This Saturday we went to Utrecht to walk around. It was quite hot/tropical for here, in the 80s (25 degrees plus in Celisus as it is measured here).
Utrecht is often described as a smaller, quainter version of Amsterdam in its old canal area.
We parked at a garage near Griftpark. We walked along the canal until we reached Oudegracht, a curved canal that partly follows an old arm of the Rhine River.
There were many people out in kayaks in this hot weather, spiking Joe’s jealousy that the company would not move our kayaks here for us so we sold our beloved boats.
Utrecht is the capital and the 4th largest city (Eindhoven is the 5th largest).
In Utrecht there are lower streets at the canal level that were mainly used as wharf warehouse storage facilities. The houses were built on top at the main street level. Today many restaurants, bars and shops occupy these below spaces making the canal life here quite active.
Quintessential orange bike on the canal bridge
Dom Tower (Domtoren) dominates the skyline. It was once part of Dom Church, but the unfinished nave collapsed due to a tornado in 1624, leaving the tower to stand alone apart from the church. The tower was completed in 1382. It is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands at 368 feet. If it hadn’t been so extremely hot we would have taken a guided tour & climbed the 465 steps to get a good view of the city. Jackie is certain once she is further along in pregnancy she will not be able to make such a climb and even now couldn’t without frequent breather breaks. Looks like Jackie has to convince Joe to climb the tower again on a subsequent trip with their daughter. On a clear day, you can see Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Dom tower from Oudegracht
Dom tower
Dom Tower from Domplein Square
The cloister of St. Martin’s (Dom Cathedral)
I love the gargoyle downspouts
Jackie & baby girl bump at the cloister of St. Martin’s
We walked back up Oudegracht. Dom tower
We stopped for an early dinner at Stadskasteel Oudaen, which also brews its own beer.
Next time we will try to sit in the basement on the patio along the canal
Jackie’s appetite amazes Joe these days. After a ful meal on this hot day, we still stopped for an ice cream cone.
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