F.A.B.

Monday 30th September 2024. International Thunderbirds Day.

Amersfoort to Utrecht – 25km.

I mentioned that I was expecting rain later today. The forecast was right but I was already in Utrecht by the time it started.

The morning was cool and bright. My route was short but pleasant….cycling through a forest on a good track. I was in Utrecht by 10.30am. It’s a city I have briefly visited before with Janice on our Rhine cycle trip in 2019. I remember that it was a pretty canal city but the skyline dominant feature (its tall Dom Tower, known as the Domtoren, was covered in scaffolding.

I found my hostel, parked the bike nearby. I couldn’t check-in till 3pm. I changed my footwear and I was raring to get started. ‘Thunderbirds are Go’, so to speak!

Here was the Domtoren without the scaffolding. It isn’t part of the Dom but it is next door to it.
A photo from the Dom cloister.

It started to rain….what a good job I had my umbrella.

It could have been an international catastrophe if I’d got soaked. It might have needed Thunderbirds 4! It’s a good job that I am the ‘Brains’ of the outfit!

At this point I will stop the Thunderbirds puns, otherwise it would lead to an inappropriate joke, about Lady Penelope and the chauffeur Parker, that my family have heard me tell many times. It isn’t for the blog but feel free to ask me ‘offline’.

I checked out the Neude Biblioteek (New Library) which had previously been a Central Post Office.

It looks a bit austere. I know the Dutch have relaxed laws about cannabis but the delivery they were receiving looked a bit excessive!
Inside the building was unique. A great hall for sitting, meeting and working. Not a book in sight! I don’t think people go to libraries for books any more.

I had noticed that there was a Concert venue near the hostel and a tribute band were playing tonight. It was ‘Rumours of Fleetwood Mac’. It was sold out but I went in to ask if they might have a cancellation ticket. The answer was no….but they suggested a ticket swap website and I managed to get a ticket. That was F.A.B. By the way, apparently, F.A.B. was totally made up and didn’t stand for anything other than it sounded like ‘FAB…ulous’.

I checked into the Bunk Hostel, here it is….

It’s an old church that has had a groovy makeover. Nice bar and cafe downstairs and bunk pods upstairs.
It looks a bit claustrophobic and I am struggling to manage my baggage but I think it will do me for two nights. The toilets and showers are all mixed….very Dutch! Have funky lighting that constantly changes colour in my pod.
Cosy!
I also managed to get on the outside of my first piece of Dutch apple cake!

The hostel doesn’t store bikes. You can understand why when you see the number of bikes around the city. Cycling is a way of life here but no one is wearing any Lycra, so much so that I get funny looks….yes I know, that’s normal for me! I am taking the bike to a nearby underground store for cycles…

It is free for 24 hours and 70 cents for each 24 hours after. That is great encouragement to ride.

I have got a few things planned to see tomorrow. I think I will need the umbrella again (that’s why I bought it) but I might spend sometime in a good museum or two and I have had a tip regarding another converted church that is a good bar.

I’m sending an early blog. I will update it tomorrow regarding the concert.

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middlevern
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2 responses to “F.A.B.”

  1. Simon Avatar
    Simon

    Hi Richie. I saw Rumours of Fleetwood Mac last year in exotic Crewe, they were really good. I’m sure you will have a great evening. Best wishes from sunny Sardinia, Simon.

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    1. middlevern Avatar
      middlevern

      Thanks. Hope you are enjoying the sardines!

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