Last week we took the train to Utrecht in order to have potato chips for lunch. Not great cuisine I know, but they cook them so well, although they do smother them in mayonnaise, which can make them a little messy to eat.
Utrecht Central Railway station, which was renovated and modernised a few years ago.
Hoog Catharijne shopping centre, which is opposite the railway station. The shopping centre has been modernised too, and there is a large paved area in between the railway station and the shopping centre. Once the two were attached with a narrow avenue of shops between the two. This is certainly much better.
Our chips, wrapped in paper in a cone shape. Sadly they were not the best chips, very dry and a bit overdone. As we did not have mayonnaise on them they were very dry. Quite disappointing.
The chip shop, Mannekenpis, on the paved area between the railway station and the shopping centre.
We decided to walk down one arm of the shopping centre, which contained some interesting shops. The shop in the photo below is a repair shop, with a difference. You bring the electrical item to be repaired, and then repair it yourself under the guidance of the staff in the shop. And learn a new skill as well.
A decorative recycling display. The painting is made up of old objects. The containers underneath are where you leave the items.
Now I would never expect to buy a 'fat wheel bike' in a telephone shop.
And of course we arrived at a cafe, and time for coffee and apple cake. We ordered only one cake, without cream, but two arrived with the coffees. So we accepted them. Best not to argue. Luckily I decided to take a photograph first, as the staff member arrived back, and took the cake with the cream away. She then delivered it to a customer at a table close by. People here love their large milky coffees, unlike our small 'cafe lattes', that we prefer. Oh well, on this occasion it was a case of 'going with the flow'.
I thought I would include a few photographs of our apartment, especially as the building was sold earlier this year. Now the new owners will begin to sell the apartments, for 250,000 Euros for each apartment. That is about Aus $411,000. Although well equipped they are very small. But they will sell, as they are close to the railway station, and have car parking behind the building. I think they come fully equipped.
The small lounge, with a tiny balcony. The bed is behind the television. Our apartment overlooks the bike path and the shopping centre.
There is a fully equipped kitchen, with dishwasher.
There is a double bed and wardrobe, with the bathroom through the door on the right.
The building once held offices for the railway. It was bought by two young architects in 2014, who converted the building into a restaurant and offices on the second floor, and short stay apartments on the second and third floors, plus a laundry. The restaurant closed during the pandemic and never reopened. We are very sad about it all, as we have enjoyed staying here, as it is within walking distance ofAaron and Kylie. We also love having the shops around us. Quite a vibrant area.
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