Travelling with Nick: Europe

Like so many other Brits, Amsterdam has a fascination for us. There are many reasons for this. Over the centuries there have been many contacts between the two countries. This has caused a mutual respect and liking for each other to develop.

The Netherlands like the U.K. was a great shipping and trading nation but the Dutch are better linguists than the Brits. It seems that almost everyone can speak English and many instructions for tourists are written in English as well as Dutch. This makes the Netherlands and Amsterdam in particular a very easy place for us to travel in.

There are so many more reasons for us all to travel to Amsterdam than just the ease of getting around and being understood. It is rich in museums, waterways and restaurants and within easy travelling distance is the marvelous Keukenhof Gardens which is the subject of a separate post (see the link below). And it seems that everyone is so pleasant and friendly.

Here are a few photos that I took as we traipsed the highways and byways (lots and lots of those) of Amsterdam

Bike Capital of the World?

The Waterways

Architecture

Westerkerk Tower

Royal Palace - Dam Square

National Monument - Dam square

This canal-side building at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 232
was built in 1626 and commissioned by Pieter Parys.

UvA

Westerkerk tower

Amsterdam Centraal Railway Station

Montelbaanstoren 1516 and 1606

Commemorative plaques to Henry Hudson

Interesting Shops

Ship Museum

Nick

Links -

Keukenhof Gardens Post

http://travelling-with-nick.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/the-keukenhof-gardens-nl.html

Travel Blog Index

http://travelling-with-nick.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/travelling-with-nick-index-page.html

Healey Museum Nl.

http://twincam-serendipity.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/healey-museum-nl-first-hand.html

We first became acquainted with Yorkshire about thirty years ago when friends moved to Easingwold. It soon became one of my wife's favourite U.K. locations.

We visited Harrogate a few years ago and this time we wanted to discover the North Moors area. We based ourselves in Pickering, staying at The Best Western Forrest and Vale Hotel (lovely staff and great food).
We knew nothing of Pickering before this visit but found out that it has been an important habitation for hundreds of years. It really came into its own when William the Conqueror (Reigned 1066- 1087) chose it has one of his bases for the ill-famed 'Harrowing of the North'.
At first a rough and ready motte and bailey construction was made. Then over subsequent years a substantial stone castle was built. The remains of this castle can still be visited today, it is maintained by English Heritage.
The castle is not the only old building of note in Pickering, there is the Parish Church of
St. Peter's and St. Paul's which can trace its foundation back to Saxon times. Most of what we see now, including the famous wall paintings, dates from the 15th Century.
There is also the North Moors Railway station. It seems that this whole post could be dedicated to Pickering there is so much to see and do in this one town. And we didn't know it!! This was a bonus.

It is my view that within twenty minutes of setting out from any point on the A170 road from Thirsk to Scarborough one would find something of interest. This area is so rich in historical and visual delights.

From now on I am going to let the following photographs tell their own story.