Hotel Rooms

I thought I'd post photos of the hotel rooms that I have had while on this tour. All have been great and all of the hotels too, with very good breakfast spreads, not that I eat much.

First up was the Sofitel Brussels Le Louise. Room 312. 

Then we moved onto Brugges and stayed at the NH Brugge. I was in room 109

Next hotel was in Luxembourg. Not in the city but at a Golf resort about a 20 minute drive from the city. 

Mercure Kikuoka Golf Club Hotel, Canach.  Room 109 again.

The surrounding area was very peaceful.

Then onto Liege. The Crown Plaza Leige, room 308.

And finally, here at the Hotel Okura, Amsterdam.    Room 1605. 

Bathroom privacy screen up

Bathroom privacy screen down.

Day 8 - Liège to Amsterdam

Saturday 3rd September 2016
Sunrise 6:55am – Sunset 8:23pm

Weather Forecast:   22 partly cloudy

Steps:                   10,702           7.38 km

I had a very restless night last night, even though the bed was very comfortable.  I woke up around 5:45 and as the wake up call was due at 6:15, just got up anyway.  Toast and orange juice was all I had for breakfast this morning.

Departure was at 8am and we were away on time.  The last time I checked the weather forecast no rain was mentioned but just after 9am it started to rain. Thankfully, by the time we pulled off the highway for a comfort stop at 9:50am, it had stopped.

                                                                               

We arrived in Rotterdam just before 11am.  Rotterdam is a major port city in the Netherlands' province of South Holland. The Maritime Museum's vintage ships and exhibits trace the city's seafaring history. The 17th-century Delfshaven neighborhood is home to canalside shopping and the Pilgrim Fathers Church, where pilgrims worshiped before sailing to America. After being almost completely reconstructed following WWII, the city is now known for its bold, modern architecture. We had a look at the modern Cube Houses. 

The Cubic Houses

are a curious and magnificent architectural wonder located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They were conceived and constructed by architect Piet Blom in the 1970s. Blom was asked by Rotterdam town planners to solve the dilemma of building houses on top of a pedestrian bridge, and, having built similar houses earlier in another town, Blom chose to repeat the design in Rotterdam.  Structurally, the cubes sit tilted on a hexagonal pole. They are made up of concrete floors, concrete pillars and wooden framing. Inside, the houses are divided into three levels accessed via a narrow staircase. The lower level is a triangular area used as the living room. The middle level houses the sleeping and bathing area, and the highest level is a spare area used either as a second bedroom or another living area.  Completing the tilted design, the walls and windows are all angled at 54.7 degrees, providing excellent views of the surrounding area. The only drawback – aside from claustrophobia is that despite a total area of 100 square meters, the angled structure means only a quarter of that space is actually usable.  Aside from the uniqueness of the asymmetrical design, the cubic houses are meant to represent an abstract forest. According to Blom, the triangular top of each individual house is supposed to represent an abstract tree, which, when connected with its neighbor, becomes a sea of trees in a yellow, manufactured forest. 

Photos can be found here.  http://all-that-is-interesting.com/cubic-houses-rotterdam

We also visited the market place apartments. 

You can read all about it here.  http://www.mnn.com/your-home/remodeling-design/blogs/rotterdams-razzle-dazzle-market-hall-meets-apartment-complex-opens

I can’t see anything like this happening in Australia.  Fascination to see.

Within the same area, is another building, also designed by Piet Blom which is referred to as the ‘pencil’ building. 

http://www.failedarchitecture.com/dredging-the-dutch-city-part-1-rotterdam/

We left Rotterdam around 11am and headed to Delft.  

Delft, a canal-ringed city in the western Netherlands, is known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, hand-painted blue-and-white pottery. In its old town, the medieval Oude Kerk is the burial site of native son and Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer. Once the seat of the royal House of Orange, the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk houses the family's tombs and overlooks Delft's lively market square.

Cyndy and I had  lunch in the main square of the Old Town.

The group then visited the  Royal Delft Pottery showrooms and factory.

After that visit, it was off to the Hague, where we arrived shortly before 3pm.    The Hague is a city on the North Sea coast of the western Netherlands. Its Gothic Binnenhof complex is the seat of the Dutch parliament, and 16th-century Noordeinde Palace is the king’s workplace. The city is also home to the U.N.’s International Court of Justice, headquartered in the Peace Palace, and the International Criminal Court.  

We had a photo stop at the Parliament, 

then to the Peace Palace for the same.  

After that, it was on to Amsterdam, where we arrived at the hotel around 4.30ish.

Cyndy & I were not doing the dinner optional, so agreed to meet in the foyer and go walking around the local area

to suss out a place for dinner.  We found a café/bar (there were plenty of restaurants to choose from) a few blocks away from the hotel and had a light meal there.  Back to the hotel after that.  A late start tomorrow.

Day 7 - Luxembourg to Liege

Friday 2nd September 2016
Sunrise 6:53am – Sunset 8:20pm

Weather Forecast:   25 & partly cloudy

Steps:                        13,255           9.15 kl

We were on the road by 8:45 this morning, heading to Liège.

First up, we visited the Bastogne War Museum. We arrived there around 10:15am. This has recently been re-opened, after having an upgrade to the exhibition.  It was fascinating and very well presented.  A very similar presentation as the Waterloo Museum.  I can't remember how long we were there for but an extra 1/2 hour wouldn't have gone astray.

The Madrasson Monument is a star-shaped memorial, dedicated to the US troops who died during WWII's 'Battle of the Bulge"

The "Mardasson" memorial was inaugurated on 16 July 1950, and celebrates the lasting friendship between the American and Belgian people who were united by the Battle of the Ardennes in December 1944 and January 1945.

We then went to Bastogne and had an hour of free time.  Back on the coach at 1:10pm, heading to Durbuy, where we arrived just after 2PM.

It is the town itself with its shops, cafés and eating places set in narrow flowered and cobbled streets lined by old stone houses which forms the key attraction of this town. A walk through the old town is a must for every visitor.

Cyndy and I wandered over one of the bridges, watching some of the canoeists, canoeing along the Ourthe river.  

We then walked past the Topiary Park, to the next bridge.  There is a very unusual rock formation behind the mini golf course.

We departed Durbuy at 10 past 3.  Lots of clouds around this afternoon but the temperature is still in the 20’s.  I think we arrived at our hotel around 4PM.  It’s on a hill, so reception is level 7 at ground level and the rooms are on levels below that, with level 1 being down the bottom.

Liège, a city along the Meuse River in Belgium’s French-speaking Walloon region, has long been a commercial and cultural hub. Its old town is filled with landmarks dating to the medieval era, including the Romanesque Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew. The Grand Curtius Museum houses archaeological treasures and art within a 17th-century mansion, while Opera Royal de Wallonie has staged operas since 1820.

Cindy & I went for a walk, trying to find the Palais des Princes-Eveques but found the Liege Palace instead.

We then walked back to the hotel, in time for our "Bon Voyage Club" drinks before dinner, which was in the hotel.

An early start tomorrow.6:15 wake up and an 8am departure.

Day 6 - Luxembourg Sightseeing

Thursday 1st September 2016
Sunrise 6:52am – Sunset 8:18pm

Weather Forecast:   25-27c and partly cloudy

Steps:    11,599        8.57 kl

We had a late start this morning and didn’t depart the hotel until 9am.  It was a 20 minute drive into Luxemburg city and we met our local guide at 9:30am. 

We were supposed to see a view over the Petrusse Ravine, from the Pont Adolphe but it was under wraps, so we didn’t see the view from the bridge.

At that time of the morning, there didn’t appear to be a lot of activity around, as we walked through the old part of the city, visiting the Cathedral, 

which is right next door to the Library. 

The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin was originally a Jesuit church, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1613.  It is a remarkable instance of late Gothic style, revealing various components and ornaments inspired by Renaissance style.  At the end of the 18th century it adopted the picture of the Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, who had the power to work miracles, and who is the patron saint of the city and the country.  50 years later it was consecrated Saint Mary's church and in 1870 Pope Pius IX dedicated the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin.  Between 1935 and 1938 it was enlarged.

We also viewed the Palace of the Grand Duke. 

In its function as the city residence of the Grand Ducal family, it is situated right in the core of the Old Town.  Formerly the first town hall of the city occupied the site of the present palace; destroyed by a gunpowder explosion (1554), the town hall was rebuilt 20 years later.  In the middle of the 18th century the former City Scales were added as an extension, whereas the Parliament was built as an annex in 1859.  Since 1890 the main building has been the Palace of the Grand Dukes'.  From 1992 to 1995 it was restored thoroughly.

According to our guide, 15July to 15 September is when Luxembourganians have their 2 month holiday. 

In the same street as the Royal Palace, are also the European Court of Justice and the Luxembourg  European Parliament.

The walking tour finished around 10:45 and we didn’t have to be back at the coach until  12:30, so had plenty of time for a stroll around and a bite to eat, before then.

  

We went back to the hotel to freshen up, before departing on the optional to Trier in Germany, at 2:00pm

We arrived in Trier at 3:00, picked up Elka, our local guide and then did a slow bus tour around part of the city, including a view of the city from the top of a hill,

 before being dropped of for the walking tour.

Once the tour was finished, we had a couple of hours of free time and I went looking for some t-shirts, as I had packed tops for cooler weather than what we have been having and what is forecast for the next week or so.  We all met again at 6:15 and continued out to the winery  

for our tour of the winery and our wine tasting dinner.  It was a fun night and we departed there at 9:30pm and were back at the hotel shortly before 10:30pm.

6:45am wake up tomorrow and on the road at 8:30am.