Monday, January 19, 2004
Lusting for Noordeine
Monday and raining again. The rain has fallen horizontally here (with the attendant wind), so even my poor umbrella is of little use. Still, I try.
I explored the city yesterday during a rare break in the weather, and even on Saturday when it was still raining. Sunday, I went from Scheveningen through Westbroek Park to Archipelbuurt, then down to Centrum once again. The beach was absolutely filled with people at play, despite temperatures in the low 30s.
On Saturday, I took Tram 17 to Centraal, then walked to Hollands-Spoor and along Parallelweg to the open market. Absolutely fascinating, and the most un-Dutch place I've yet visited. From there, I walked back toward Centrum, walked around near the Passage and back up Scheveningsweg to Vivienstraat. Centrum is beginning to feel like home, and I'm lusting after an over-priced flat on Noordeine at Maziestraat in the heart of everything. One bedroom for 1300 ($1,582.62) inclusive is outrageous, but the living room overlooks Noordeine. Oh, to be rich!
I've viewing Willem Kuijperstraat 78 tonight, in the south of what could be called Scheveningen. A bit remote, as it is south of the main Scheveningen shoppingstreets but a few blocks from the Fred, but I can walk there from the ICTY.
I've burned through my first Strippenkaart. It lasted one week, and got me back from Centrum on Thursday night, down to Centrum and back on Friday night, down to Centraal on Saturday and back from Centrum again on Sunday. That's five trips, each over two zones. At 6.40 euros per card, each of these trips cost me roughly $1.56 at today's (slightly improved) value. Not very affordable, I must say. At this rate, I'll spend $31.17 on the tram next month alone. Still, to justify the 55 euro ($66.96) mothly pass, I'd have to ride the tram more than twice as much (nine Strippenkaarts).
On with my search for a bicycle.
The euro is at $1.21 something today. Keep on rallying, dollar!
I explored the city yesterday during a rare break in the weather, and even on Saturday when it was still raining. Sunday, I went from Scheveningen through Westbroek Park to Archipelbuurt, then down to Centrum once again. The beach was absolutely filled with people at play, despite temperatures in the low 30s.
On Saturday, I took Tram 17 to Centraal, then walked to Hollands-Spoor and along Parallelweg to the open market. Absolutely fascinating, and the most un-Dutch place I've yet visited. From there, I walked back toward Centrum, walked around near the Passage and back up Scheveningsweg to Vivienstraat. Centrum is beginning to feel like home, and I'm lusting after an over-priced flat on Noordeine at Maziestraat in the heart of everything. One bedroom for 1300 ($1,582.62) inclusive is outrageous, but the living room overlooks Noordeine. Oh, to be rich!
I've viewing Willem Kuijperstraat 78 tonight, in the south of what could be called Scheveningen. A bit remote, as it is south of the main Scheveningen shoppingstreets but a few blocks from the Fred, but I can walk there from the ICTY.
I've burned through my first Strippenkaart. It lasted one week, and got me back from Centrum on Thursday night, down to Centrum and back on Friday night, down to Centraal on Saturday and back from Centrum again on Sunday. That's five trips, each over two zones. At 6.40 euros per card, each of these trips cost me roughly $1.56 at today's (slightly improved) value. Not very affordable, I must say. At this rate, I'll spend $31.17 on the tram next month alone. Still, to justify the 55 euro ($66.96) mothly pass, I'd have to ride the tram more than twice as much (nine Strippenkaarts).
On with my search for a bicycle.
The euro is at $1.21 something today. Keep on rallying, dollar!
