A wonderful day filled with walking, talking, eating, shopping and laughing.
We awoke to see the sun shining and a forecast that thankfully promised no rain.
Our first stop was the outdoor market located just down the street where we found amazing seafood (such as the anchovies pictured above), vibrantly hued vegetables and a dizzying array or cheeses, olives, dried fruits and nuts and grains. This was one of today’s highlights for me and I ran about taking photographs and talking with the vendors and wishing I was here long enough to buy food for all the dishes that were swimming in my head. We gathered some provisions for dinner tonight and the small cocktail party we are having on Saturday, dropped our loaded shopping bags back at the flat and headed off to explore the city on foot.
We stopped in at WORM which is an alternative cultural centre where my sister and her boyfriend are working. We were there to watch some Super 8 film that was shot by the students that are taking part in the youth film workshop that Lisa and Paolo are teaching. It was great to see the work and this space and meet a few of their colleagues. My sister is writing her own blog talking about her experiences teaching and living in Rotterdam. If you would like to, you can check it out here.
Afterwards, we walked along the Nieuwe Maas River to enjoy a leisurely lunch at In Den Rustwat before heading back out into the crisp, late afternoon air to walk alongside the lake in the Kralings Park, take more photographs, locate some of the galleries that I want to check out tomorrow, visit some lovely food shops and even pick up a new pair of shoes. Finally, it was time to wend our way through the streets towards the flat for a simple dinner at home.
Tomorrow Lisa and Paolo are working so I will have a day to explore the city on my own. I will be armed with my map and a general sense of the city, my camera and a willingness to follow wherever my feet may lead me…