
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
• Ver a Peso, Belem, Brazil