Walking Across Rotterdam...

Across the way we spotted De Zalm Haven (The Salmon Port), the Netherland’s tallest building. 

Notice anything unusual about this Ferris Wheel?

It had no seats and looked like it never had any. In fact, the entire attraction park looked pretty dodgy; we wondered if it was perhaps somewhere to launder money rather than bring the kids for a fun afternoon. 

Always love finding reflections of blue skies with fluffy clouds...

…and places to take simple selfies (the only kind I can manage). 

We had a delicious lunch at Sharp Sharp Bakery Café. We shared some veggie bread and a savory muffin...

…followed by an amazing sampler plate of mini cakes. It was all so delicious that we hope to return for high tea.

We then headed to the Feijenoord neighborhood to see some urban art. At the train station we spotted this intriguing piece...

…and these colorful ones. 

 

Off to Rotterdam...

The following day, I went along with Veronica while she met with the folks at the Floating Farm about volunteer opportunities. She was thrilled to meet these two calves. 

This was the view I had while I waited for her. It was cool to see that the cows were free to hang out outside on nice days. 

After her meeting, we took a walk past the Floating Farm as we made our way further into the city.

Cool to see that recycled asphalt was used in making this bike path.  

When I took Veronica across Dakpark, Europe’s largest rooftop park, I saw this part of the water feature again that can be played in...

…and then noticed this part that I’d failed to see before, which is clearly for decoration.

As we approached the Maas River, we spotted the SS Rotterdam and what appeared to be a Ferris wheel...

…and the south ventilation building for the tunnel under the river. 

I’d been in the Maastunnel once before on a hash, but it was Veronica’s first time. It is quite dramatic going down the wooden escalator...

…and seeing folks with bikes around you. It is especially incredible to realize that this tunnel opened in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. 

It was cool that the pedestrian section was 65 feet (20 meters) below sea level and that next door was extra special as the first car tunnel in the Netherlands. 

Loved how dramatic this exit was from the tunnel. 

Here’s the view looking back to the opposite side of the river and the ventilation building with the Euromast in the background.

Spotted in Utrecht...

As Veronica and I walked around Utrecht in search of street art, we also came across some other interesting spots, including this lock... 

…windmill...

…skinny house...

…and barge on the main canal carrying construction trash.

 

And Yet More Street Art...

Otter with Dom Tower was sweet. 

Interesting to learn that the artist first painted a 10-foot (3-meter) tall proposal to his wife on Monicahof and later took three days to paint this 3-D city sign over it. 

This piece on Grietstraat featuring four birds was painted by 15 students 

This piece by a collective of artists was a 23-foot (7-meter) tall reproduction of a painting by Pyke Koch in 1940 of his wife and muse Geertje. 

I couldn’t find any information about these last three pieces, but just liked them.  

 

More Urban Art...

This was an intricate artwork on two sides of this building of attached homes...

…featuring the countryside...

…a bus...

…and Dom Tower in the city center.

This was also an intricate piece on the corner of a school. 

I liked this sweet fairytale piece.

This was a vibrant way to show the house numbers...

…and to surround these tiny windows.

Apparently there were multiple sets around the city of what looks like 3-D googly eyes, but we only say this one impressive set. 

 

Utrecht Urban Art Walk...

On September 15, I went along with Veronica to Utrecht so she could have her COVID-19 vaccinations she received in the US accepted into her medical records here. First we caught this cool photo of the station...

…and then this cool photo of the building housing the Utrecht health authority. Veronica liked the building so much that after her efficient five-minute appointment, she found me and brought me inside for a quick look around.

Afterwards, we set off on one of the urban art routes around the city. Here are lots of veggies above the local Albert Heijn grocery store.

Supposively the former Dutch Railway Company used to own a lot of homes to rent to their employees. That neighborhood now has a variety of artworks featuring trains.

I had seen The Bookshelf on a hash several years ago...

…but it was Veronica’s first time. 

The three artists asked local neighbors about their favorite books, resulting in 49 books in 7 languages. 

Around the corner was this creepy fellow.