It was 2011, Igroglaz and I lived in the Netherlands in the city of Wageningen, where one of the main universities in our specialty in the world is located – Wageningen University. And we were young soil scientists who came to the Netherlands for the first time. And immediately for a long time – at least for a year, or even longer. And of course, we really wanted to visit every city and every village. And so one morning we went to Utrecht.
Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, founded in Roman times. It is known for its picturesque canals with two-level embankments, where you can find cafes and shops. The tallest church tower in the Netherlands is located there (Cathedral Tower Domtoren – 112 m). And the lower level of the canals used to be used as warehouses for merchants.
Our day in Utrecht started with a rather unusual adventure. We were playing poker on the train heading towards the city, and a priest unexpectedly joined us! His brilliant moves made us laugh until we cried, and we realized that the day was going to be eventful.
Having reached Utrecht, we rented a catamaran for an hour. Everything was going smoothly until we got lost, having missed the right turn. In a panic and shouting “Drive!” we rushed past the picturesque canals. And then on our way we came across a broken boat with a couple desperately waving their arms. Like heroes of the movie, we took them in tow and brought them to the pier, feeling like rescuers.
Our feat was enough for us to be forgiven for 40 minutes of renting a catamaran. We continued on our way, having traveled around the whole of Utrecht, unknown to us. It was a real challenge with the music and hardcore atmosphere, but we still got to the pier, feeling like sailors.
After that, we went to McDonald’s to use the toilet for free and unexpectedly found 10 euros in our pocket. We bought ourselves lunch with this money, enjoying this small happiness. Then we took two large 0% yogurts, which we planned to stretch out for the whole day. In the evening, sitting by the water, we enjoyed one of them, watching the yachts and feeding the ducks with prunes and raisins from the yogurt.
On the way back, we came across a subculture festival. It was a bright event: music, dancing, unusually dressed people and a lot of energy. We bought souvenirs, including an amazing T-shirt with the inscription “vot ze duck” (although it’s a pity that I didn’t take a photo). We tried potatoes in a bag – crispy and tasty, like all the best in the Netherlands.
Having finished our walk around the city, we found a sunny spot in a cafe on the bank of the canal. There we drank beer, enjoying the views and the warmth. Before leaving, we decided to try our luck at the casino for the first time, and, as it turned out, it was worth it — we won!
On the way back, already on the train, we met the same priest again. He turned out to be a surprisingly cheerful person, played poker with us again and made us laugh at the end. And before the final chord of the day, passing by a grove near Benekom, we made a small “stop in nature”.
It was one of those days that you remember with a smile, filled with a warm feeling of adventure and slight madness!
31 июля 2011 г.
