Treading Water?….Not Me!

Friday 4th October 2024. National Smile Day.

Rotterdam to Delft and back – 30km.

I felt in need of a ceramic fix. Since I went to Meissen I have developed a deep need for pottery!…or maybe I just need to keep riding my bike everyday?

I started with an interesting breakfast at the hostel….

The sachet on the left of the plate is chive salad….strange? On top of my cardboard coffee cup is a stroopwaffle. It’s two crispy waffle circles with a layer of caramel on the middle. I think it’s common here. I saw a young lad warming it on his coffee so I did the same…..I’m always on trend!

I was a little worried that today would feel like I was treading water, waiting for the ferry tomorrow….without a purpose. However, I had a great day. So great I was constantly smiling on National Smile Day.

Delft was a lovely small city. The cycle ride in sunshine was pleasant to get there too…

Here are some pictures of Delft.

City Hall.
Looking away from City Hall you see the square, churches and restaurants lining the side of the square. Absolutely stunning.
I thought I would give you another smile!
The Royal Delft pottery museum and factory were very interesting. This is a fancy piece.
Delft tiles showing a Rembrandt painting….and a smile.

I still had an afternoon available so I decided to head back to Rotterdam and visit SS Rotterdam, an old cruise liner that is harboured here. It is a hotel now but allows tourists to visit too.

Whilst cycling to get there I was ‘gobsmacked’ by the cycling tunnel under the river that got me there.

I have never seen an escalator for bikes! It’s a normal escalator too. If I let go of my bike it would kill someone near the bottom. It wouldn’t be allowed in the UK.
The tunnel was massive and it cutout a good distance if I had gone above ground on the bridges. It was free too.

After the tunnel I got a 50 cent boat ride to get to SS Rotterdam.

It still looks good.
Front view.
Back view.
The weather was glorious, so, I thought I would rearrange the deckchairs! Does that count as a smile….not sure? I look rather smug.

What a good day I was having. I got back to the room at the hotel and met again a young South Korean man called Tan. He is on the second day of a two month solo European trip. We went out for the evening.

I learned the Korean word for cheers….Kombee (the spelling is probably wrong).

He has a busy itinerary of major cities of Europe to visit. He was excited about his journey to come and I was enthusiastic about the journey I was finishing today. He was good company. I wish him the best for his travels.

I hope today’s blog and photos have put a smile on your face.

I certainly wasn’t treading water today, I was breaking new ground and I definitely went out with a splash.

Please assume I get on to the ferry on time tomorrow. I will do a trip review whilst I’m on the ferry and post it when I get back on English soil. Keep smiling!

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