Rotterdam!

"Hmm, amusing!”, said the Dutchman with a raised eyebrow, when I tried to strike a conversation with him in Rotterdam. And I knew he meant precisely what he said. Had I been on the other side of the sea, on the English Isle, it would have meant exactly the opposite. This perhaps, has kept the Dutch, from ruling the world, unlike their English neighbours (who say one thing and do/mean quite another). They (the Dutch, of course) speak straight to your face, whatever they think.

They have been, I learnt, traders for quite a few years. .They would sell a refrigerator to the Eskimo, if need be. Transporting a sack of potatoes to Japan, as also huge locomotives to Peru, Rotterdam, is the largest port in the world. The Germans tried to catch up, with Hamburg, but were not efficient on this count, it seems. Though, another port has now overtaken the Dutch. They have been charting the world routes since the 1500s. The manuscripts of the old cartographers can still be found, very well preserved, in the maritime museum in Rotterdam. And so can be the models of several ships, well documented


The Dutch are a very warm people, from what I could make out from the ten days I was in the country. Almost all people can speak English, unlike most of the other cities in Europe (barring England, but they too are slipping, and don’t speak English anymore. The Queen’s English, I say, what? )

This port was razed to the ground, in World War II. And the architects decided to build a city, as beautiful, or more so, than Amsterdam. (As I understand, there is another Amsterdam, AND a Rotterdam 20 minutes from it, in New York state in the US of A).


There are curious buildings, leaning, and supported by a pole.

We also have bridges, large ones.



A Euroscoop, a large tower, overseeing the whole city. And they raised the height, to snatch back the honour of being the highest tower, after some other city built a tower as high (or higher ) than Euroscoop.


Another trait is their penchant for cycling. This country is below sea level, and waterways, transportation keeps this country ticking. The famous windmills, which keep generating energy, at almost no cost, and being environmentally friendly at the same time, is another noticeable feature. They have been using wind power for quite some time now.

We ventured out on cycles, rented at Euro 6.5 a day, to explore the city. And what a convenient way, except the chilling winds (which took their toll, two days later, by way of a heavy cold and running nose).

The girls, hmmmm, they are quite pretty here ;) And they have an interesting way of greeting, three pecks on the cheek, one after the other. Now who would not want to greet gals that way…*lol*

Rotterdam, is indeed interesting, and I have not been able to see any other museums. I look forward to visit this city again.

talldarkman