I find that graffiti and wall art can be an interesting mix of clever, stupid and criminal.
Useless Fact #13: The singular form of graffiti is, in fact, graffito, but due to lack of use graffiti is now considered either singular or plural.
They say the French know how to live and that may be true. They certainly know how to eat and drink. But the Dutch, now, they know how to plan a community. Most everywhere I look I see quality, great design, common sense and a desire to make things that are highly livable and built to last.
Intercity Canal
I took a bike ride yesterday and came upon a new development just a few blocks away. I thought I’d stepped into the pages of Dwell Magazine or Architectural Digest.
Neighborhoods and developments are all tied together with roads, waterways, bridges, foot trails and bike paths. All of which help foster a sense that we are all in this together.
Bike and foot path.
Neighborhood bridge.
Don’t get me wrong, there are spray paint cans sold here and lunkheads that know how to use them, but people do seem to share an innate respect for each others property and the common areas they all share.
Recycle bins.
Glass, paper, plastic. These stainless steel recycle bins are at the end of the street. Clean and well organized, with easy access. The squares they sit on flip back to give access to the larger containers mounted in the ground. These receptacles are not dented, painted or pissed on.
And for the kids.
Stainless steel spider gym set.
We are here to see the exhibit “The Soviet Myth” at the Drents Museum.
The Drents Museum
This show has been put together on a scale that could rival a Hollywood production. Barnum & Bailey would be proud. It starts with the gigantic, spotlighted Lenin statue, erected at the apex of the major roads and canal adjacent to downtown. Because of the scale, its presence is slightly surreal, like being transported to a different time and place.
Super Lenin
Welcome
The paintings themselves are as massive as they are fanciful. Bright carnival colors, huge images of dedicated, industrious, self-assured, healthy and purposeful young men and woman. Ever striving.
The Joy of Communal Work
Completely engaged super solders forcing back a faceless evil.
Benevolent leaders like fathers and super heroes all in one.
Massive, over 40′ wide.
My trusty partner steps In for scale.
And that Red! Always that Red!
At first glance these images seem designed to simply motivate, inspire and create an overwhelming sense of pride and confidence in the people they are supposed to represent. But then, in the west, we were taught to distrust these images, as I’m certain they were taught to distrust images of us. Perhaps, with all that behind us now, these iconic paintings have simply moved into the realm of a classic, incredibly well done and very enjoyable advertising campaign.
Bye Now.
Big Lenin – Little Wendi
The sun came in and out today so we decided a short road trip was in order. It’s a little windy and cold, 29 – 30F, but very beautiful.
My God the folks are hearty around here. In all the little towns we passed through, everyone, 9 to 90, goes everywhere on bicycles. Bright red hands and faces peddling against a 15 mph headwind. Tough. Way tougher then us.
The Center of Ijlst
Our first stop was Ijlst. I’ve heard it pronounced 10 times and still can’t get it right. A lovely little bedroom community now, at times it is a stop on the famous Elfstedentocht, the legendary ice skating marathon on the Friesland canal system. The race is 124 miles long and encompasses eleven cities. Our route was similar but somewhat shorter and warmer and involved frequent stops for coffee.
Ijlst
Bakery – Ijlst
Lumber Mill Windmill 2 – Ijlst
Lumber Mill Windmill – Ijlst
Hindaloopen
Lockkeepers House – Hindeloopen
Makken
Canal Locks at Makken
Workum
Art Gallery – Workum
The View From Staveron
Ijsselmeer
Even The Off Ramps Look Nice
N354
Leeuwarden St. Bernard
It’s not really drizzle. But then it’s not really rain. It’s rizzle. And with rizzle you have to persevere. In this case persevering constituted a short drive to Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. Leeuwarden’s most celebrated daughter was probably Mata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and accused spy who was executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I.
Mata Hari
This is a lovely little city despite the wind and cold and rizzle. Nice lunch, small shops, culture and beer.
Nieuwestad – Downtown Leeuwarden
They got cheese.
Coffee at the Fire Cafe
Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is an amazing structure and has a huge collection of Asian and European ceramics and tiles which, quite frankly, can make me a little nervous. When I was a kid we weren’t allowed anywhere near the “Good Dishes”. This is an entire palace full of the “Good Dishes”.
Keramiekmuseum – Leeuwarden
But then you get to the attic and they have life size contemporary pieces.
Yellow Dog -Keramiekmuseum
Boy -Keramiekmuseum
Just a little wacky.
Our long awaited Home Exchange has at last begun in earnest. This trip is special as we were fortunate to be able to enjoy some time with our Dutch exchangers Jan & Anneke. A great couple that we exchanged homes with 5 years ago. Adventurous, smart, fun, generous, let’s face it the Dutch are cool.
Anneke
Some gadget time with Jan
Over the years quite a few folks have expressed an interest in Home Exchanging but admit to a slight apprehension. All I can tell you is that there seems to be a little Zen in it. The nicer everyone is to each other, the better it works.
For those of you who have never ventured into Home Exchange before, exploring is the key. As lovely as Jan & Anneke’s home is, we didn’t come all this way to sit around the living room. Holland is a fascinating country with Amsterdam, de Hague, Harrlem and hundreds of picturesque towns. Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Bruges, are all in relatively easy striking distance by car or train. And with fairly inexpensive short European flights, the net gets even wider.
That been said, we are going to spend the first bit exploring Friesland when the sun is still low in the sky and spring is just now waking up slowly.
Canal side homes in Sneek, NL
I tend to think that Oregon has one of the nicest shorelines in America. Generally when I drive up the coast, I try to stay as close to the water as possible. That usually means turning off 101 north of Lincoln City and driving up through Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda, Netarts and Oceanside, then sneeking into Tillamook the back way. This time I decided to change my usual route and stayed on 101N as it twists inland through Cloverdale and Hebo.
Fishing is what we do.
Downtown Cloverdale
Downtown Cloverdale
The monument on this much neglected corner in Cloverdale should be anything but. It's there to commemorate hometown hero, Kenneth L. Reusser (1920 – 2009). Kenneth, a United States Marine Corps aviator, is considered the most decorated Marine Aviator in history, having flown 253 combat missions, earning 59 medals, including two Navy Crosses while flying in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He is the only aviator to survive being shot down in all three wars. An American hero for sure.
Approaching Garibaldi
Bits and Pieces.
A little of this and that with some of these and those. Whenever we’re finishing up one of these roadtrips there are always a few images that don’t really fit into any group.
So these are just a few loose ends. See you all soon.
A Happy House
They’re Watching!
The Provocateur
The Inspector
Nap Time
The Beach at Cardiff By The Sea
The Sign Doesn’t Fill Me With Confidence.
Bryar Is Ready To Go.
The Butcher Boy – SD Maritime Museum
Johnson Sea-Horse
So Simple But So Scary.
This is where the torpedo goes.
Stylin’
The Hippies Are Back! And Not A Minute Too Soon!
I bumped into this “smile on wheels” today while in Encinitas.
The Kindness Bus Tour
Apparently Bob Votruba and his dog, Bogart, are dedicated to spreading one million random acts of kindness all over the nation. Ya gotta love it!
Check them out at http://www.onemillionactsofkindness.com/.
“If sand waves were sound waves. What song would be in the air now?”
Suzanne Vega
Cardiff Beach 3
Cardiff Beach 4
Cardiff Beach 5
Cardiff Beach 7
Cardiff Beach 8
Cardiff Beach 9