Plans for a visit to Haarlem were made hastily after design lesson ended on Thursday. We didn't know that we were supposed to visit the site for our design on our own until then. So after the lesson, Maarten (kewl Dutch group mate) came up to Ramiro (funky Brazilian group mate) and I and said, "Hey guys, I've got a small car of my own. We could drive down to Haarlem tomorrow to visit the site if you want."

My immediate thought then was: oooh... Roadtrip ;)

So on Friday afternoon I printed the maps out and we hopped into Maarten's car and our hour long drive to Haarlem began. Here's the view from the backseat. Car's a red box w/ 2 doors on 4 wheels. Like Maarten says, "I don't care. it's cheap, drinks little petrol, and for a student it's a luxury." I second that.


Fun facts of the car: one day while cruising on the freeway, the inner lining on the ceiling of the car fell off (see pictures)! Maarten tried to stick it back but to no avail... So now when it rains, the inside of the car sounds like a tin can :) Still, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride all the way. We drove past Schipol Airport, as part of the highway goes below a bridge that planes cross to reach the runway for take-offs. It was too bad I couldn't take a photo of the close proximity we got under the wings of a plane. Schipol is so busy that for the brief few minutes we were on the highway next to it, we saw a couple of planes land and take-off.


Paranoma of one of the sites (we could choose between 2...) and the wind-mill upclose. The weather was sunny and windy. The site was quiet and serene. The 3 students making some observations about the place were contented but a little hungry... -.-"


We took a spin around the corner to the Grote Kerk (Great Church, or St Bavo's Church). Like most churches in Holland, the front is a big, open public square or market place (recalls the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft). And like most market places, its perimeter is crowded with cafes. Ramiro and I took a few shots of the place and Maarten went, "tsk... tourists..." We had a late lunch at one of the cafes:


A prison near our site. The circular form it takes facilitates the guard in keeping an eye on the inmates. Supposedly he sits in the centre under the dome, and the cells are arranged in a circular ring that forms the tower. My local friend says that there are only individual cells in there, each equipped with its own television and stuff. "As the saying goes, how developed a country is can be judged by how the prisoners are treated; well if it's true, then Holland's doing pretty well."


A random low-rise housing storey housing behind our site, and Ramiro checking out some bikes. We saw a lady who looked pretty pale and fragile cycle into the bicycle yard, gave her bike to the owner and went into the shop, which looked pretty run-down. Apparently, junkies who steal bikes for some money to buy drugs are somewhat common in the country.