Parklaan. Like I said the other day, I have been eating out quite a bit recently and this weekend I also attended Heerlijk Rotterdam/ Delicious Rotterdam where 'the creme de la creme' of the Rotterdam chefs were giving 'acte de presence'.

Veerhaven. If you haven't been last night, go this afternoon. At 1 pm the Rotterdam Youth Symfonie Orchestra is doing a free classical concert a bit similar to what the grown ups were treated to. I heard the try out with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Valery Gergiev conducting. BEAUTIFUL!

Witte de Withstraat. Restaurant Oliva is always good. Can you tell I have been going out to eat, a lot, recently :) ? More to come btw. Life's a beech.

't Zwarte Plasje. These are Suzanne and her husband Mark Peter. Its the start of the new waterpolo season and Mark, being the trainer, gave the parents (and kids) an explanation of the new training sessions and times, the tournament schedule etc. We all brought something to eat and drink and as you can see, had a great night.

Korte Hoogstraat. Lunchroom Cappucino seems like a great place to spend a Thursday morning.

Backside of the Netherlands Architecture Insitute and one of the works of a group called R.U.A. ;
R.U.A- Reflexo on Urban Art - Lines, Colours and Forms of Brazilian Urban Art.
Rua in Portuguese means street. The use of public spaces as a support for art is widely developed in Brazil, and because of its quality and beauty the view on graffiti changed: graffiti stops being seen as vandalism and becomes a genuine form of contemporary art.

Hotel New York. With the beautiful weather we've had these last days, Hotel New York has been an excellent place for many to sit in the sun, have a drink and/or a good read.

Wilhelminakade. We saw the ms. Rotterdam lying ashore yesterday waiting for her clients to come aboard. According to the Holland America Line website:
As the sixth ship to bear the name, the ms Rotterdam is the standard-bearer for our fleet of five-star cruise ships. The first Rotterdam set sail in 1872, beginning a Holland America Line tradition of elegant cruising and impeccable service that continues through Rotterdam VI.
Commemorating the history of the Rotterdam ships, fascinating Holland America memorabilia, art and antiques can be found throughout the ship. The collection includes remarkable clocks and time pieces, contemporary art by recognized artists, and antiques that represent the rich seafaring heritage of Holland America Line. A highlight is a beautiful 18th-century ship model carved from bone. The ms Rotterdam ensures you the ultimate onboard experience with her graceful combination of classic cruise ship features and state-of-the-art amenities.
Join us aboard the ms Rotterdam in 2009 for an exploration of the dazzling cities and astonishing natural beauty of South America, a transit of the Panama Canal or join the lucky few on the 2009 ms Rotterdam Grand World Voyage.

If only...

Schiekade. Seriously, I have no idea about this buildings artist.

Gordelweg. View on "New Crooswijk". Due to the financial crisis and the lack of a destination plan, the bare space will stay bare for an uncertain period. People have fought hard to keep their house here and now city council is thinking of putting up some youth activities 'for the time being'.

The Hofplein line (1905 – 1907)
The Hofplein viaduct, which passes through the middle of 19th-century city suburbs and the nearby polder landscape, was built in the northern part of Rotterdam in the early 20th century. This 1.9 km long viaduct forms the start of the Hofplein line route, a 28.5 kilometre railway line linking Rotterdam with The Hague and Scheveningen via Schiebroek, Rodenrijs, Berkel, Pijnacker, Nootdorp and Voorburg/Leidschendam.
The Hofplein line was an alternative to the existing railway line to The Hague via Delft and mainly carried seaside visitors from Rotterdam and commuters from The Hague and Wassenaar. Moreover, it was the first electric railway line in the Netherlands.
The novelty and the comfort of this modern electric railway, combined with the attractive final destination, the beach in Scheveningen, resulted in long queues of passengers at the weekend.

Travellers boarded the train at the terminus, Hofplein station, a lavish art nouveau building which housed the famous Loos café-restaurant, also a central feature of the station. A smaller, more sober pick-up point was located halfway along the viaduct at the present Bergweg station which at the time formed the city boundary. The building of the Hofplein viaduct was a spectacular breakthrough in the development of railway viaduct construction. Never before had an elevated railway been built that consisted only of reinforced concrete, and that with a span of 1.9 km. National recognition followed in 2002 when the whole Hofplein viaduct was declared a National Monument.

Kralingse Plas/Bos.
Ok, ok, skin cancer joined the top 3 of cancers in the Netherlands recently, but as long as you tan wisely, I say; hooray for global warming. We are experiencing something of a heat wave over here (30-35 degrees Celsius, in the 90-ies Farhenheit).

A classic one.

Goudsesingel. Handpainted waste containers.

Binnerotte. Supersized stroopwafel and so big my son couldn't even finish it in 1 time.

Lijnbaan. We are all equal, whether white, black, orange or blue.

Outdoor Valley, at the border of Rotterdam and Bergschenhoek. Canoes, waiting for someone to unwrap them.

Burgemeester van Walsumweg. Especially during the summer time, the Tuk Tuks are popular.

You can also book them for special tours, where the driver is also a guide, such as a Rotterdam highlight tour or a Rotterdam architecture tour. More info here.

Oude Binnenweg, you don't have to go to Italy for some Venecian ice; we've got it right here in Rotterdam.

Burgemeester van Walsumweg. Tourists. For sure. Coz not only the kid (which is also rare in the Netherlands) but the parents too wear a helmet.
No Dutch grown up in his right mind would wear a helmet unless forced to.

Eendrachtsweg, some people resting on the sculptures of Franz West, an Austrian artist that made this piece especially for this location back in 2001 when Rotterdam was cultural capital of Europe.

De Oude Haven. The old harbor with view on the red Willemsbridges, the terraces and the White House.

Kralingse Bos. Pancake house The Nightingale.
These, ladies and gentlemen, are just 25% of the pancake selection an ordinary pancake house offers. Yes. We have pancakes shoarma, pancakes pizza, but also with 4 cheeses, smokes salmon and creamcheese, strawberries and ice, banana and Tia Maria. Underneath it says, pancakes bacon. Coz don't you think a pancake with bacon is just that!

De Oude Binnenweg. This street is practically the only street that was not bombed during WWII and therefor the only pre-war shopping street in Rotterdam. The whole street dates back till 1454!

Skatepark Westblaak This is Tom whom I know from judo and is pretty dope on skates too. This place is also used for BMX, popping and locking battles, breakdance battles and skateboarding.

And now I am going to wash my mouth.

Veerhaven, the stern looking face of tsar Peter the Great, a present from Russia to Rotterdam. Whether with love...?

Meent, its true: to me they have the most jummy ice cream in town.

Binnerotte. I told you; you can get anything at the market. Question is, is the bum on the left a real one or not?

Willemskade. This fast ferry leaves to Dordrecht or Gorinchem, 2 nice little Dutch cities, right before the sailors house I showed you yesterday.

Willemskade. This sailor house from the early fifties in the previous century, is a classical representation of the resurrection period (after WWII), which can be depicted from the a-symmetrical front piece in which the art piece (mother and child, a seagul and a steering rad) attracks ones eye.
Being on the council monument list, the added hotel rooms for regular tourist on top, caused a challenge for the architects.

Gordelweg. Oops indeed. It's a couple of hours before i go on holiday and i am freaking out over everything that still needs to be done. One of them is a NIGHT photo (August 1 theme). I don't have time to take a night photo. Not right now. So bear with me for this very liberal take on the theme ;)
If you want to see what the other cities came up with though:Click here to view thumbnails for all participants .