Long weekend to København

So last weekend, I took the night train to København (Copenhagen) and back (the 16th-19th). Partially for me, to see the city, get away, and explore Europe, and partially because I've gotten us onto a project at work to take on the Copenhagen Bike Share Competition.



-Train to Moskwa - So, part of my train went to Moscow, thankfully, my part went on to Denmark, my intended destination



-The clear clean waters and picturesque city of København



-Danes on bikes - catching bike culture with the city, doing double duty for vacation and project research



-Some fancy courtyard - I didn't pay attention the entire time to where I was



-Waterfront panorama - this is the view of the main waterfront, on the main river, in front of the library



-København Library - one of the architectural highlights (of modern architecture) in the city



-Library atrium - so Danish, all clean lines, natural materials, and either black or white



-Main entrance to the library - (I think)



-Library atrium looking out - really frames the view across the river



-Old meets new - This is where the old part of the library attaches to the new



-Super big round ring light



-Waterfront buildings - so many nice old water/harborfront buildings



-Side street - the archway at the end of the street looked cool, a bit communist looking even



-Postcard perfect - this is one of the main streets that ends up on the postcards for the city



-København Opera House - the other main modern architectural highlight of the city



-Skuespiller Huset - (theatre), also a highlight of modern architecture in the city



-More waterfront buildings - this one looks like its converted into apartments



-Bike parking - at the Theatre



-Opera House from across the water at Ameliehavn - an impressive, and almost intimidating view of the building



-More old waterfront buildings



-Big statue/fountain - info/details unkown



-The Little Mermaid - probably the most iconic/famous part of København, but also the least interesting, and anti-climactic



-Churchillparken - an old fort in the city



-Medieval looking buildings in the city



-Fast Cargo - The Larry vs Harry flagship store for the Bullitt (Worlds Fastest cargo bike), sadly, closed while I was there, which sucked because I'm a real big fan of these bikes



-Empty Bycyklen rack - (Bycyklen being the bike share bikes they want a new version of)



-Bycyklen - iconic and fairly robust, but not quite attractive bike share bikes



-Opera House panorama



-Sunset at the Opera House - I really like the outdoor lighting here, very clean



-Amielienborgplads from across the river - contrast of new and old architecture here



-Inside the Danish Design Centre - classic Braun on display on the permenant collection, in the basement, next to the installation for the Braun Prize



-Interesting exhibit at the Danish Design Centre - not sure if I fully absorbed it, but the swings were fun, as was the carwash like paper things in the background there



-Central space of the Design Centre - featuring some typical Danish designs



-City "lake" - there's a kind of series of these "lakes" that seperate 2 neighborhoods as a form of parks



-Fixie scene - fixie fever has gotten the Danes too, was surprised with the number of fixies and singlespeeds I spotted in the city (was similarily surprised by this same phenomenon in Toronto last time I was home), this bike I spotted on more then one occasion



-Islands Brygge Havnebadet - on the other side of the river/harbour, is the swimming pool, which is actually just an sectioned off area of the river where people swim when the weather is nice (the water in the city is that clean)



-Monday morning commute - some more research, it was interesting to observe the differences in bike culture here versus the Netherlands and other places



-Bycklen at Hovedbanegården (central station) - lots of bikes and bike racks, of course the cheap bike share bikes were seldom to be found (this lone one at the station I took for a brief test ride)

If anyone has any great ideas or suggestions for the competition, I'm open to hear it.

Walking from main-land to Ameland, through the North Sea

Last week Saturday, on yet another work outing, we travelled up to the north of Holland, and went "wadlopen". Essentially, trudging through the mud, along the coast then across the sandbanks in the water (low tide) to the island, making about a 11km trip. It turned out to be much more fun and interesting then I expected. I realy enjoyed the nature, outdoors, and just atmosphere there.



-Friesland - the landscape in northern Holland close to the North Sea



-Ameland - the approximate route we did (I think) (on Google maps, if you turn it off satelite but on one of the other functions, it's just sea between mainland and the island)



-It Begins - To start, we walked away from the ferry terminal, in the opposite direction of the island (some of us were sceptical of the direction)



-Enter the mud - the is where the guide told us in the dutch expression that we're not walking on eggshells today, so you've just got get going in the mud and accept the fact you'll get dirty



-Beautiful day to walk on water - we had perfect weather



-Almost like glass (except if you were there, you'd be about ankle deep in mud here)



-Moses just parted it - but we walked through it, kinda looks like we're just marching out to sea



-Shallow water break - time for some food



-Sheeple - one of the large groups ahead of us



-Beautiful seabed?



-Flatbottom boat, stranded - (on purpose)



-Sea greens?



-Sand formations



-Perfect weather



-non buoyant buoy



-High ground to low ground



-Trying to keep the packs dry



-A river runs through it?



-wow



-And on the island - at last



-Challenge # 2 - for those that still had it left in them, the challenge was to run the 50m to the patches of grass in front of the rocks, grab a handfull, and run back with some green showing



-It was a challenge - this is where it got deep, and mobility was low, almost like quicksand, but not quite, the only way to get out or move anywhere was crawling on our bellies



-Winner - being the youngest might have had something to do with it (that and long legs may have helped)



-super enthusiastic (be thankful you can't smell what I smelt like from that black oily mud)



-2km to go? - wash up wasn't that close by, nor was the taxi



-Wash up - this is where everyone who wasn't as dirty just washed off their feet, I decided to try to wash more then that



-Stayokay Hostel



-Ah the beautiful sea - (the next day, on the north side of the island)



-At the beach - me and 2 of my colleagues



-Ameland landscape - lots of dunes and dune grass



-Lighthouse - oh so picturesque



-Landscape in motion - shot taken from the bus on the way back across the island, to the ferry

Good times.

Surfing

I'm really liking surfing, went last week Friday after work, and again last night. Lots of wind last week, not too many waves, but enough to play around a bit in the surf. Tonnes of kite surfers out whenever there's wind.



-Scheveningen - The surf place I got lessons from and rent stuff from in the fore ground, the North sea in the background, full of kite surfers.



-Free Architecture Surf Terrain - They set up, new this year, a little surfer village at the end of the beach by the pier using shipping containers. "The plan provides for a centre with showers and changing room facilities with lockers, sleeping accommodation, a small stage, a café with internet facilities and parking for surfers with campers." (DenHaag.com)



-Fireworks - So, as I was leaving on my rental bike, the whole fireworks show started, from a barge just off the beach in the water. Lots of spectators.

Last night went surfing again. This time, I didn't so much check the weather report as just what the waves would be like, and glanced at the beach webcams a few times through the day at work to see what it was like.
There were good waves, but there was also lots of rain, wind, hard rain, lightning, and chickpea size hail. So I managed to surf a bit when it let up and there was a clearing in the sky. At least the weather systems here don't really hang around too much, but switch up.
(no I didn't go out surfing on the water when there was hail or lightning, I'm not that hard core... yet).

Cycling fun

Not too much to post.
Things are going well over here, back again in the NL after another 3 week vacation in Canada.
Last weekend, when i decided to go surfing, I also decided since the weather was so beautiful to bike to the coast.
5 hours later I got there, much longer then it should have taken. I discovered later, it was a perfect day for sailing apparently (which I guess I noticed with a constant headwind, and averaging only 20km/h. Ugh.

Came across a today about bicycles and it made me happy:

Moved/Evicted

So the illegal sublet situation has come to an end, and with it my sweet floor to ceiling penthouse living. So sad.
And I'm now living in my new place already. Less penthouse, more 'cozy', still living on the top floor, overlooking everything around me, but in an older building. And this time it's legal, and I've officially registered at the municipal office as living here, in the city, (and in the country, which I hadn't done yet).

My new digits, for anyone who needs them for snail mail:

William van Beek
Burgemeester Reigerstraat 81
Utrecht, Nederland
3581 KP



-Room with a view - kinda still, maybe not as nice, but I've still got enough windows and natural light, and overlook enough surrounding buildings.

Metric, live @ the Melkweg in Amsterdam

Caught Metric in Amsterdam last night; was an awesome show. It was my first time seeing Metric live, and was quite impressed by the stage performance, showmanship, and quality of sound they put out. No opening act meant I also managed to be back home in Utrecht after the show before midnight, which was pretty good considering working today. Bike rentals are super handy for this kinda thing, to jet from the train station, to a venue, and back.

Even Emily herself commented on loving the sight out of her tour bus as they pulled into town, of seeing everyone here riding along on bikes.



-Metric @ the Melkweg - was a nice venue, intimate enough atmosphere, not too large of a hall.

Next up, Patrick Watson on the 26th.

Super phat analog shit

(or at least that's how the event was dubbed at dB's studio in Utrecht)

Caught Great Lake Swimmers this past weekend here in Utrecht. Went to the show with 2 of my cousins who I got onto the band. I'm passing along all of my Canadian Indie taste to as many as I can, hehehe. The opening act was Audiotransparent, a Dutch band from Groningen. I was really really surprised by the sound of the Dutch band, they were really really good. The sound reminded me a bit of some other stuff I've heard mixed together, but can't quite put my finger on it (Jars of Clay maybe?). They also performed one or 2 songs together with Great Lake Swimmers, and the 2 bands complemented each other super well. Was a great show, in a cool little venue. Also good beer on tap, a Belgian called La Chouffe (which on the website seems to be showing a little drunken gnome in wooden shoes).

And while waiting before the show to start at the bar, the DJ was playing some cool tracks, and I liked one by Yo Le Tengo (which I'd never heard of before, but apparently have been around for a while - but indie).

(Also caught Holy Fuck! in Utrecht last week as well. Another good show by more Canadian talent. Am I having identity issues?)

Next on the Agenda, Metric playing in Amsterdam this Wednesday, and Patrick Watson on the 24th. Haven't bought tickets yet, but hopefully I'll get some in time.



-Audiotransparent - so, we didn't have the best spot to see the stage fully, because of the damn pillar thing to the left, but it was still good.



-Great Lake Swimmers - snuck around to the left of the stage to take this shot, gotta love the instrument range in this band.



-And my two cousins - I'm not sure if alcohol influenced this picture at all.