Friday, October 5, 2007
It's Not Just Beverly Hills ...
... That's has money to burn on odd lawn art.
I wasn't bowled over by the work of the artist.
I wasn't bowled over by the work of the artist.
Small Cars are In
Smart Car started the trend years ago; small, stylish, efficient cars.
Now everyone's getting in on the act. Small cars rule on Eindoven's crowded streets where the eco-conscious Dutch would not be seen dead in an Escalade!
Here's one from Citroen,
And Toyota has a mini car too...
The Suzuki is not quite as stylish...
And the Mercedes 'A' Series will soon be seen in the USA
Who was it who said "You don't have to be big to be beautiful"?
Now everyone's getting in on the act. Small cars rule on Eindoven's crowded streets where the eco-conscious Dutch would not be seen dead in an Escalade!
Here's one from Citroen,
And Toyota has a mini car too...
The Suzuki is not quite as stylish...
And the Mercedes 'A' Series will soon be seen in the USA
Who was it who said "You don't have to be big to be beautiful"?
Interesting Shops in Eindhoven
Not far from the town square is this charming little shop full of all sorts of essential accouterments for a life of style.
The sign above the shop door caught my attention...
There speaks the voice of experience...
The sign above the shop door caught my attention...
There speaks the voice of experience...
Sale - Eindhoven Style at de Bijenkorf
I suppose it's the Selfridges of Eindhoven, de Bijenkorf. Don't ask me how to pronounce it, I've tried many times and just can't get it right. It's interesting because they were having a big 3-day "Yellow Paper" sale while we were here.
The day before the sale was due to start, everything in the store that was going on sale was covered in...
That's right! Yellow paper.
And just outside the de Bijenkorf, at the weekly market, was this cheese lovers delight...
Imagine, all that cheese and no decent coffee :(
Every Town Has One...
(Note: This is my first attempt at using a little video in this blog. It may take a little while for the files to load before they can be viewed, so please be patient.)
He's something of a local legend, don't know his name, don't understand a word he's saying, but whatever it is, he feels it is important enough to share with anyone in earshot.
This poor quality video was taken by my cellphone as I was taken by surprise to find that he was "spreading the word" in the pouring rain!
Later, while sipping a poor excuse for an Americano at a nearby cafe, I had a lucky escape - he drove straight past.
He certainly has a lot of drive...
He's something of a local legend, don't know his name, don't understand a word he's saying, but whatever it is, he feels it is important enough to share with anyone in earshot.
This poor quality video was taken by my cellphone as I was taken by surprise to find that he was "spreading the word" in the pouring rain!
Later, while sipping a poor excuse for an Americano at a nearby cafe, I had a lucky escape - he drove straight past.
He certainly has a lot of drive...
Thursday, October 4, 2007
There's Something For Everyone in Eindhoven
As I wandered past the High Tech Bog, thinking that now I had seen everything, I saw a rocket in the street. What could that mean?
Of course, it's a Toy Shop, and I know at least one person who would find that a welcoming sight!
I couldn't get inside the shop as it was closed, but I did look through the window and saw a couple of familiar things. That Rin Tin Tin fellow and Snowy certainly get around. Last time I saw them was last year in Belgium!
By the way, if you click on the pictures you'll get to see the picture full size.
Of course, it's a Toy Shop, and I know at least one person who would find that a welcoming sight!
I couldn't get inside the shop as it was closed, but I did look through the window and saw a couple of familiar things. That Rin Tin Tin fellow and Snowy certainly get around. Last time I saw them was last year in Belgium!
By the way, if you click on the pictures you'll get to see the picture full size.
High Tech Bog
Eindhoven's central square boasts a new feature since my last visit.
In the south west corner of the square is this illuminated advertising thingy (I don't know how else to describe it) but while I was flushed with surprise at seeing something new in the square (things don't change as quickly here as they do in LALA Land), imagine my surprise when I saw the back side of this thingy...
Yes, it's a high tech bog. Quite how one fits inside it I do not know, and I had not the slightest inclination to cough up the 50 Euro Cents to have a peek inside. I imagine that there's scarcely enough room to tap your foot. Perhaps they should install them at airports in the USA?
In the south west corner of the square is this illuminated advertising thingy (I don't know how else to describe it) but while I was flushed with surprise at seeing something new in the square (things don't change as quickly here as they do in LALA Land), imagine my surprise when I saw the back side of this thingy...
Yes, it's a high tech bog. Quite how one fits inside it I do not know, and I had not the slightest inclination to cough up the 50 Euro Cents to have a peek inside. I imagine that there's scarcely enough room to tap your foot. Perhaps they should install them at airports in the USA?
Another Great Restaurant in Eindhoven
Listers (www.listers.nl) in central Eindhoven, is one of five restaurants by the same name. They all offer the same menu, which offers a delicious and varied choice of three course meals for 21.50 Euros - good value by any standard.
It's trendy, smart, fashionable, and clearly very popular with the "in crowd" in Eindhoven.
Despite appearing to be small from the outside, the interior is surprisingly spacious (do I sound like a realtor?)
Don't know how these people got in, perhaps they hadn't heard about the in crowd thing...
And as for these two...
Irish Pub in Eindhoven
The Celtic Pride is an Irish Pub in Eindhoven, but it does seem that proprietor is suffering from something of an identity crisis...
... the proprietor has a number of other names to capture your attention.
And...
So, we're in no doubt at all, whatsoever, that this is a genuine Irish Pub in the heart of downtown Eindhoven, are we?
But I wonder if there's an Irishman (or woman!) who can spot the inconsistency here...
Here's a clue, British Breakfast. 'Nuf said?
... the proprietor has a number of other names to capture your attention.
And...
So, we're in no doubt at all, whatsoever, that this is a genuine Irish Pub in the heart of downtown Eindhoven, are we?
But I wonder if there's an Irishman (or woman!) who can spot the inconsistency here...
Here's a clue, British Breakfast. 'Nuf said?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Dinner in Eindhoven
The red, wgite and green awning that can be seen from our baloney marks the location of one of the best Italian restaurants in Eindhoven - Da Verdi.
The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the price is..., well everything is expensive when measured in Euros, but Da Verdi is worth every Cent.
Check their website at http://www.daverdi.nl
The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the price is..., well everything is expensive when measured in Euros, but Da Verdi is worth every Cent.
Check their website at http://www.daverdi.nl
Flight From Hell - Part IV
All hands on deck!
That's me in the blurry picture kindly provided by a fellow passenger. I'm wearing the green shirt.
It really was a bizzare experience, and the cabin crew were very sympathetic, supplying us with napkins, buckets, and pillows to fend off the horrid drips.
Had the flight lasted any longer, no doubt KLM would have issued emergency umbrellas to beleaguered passengers.
As it was, the Purser provided us with coupons to get our clothes dry cleaned.
After the flight from hell, it was a relief to step into the rain in Amsterdam, getting slightly soaked as we tracked down the hire car.
Two hours later, we reached Eindhoven, exhausted!
That's me in the blurry picture kindly provided by a fellow passenger. I'm wearing the green shirt.
It really was a bizzare experience, and the cabin crew were very sympathetic, supplying us with napkins, buckets, and pillows to fend off the horrid drips.
Had the flight lasted any longer, no doubt KLM would have issued emergency umbrellas to beleaguered passengers.
As it was, the Purser provided us with coupons to get our clothes dry cleaned.
After the flight from hell, it was a relief to step into the rain in Amsterdam, getting slightly soaked as we tracked down the hire car.
Two hours later, we reached Eindhoven, exhausted!
Flight From Hell - Part III
As the drips became a torrent of nasty, brown oily liquid, the cabin crew sprung into action, providing us with buckets to protect ourselves from the downpour...
I am not joking!
I am not joking!
Flight From Hell - Part II
It could be worse, and it was!
About an hour before we were due to land at Amsterdam, passengers in front of me noticed a brown colored oily liquid dripping down from the overhead compartments. We thought it was a broken bottle in someone's bag, but a check of the compartment showed nothing. Still the drip continued dripping...
The helpful cabin crew provided us with pillows to fend off the drips, while they stuck napkins to the area(s) where the drips seemed to be coming from. All to no avail as the drips got worse and became almost a flood.
About an hour before we were due to land at Amsterdam, passengers in front of me noticed a brown colored oily liquid dripping down from the overhead compartments. We thought it was a broken bottle in someone's bag, but a check of the compartment showed nothing. Still the drip continued dripping...
The helpful cabin crew provided us with pillows to fend off the drips, while they stuck napkins to the area(s) where the drips seemed to be coming from. All to no avail as the drips got worse and became almost a flood.
Flight From Hell - Part I
KLM were right, it was a full flight.
The view in front of me...
And to my right...
And a very, very, large gentlemen seated next to me...
Crammed into a window seat for the next 10 hours was not a pleasing prospect. Still, it could be worse, couldn't it?
The view in front of me...
And to my right...
And a very, very, large gentlemen seated next to me...
Crammed into a window seat for the next 10 hours was not a pleasing prospect. Still, it could be worse, couldn't it?
The Adventure Starts Again!
Well it's that time of year again, and we're off to Holland. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was here.
The KLM website said the plane was full, and advised early check-in so I left nothing to chance and did not dive into the last Starbucks before the airport to get one last Americano before the flight. With no Starbucks in Holland for the next two weeks, it was quite a sacrifice!
Imagine my delight when, after checking in and having 2 and a half hours to kill, I discovered a Starbucks in LAX! There is a god...
Of course, I was not allowed to take my precious Americano through security ...
The KLM website said the plane was full, and advised early check-in so I left nothing to chance and did not dive into the last Starbucks before the airport to get one last Americano before the flight. With no Starbucks in Holland for the next two weeks, it was quite a sacrifice!
Imagine my delight when, after checking in and having 2 and a half hours to kill, I discovered a Starbucks in LAX! There is a god...
Of course, I was not allowed to take my precious Americano through security ...
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Alan Johnston - Free!
On Jun 25, 2007, after 114 agonizing days of captivity, BBC Reporter Alan Johnston was freed by his captors in Palestine.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/world/2007/alan_johnston/default.stm
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Alan Johnston - BBC Reporter
Still in captivity, held by the Army of Islam in Gaza.
Join the 170,000 plus readers who have added their names to a petition to urge Alan's captors to release him
Join the 170,000 plus readers who have added their names to a petition to urge Alan's captors to release him
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