Tuesday, November 29, 2011

O zi ploioasa in Utrecht / Rainy Day in Utrecht

It started to rain when I was still in the train which brought me to Utrecht. I had a meeting at 12, so I took an earlier train to allow me for a stroll in the town.


Like in Amsterdam, there are channels here too: Oude and Nieuw Graacht (Old and New Channels). A lot of restaurants, pubs and coffee houses made the stroll more agreeable.


An interesting objective to visit is the Cathedral Sf. Martin or the Domkerk. You may also climb the Tower (Domtoren) for a fee of 8 euros and with the effort of 465 steps.

I know these photos after photos have no quality but I hope they gave you a feeling of the atmosphere in town. May be, being in Holland, you will want to visit it too.

Incepuse sa ploua deja cand inca eram in trenul care ma aducea la Utrecht. Aveam o intalnire la ora 12, asa ca am luat un tren mai de dimineata, sa ma pot plimba putin prin oras.

Utrechtul este un oras studentesc, al patrulea ca marime din Olanda (cca.300000 locuitori). Ca si la Amsderdam si aici sunt canale, in principal doua: Oude Gracht si Nieuw Gracht, adica Canalul vechi si cel nou. Canalele au trotuare pentru pietoni, de o parte si de alta, tivite cu restaurante, cafenele, pub-uri. M-am plimbat putin de-a lungul lor, savurand atmosfera (mie imi plac zilele cu ploaie, mai putin momentul in care fotografiez:)). Printre casele vechi am dat, din intamplare si peste una cu semnificatie. Este vorba despre Palatul Paushuize (Groot Paushuize). Acesta a fost construit in 1517 pentru Adriaan Florisz Boeyens, care dorea sa se retraga aici. A devenit insa papa in 1522 (Papa Adrianus VI) si, dupa un an, a murit la Roma. In prezent, in cladire se afla sediul guvernatorului local.

Culorile inchise ale caselor erau accentuate de vremea mohorata.

Biserica Sf. Katherina a fost construita ca biserica a unei manastiri. Cand in sfarsit disputele religioase din Olanda au luat sfarsit, in 1853 biserica a fost restituita catolicilor, devenind catedrala romano-catolica a orasului.
 Groot Paushuize
 Biserica Sf. Katherina
 Oude Graacht
 Nieuwe Graacht
Dar obiectivul religios cel mai interesant, al caruit turn de 112 m inaltime se vede de peste tot, este Domkerk sau Catedrala Sf. Martin.

In anul 920 pe acest loc a inceput constructia unei biserici in stil romanic. Prima avariere serioasa a aparut in anul 1253, cand intregul oras a fost mistuit de foc,  timp de o saptamana. Biserica nu a suferit prea mult dar acum ea se prezinta in mod neobisnuit, avand turnul la o oarecare distanta. Acest lucru se datoreaza unui uragan puternic care, in anul 1674, a distrus mare parte din biserica si din oras dar turnul a ramas. La reconstructie s-a ales stilul gotic, luindu-se ca model - se crede -  Catedrala din Kolln.

Turnul (Domtoren) poate fi vizitat, cu ghid. Turul costa 8 euro si are loc intre orele 12-16, din ora in ora. Pentru a participa la el trebuie sa urci 465 de trepte.

In partea sudica a catedralei, intr-o curte interioara, se afla o frumoasa gradina de plante aromatice, care are in mijloc o mica fantana. Locul mi-a placut mult, iti confera o mare pace interioara. Fotografia insa nu e prea reusita, ca mai toate cele facute in acea zi.
Poate ati reusit insa sa simtiti atmosfera locului si sa socotiti ca, daca sunteti in Olanda, merita sa alocati o zi si pentru Utrecht. Distantele cu trenul, de la Amsterdam, sunt mici, asa ca puteti merge si intoarce in aceeasi zi, oriunde.

22 comments:

Joop Zand said...

Let me know if you comeback to Holland....maybe we can meet again.

your pictures are again very good , nice Holland promotion.

greetings, Joop

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

That river with the Autumn colors is really beautiful ...

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Joop, for good words and invitation to meet. May be, one day, who knows?

Traveling Hawk said...

I was also nicely impressed by the view, Wong!

VP said...

Rainy day, byt very good colors!

Dan said...

ce oras misto!!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, VP! The sky was dull.

Traveling Hawk said...

Bine ai venit pe blogul meu, Dan!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Isn't it always rainy in Europe at this time of year?! My friends are off on Christmas holiday to the Netherlands soon.

Duncan In Kuantan

Traveling Hawk said...

More or less, Duncan:) Thanks for the visit.

magda said...

Παρα την βροχη, οι φωτογραφιες σου ειναι εξαιρετικες, αγαπημενη μου φιλη!
Η Ολλανδια ειναι υπέροχη, ολες τις εποχες!
Ναι, γνωριζω οτι σε μερικα μερη της Ρουμανιας, ομιλειται η Βλαχικη γλώσσα.
Πολλους χαιρετισμους και φιλιά

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Magda! Even if I don't understand what you wrote, I am sure they are kind words.

Doug Hickok said...

i think the rain adds an interesting mood to the city... and helps saturate the colors :^) You are amazing with your travels and your eye for photography!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Doug! These travels are made in time. E.g. those in the Northern countries go back to 1997-1998. I am also amazed to observe how my photographing habits and, may be, abilities, changed in time, as all these are 13-14 yrs. old.

LifeRamblings said...

Holland is another place that I would love to visit again. a wonderful place, lovely canals, friendly people and colourful culture.

Traveling Hawk said...

Yes, Life Ramblings, it's small but nice.

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Gorgeous pictures!!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Phivos!

Francisca said...

I see you make the most of your work travels... (I do too!). The last time I was in Utrecht was over a quarter century ago to visit an aunt who then lived there. Your photos make me want to go back and explore the city some more.

Traveling Hawk said...

I think it's an interesting town, Francisca, which merits more time for wandering around!

J_on_tour said...

Incredible history. It reminds me of a cross between York and Amsterdam & I don't mean the rain !

Traveling Hawk said...

May be you are right, J_on_tour!