Holland - Utrecht and Eindhoven

Flying over the North Sea towards the shores of Holland. A forest of windmills (one of many in the North Sea) like giant palms rises from the waves of the English Channel. Europe is using wind power and solar power to generate a large portion of electrical energy. Also makes for a great obstacle course for sailing regattas....if access into this aluminum wilderness is allowed.

What could be more typical for Holland, than canals....
It took me a few hours though to find my way through the maze of historical narrow streets (mostly one way traffic), canals, pedestrian zones, totally confusing street signage (Dutch language and local knowledge an asset, also obtaining a city street map in advance...) to reach my hotel in the 'Zentrum' of Utrecht. Great place for walking, rather complicated place for driving - and forget about parking. Parking meters in and near the Zentrum charge amounts high enough to discourage anyone from entering the 'sacred inner circle' with anything but a bicycle. The cars parked in this photo pay about 30 Euros a day for the privilege of being close to the 'action'. I found it out the expensive way, parking right in front of my hotel. However, the host of the hotel gave me good advice for my next visit: drive to the centre (Zentrum), unload your luggage at the hotel, then drive outside the centre and park in the suburbian streets gratis...walk back to the hotel or take a bus.
Better even - temporarily park heavy luggage at Amsterdam Airport - and take a train. Trains are cheap and take a traveller right into any city centre.....one learns!!!
However, a kind shop keeper whom I asked for directions after almost 'giving up hope' to find my hotel, took pity on me, and played pilot car through obscure little back roads to guide me to my hotel. Human kindness in action - what a wonderful welcome in a foreign country.

A place of rest in the Zentrum.....

Iconic Cathedral tower in Utrecht. It stands strangely isolated from the cathedral that belongs to it, across from a large public square. A glance at the pavement reveals, that some kind of large structure used to connect tower and remaining cathedral. Turns out, that in the 15th century a hurricane blew through Utrecht. It destroyed the main apse of the cathedral, hence the vacant space....

Shallow draft a must, when navigating canals in Holland....

Off to Eindhoven, a little more than 100 km south of Utrecht. Armed with city maps, bought in a store in Utrecht, directions from Google maps, and a belated discovery of a 'navigation system' in my rental car, finding my hotel was a breeze. The car's navigation system is great, as long as one is parked somewhere when looking at it. Glancing at it even for a moment, whilst negotiating four lane traffic on the highways, or city streets and lanes cluttered with hundreds of bicycle drivers, would amount to 'distracted' driving of the most dangerous kind.

But even in the busiest 'downtown' Zentrum, there are pockets of utter peace. Quiet lanes along canals lead one into little hiding places of almost undisturbed natural beauty.

Market Square in Eindhoven. Absolutely frontage to frontage chockablock with restaurants, bars and cafes - all of which filled to the brim with people. The weather co operated (same temperatures as Vancouver Island): sunshine and 25 (more or less) degrees Celsius.

One of the many stained glass windows in one of the Eindhoven Cathedrals shows a scene from Paradise. Looks as if the first two occupants of Eden danced too much tango....punishment awaits!

The tango scene in Holland is very much alive. Due to overwhelming 'jet lag' I missed last nights Milonga at Scala, one of the Eindhoven Tango venues. Average number of milongueros - 150 people. One of the most popular milongas happens once a month (apart from the regular weekly ones) in Nijmwegen, Holland, and is called 'Milonga International' at 'El Corte'. More than 250 people turn up (some flying in from as far away as Moscow) to participate. In order to 'get in' without facing a lengthy line up for the actual milonga, people participate in a pre-milonga workshop just to be able to garner entry to the milonga.
La Scala in Eindhoven is part of a large complex of a Cathedral and a Convent.
Well, missed the Friday Milonga, however, I won't miss the Sunday Milonga...

La Scala, part of the Buildings of a Cathedral and Convent....
I enjoyed a few classes with Paula Franciotti and Orlando Scarpelli, my tango teachers and friends from Buenos Aires, today in this venue. Classes are couple oriented, and the organizer was kind enough not only to organize the workshop, but to 'organize' a dance partner of the highest caliber, named Klaas, to dance with me during today's classes.

Talking about La Catedral del Tango....this one is hard to beat....

Hollanders and Visitors enjoying the sun on Market Square

Dutch Beer, cold and refreshing, some of the best in Europe...had to taste one of course!

Eindhoven Busker and Helpers....

Paula Franciotti and Orlando Scarpelli dancing at the end of classes on 11 July 2015, at Scala in Eindhoven, Holland....a beautifully danced finale to a day of intensive classes of Argentinian Tango.