Visit to European Parliament

Today is our last day in Europe.  We spent the morning at the European Parliament.  

In any national parliament, there is typically one chamber that an MP sits in.  For example, an Australian Member of the House of Representatives sits in the one chamber in Canberra.  Or, a British MP sits in fhe House of Commons within the Palace of Westminster and in no second chamber anywhere else.  But with the European Parliament, although there is considered to be 'one parliament', there are actually two locations where there is a chamber in which the MEPs may sit.  One is here in Brussels and the other is at Strasbourg.  There is also Luxembourg, but no chamber there.  We learned to our disappointment that refurbishment is taking place of the chamber here, so we couldn't get to see it.  We were invited instead to visit the Parlamentarium, a museum to the European Parliament.

We toured the exhibits, and it was all very interesting.  You went through the history of the EU from its humble beginnings as the pooling of German and French coal and steel industries in the 50s to the sophisticated institution that it is today.  I like the EU.  I think it is a logical and practical answer to so many centuries of war and conflict.  They might have their disputes, and they might have some problems with the euro, but they'll work it all out in the end.

The European Parliament at Brussels

A billboard picture of the European Parliament

This display shows the three locations of the European Parliament: Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

A large interactive map of Europe lay on the floor.  This pic shows the top half of the Italian Peninsula to the right, Spain to the left, and the UK to the top left.

This pic shows Greece to the right.

Jean and I walked across Europe, retracing our footsteps of the last 15 weeks.  Jean looks to the Continent from Britain.

The euro

More scenes of Amsterdam

A public loo for men

The Skinny Bridge, which opens up for passing boats.

Along this street is Anne Frank's house.

A gondola in Amsterdam.  Who would have thought?

An Amsterdam info man helps a tourist.

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A market 

Parking for 2,500 bikes

Double Dutch: the ICC and the Dutch Parliamemt

All I wanted to do here in The Hague was visit the International Criminal Court (ICC).  It was difficult to find yesterday because the Tourist Information Office wrongly sent me to the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace, to the north.  We found out that the ICC was to the south in the suburb of Voorburg and it's off all the tourist maps.  Having finally worked out how to get there, we set off this morning.

Once we found the ICC, we learned we could not enter.  There were no hearings today and a guided tour was not possible.  If we'd come yesterday, we'd have been welcomed with open arms, and given the full tour.  But since we came today, we got nothing.  I was very disappointed.  We couldn't even have a quick glance at the empty courtroom where currently the sitting Deputy President of Kenya is on trial for crimes against humanity.

Later, we caught the bus to the Dutch Parliament and organised a tour.  All the English language tours for the day were finished, and it was only possible to have a tour in Dutch!  So, we paid 7.50 € each, and saw a few sights relating to Dutch history as well as the Dutch House of Representatives...in Dutch.  But the guide was quite good.  He briefed Jean and me in English as well as the two Chinese tourists and the German tourists.  We learned there is proportional representation in the Netherlands, not unlike some other European countries.  Like in the United States, Cabinet Ministers may be selected from outside the Parliament.  The Dutch Parliament is new, built only in 1992.  Considering they had the opportunity to build something with style, the Dutch Parliament building is disappointingly boring.

The International Criminal Court (ICC)

The ICC (tall white building at back) is on Maanweg in the suburb of Voorburg...off the tourist trail.

This boring looking building is the Dutch parliament.

Yes, we cannabis

The Bull Dog was the first coffee shop in Amsterdam to sell cannabis.

Scenes of Amsterdam

Our hotel is in the red light district.  This is the view from our window.

A sex worker stands in wait for a customer beneath our hotel room window.

Amsterdam Centraal station.

Many buildings in Amsterdam actually hang like this.

We visited the sex museum.

The House of Heads

A church in the red light district

Going Dutch

Jean devised a walking tour which we followed today.  We started on the Herengracht.  First, we went looking for West India House, the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, but we couldn't find it.  Along Brouwersgracht, we saw old warehouses that have been turned into expensive apartments.  

Soon, we passed under the Noorderkerk, or North Church, where we found a lively market.  We kept walking, all the while the scenery staying very much the same.  In fact, you could easily get lost in Amsterdam. Everywhere you go, Elm trees line the canals, crude old bikes by the million are chained to railings along the canals and on the bridges, boats and barges sail along the canals contentedly, and it doesn't change wherever you go.  

All the while you really have to have your wits about you.  When crossing the street, it's easy enough to watch out for cars, and motor bikes' engines always herald their approach.  But push bikes blend into the periphery.  You don't hear them coming, and you could easily collide with one.  Along the Keizersgracht, a slow-moving horse and cart annoyed drivers behind, and then push bikes behind the drivers decided to use the footpath.  I nearly became a casualty.

At one point, we found ourselves again on the Prinsengracht, the site of the Anne Frank House.  I realised that Ann's hiding place was and is in the shadow of a tall church that offers views far and wide.  I could see what Ann missed out on, being cooped up at the end of summer.  Going for walks along the canals like we were doing, the sun glistening in the water.  She would have liked that.

Along the Herengracht, we saw wealthy people's houses, saw the Museum Willet-Holthuysen, decorated in the style of Louis XIV.  We finished up on the Amstel River.  Around here are plenty of barges and houseboats.  

On the river Amstel are many house boats and barges...

The Skinny Bridge is on the Amstel.

Amstel is also the name of a Dutch beer.

The market beneath the Noorderkerk

Tripping around Amsterdam

We've spent an excellent couple of days with our friends, Ann and Barry from Wales here in Amsterdam.  A short time ago, we saw them off at the airport.  But, meanwhile, Jean and I are here for another couple of days.

Yesterday morning, we visited the Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht.  Then we paid 22 € each to hop on and hop off the canal boats for 24 hours.  We sailed down the canals, getting off at one point to have lunch.  After an amount of walking round, during which Ann nearly got killed a few times by roaring-past bicycles, we found a sex museum, and went in for a look.  In Amsterdam, if it's not drugs, it's sex.  The sex museum contains many sordid images throughout, as well as ribald displays, sexy statues, a myriad of gadgets and souvenirs.  The images and displays etc depict not only the present but particularly centuries gone by.

After dark, we strolled through the red light district.  It was an eye opener.  Beneath the soft red glow of horizontal fluorescent light tubes, a red curtain covers a rectangular space the size of a doorway.  This usually means a sex worker is inside with a client.  Otherwise, a near naked young lady stands in the space for all passers by to see, standing in wait for patronage.  One near naked lady after the other.  The four of us continued through the red light district for some time.  Ann noticed that some of the young women were pretty.  Indeed, one stereotype of sex workers is that they are older, that sex is their only job, and they are somewhat worn.  To me, from the neck up, some of these young women looked strangely normal, as if by day they could be an office clerk, or a receptionist in a hotel.

This morning, the four of us met in Ann and Barry's hotel, the Tulip Inn, for breakfast.  Afterwards, we hit the canals again, sailing to the Tulip Markets where Ann bought some tulip bulbs to take home. Soon, we walked to an area known as The Nine Streets, where there is a famous chocolaterie.  We each had a cake and coffee, and boarded the boats again.  Amsterdam is a bit like Venice only far less water.  We heard the canals are three metres deep: one metre of water, one metre of mud, and one metre of bicycles.  Fifty thousand bicycles are stolen in Amsterdam each year.  Throughout the Netherlands, the figure is three quarters of a million.

We had some lunch at the Cafe Heffer, retrieved Ann and Barry's luggage from their hotel, and accompanied them to the airport.

Jean, Ann and Barry in Amsterdam

There are many curious looking bikes in Amsterdam.

Barry inspects the bike, and advised this one has drum brakes..from around the time of the Second World War.

We went on boat trips....

...along the canals..

Bikes are everywhere.

We visited the sex museum.

On the way into the sex museum...

In the red light district..behind these curtains are sex workers.

In the window of a tobacco shop..

Ann and Jean

We say goodbye to Ann and Barry at Amsterdam Airport.