A Pink Drink Stop...

The following day, Opee hared a pub crawl in Rotterdam for a Dark Side of the Moon Hash. 

I was very excited that our plan worked to take the pack up to the temporary rooftop placed on the architecture museum that Jimmy and I had visited earlier in the month. 

Opee concocted his own version of Tequila Rose, the pink cocktail that we had first tried in Glasgow. We had planned to do a drink stop on top of the pink rooftop, but it was too busy to do it discretely, so we had our shots back on the ground. 

The Art Depot made it easy to get a group shot...

…and a corny heart pic.

These hearts weren’t corny, but Little Sissy Pants definitely was.

I fell a bit behind the group when I stopped to admire this beautiful mosaic wall and one of the church members explained to me about the community project that built it. 

As we were a bigger group, we needed two tables at Tai-Wu, where Just the Tip had booked us for another amazing Chinese dinner. 

 

Leiden Boating...

It was a bit tricky to get on and off the boat; luckily the folks in the boat next to us were helpful when I had to climb down from this brick wall to meet up with the boys.

It was a beautiful night!

 

Leiden Boat Parade...

On June 24, Jim joined us for the Leiden Boat Parade. This year Jimmy was determined to watch it from Bootjuh. He managed to find a spot directly across from the Waag (old weigh house). 

It was a great spot to watch the boat occupants duck under the bridge.

Not sure what the official name is for a cross between a car and a boat, but they were entertaining.

Guessing that this kid crashed the parade, but he was adorable and made us smile.
 

Meanwhile in Exeter...

Veronica had opted not to attend the graduation ceremony for her master’s degree in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Exeter since there were only six students on her course and she spent nearly half her school year with us in Holland. However, she had signed up for the free rental of the cap and gown to get some photos around Exeter, including this one in front of the cathedral... 

…and many on campus. 

Here she is with Dreda, her best friend from her course and also hiking buddy from Expedition Society. They had spent the previous three nights on Dreda’s family farm near Wales and had some excitement when her van broke down en route to Exeter. 

After getting a tow, Robin, Dreda’s boyfriend, swooped in to get them to campus to pick up their gowns. Dreda and Robin had met in undergrad at Exeter’s Penryn campus, where Veronica would be headed in September. The four of them had a celebratory lunch at the Mill on the Ex and then drinks at the Cosy Club (the same chain where we had taken her for cocktails after her graduation at UEA in Norwich). 

Veronica and Brett later went out for dinner on their own to finish off their day of celebrating. Ironically, because Brett skipped doing his master’s before starting his PhD, for a short time in their lives, Veronica would have a higher degree than him. 

 

Spotted in Rotterdam...

Seeing a new Ox-Alien mural always makes me smile.

Flowers for You

These sculptures also made me smile. Heart Work Heroes was the biggest open-air exhibit for healthcare, showing appreciation for healthcare workers in a positive and colorful way. The hope was that this would help inspire young people to consider a career in healthcare.

Turquoise by Proxy

Pax

Apollo

Rotterdam

Joni Kling

Patatja Roffa 

 

More Rooftops...

While World Trade Center Rotterdam’s big green elliptical tower was built in 1986, the low-rise exhibition complex below the tower was finished just before being damaged during the the bombing of Rotterdam on May 14, 1940. Its copper roof has more than 21,000 round windows.  

It was cool to see the Markthal from yet another angle...

...as well as the Erasmus Bridge.

How nice that we found someone to take a photo of the four of us.

In addition to lots of displays about renewable energy, there were various sculptures...

…a rooftop garden...

…and a giant undersea mural.

It was surprising to see a tree sticking out of a car’s sunroof before learning it was a moveable piece of art designed to teach about the necessity of greenery in public spaces. 

After descending the final staircase, we headed over to Aloha for drinks and appetizers on the terrace.