I have a cold again, and it seems like it is the old one re energised. I really thought it was almost gone Saturday but it has flared up again, nothing major like real flu, just a sore throat and runny nose - the usual.
Had a brilliant weekend in Utrecht meeting old friends. It began with us arriving by train Friday afternoon and walking into the city - situation normal. Heading along a minor back street, Rene suddenly crossed the road and said to follow - this was our 'surprise' hotel - the Grand Hotel Karel 5, Utrecht's finest - built around a medieval monastery from the 14th Century - the main building was a castle and Napoleon made it into a military hospital - remaining thus until the 1980's. http://www.karelv.nl/en
It has been a hotel for the last 12 years, and was truly elegant, comfortable and not snobby at all. All staff members were charming, efficient but not obsequious. I loved the beds turned down and the chocolate on the pillows - nice surprise at 1am - and there was champagne available at breakfast, but it was complimentary unlike the extra truffles with your omelette (9 euro 50) or caviar (230 euro). The breakfast room had three chandeliers and the service was excellent. Late Saturday morning, sitting with another coffee after breakfast with today's copy of the London Daily Telegraph, I was in Heaven!
Friday evening began at 6 in the Ledig Erf (our old cafe) where several friends were drinking, then we met our old neighbours at a Thai/Vietnamese restaurant at 8, then we adjourned to the Louis Hartlooper cinema complex for drinks until late (this place opened in 2004 as a 5 screen cinema plus cafe/restaurant in a converted 1928 police station - opened four months before we left Utrecht). Met a lovely couple just out from seeing 'The Descendents' and had a delicious chat about movies before heading off to the sumptuous bed at the hotel.
Saturday we walked and walked around our old city and then popped into a friend's street to see if she was home - and YES, she was! A lovely chat over a cuppa and we were on our way back to the hotel, with a brief rest before the evening where we met up with old friends for drinks, then other friends arrived to join us for dinner as well - we decided to stay where we were and had a delicious meal (yes, it was lamb shank weather). Would you believe we then all left together to meet up with other old friends at Ledig Erf, but got to the hotel by midnight.
Sunday morning saw us eventually walking across the open courtyard to breakfast with the tolling of the Dom's bells giving the whole atmosphere lots of energy. The Dom was 750 years old in 2004, so LOTS of atmosphere. The breakfast room was buzzing, very busy and equally delightful to just relax and soak up the history whilst having a delicious breakfast. By noon we checked out and came back by train; greeted by a misty, almost showery on occasions, dullness after the warmth (11C) and brightness of an Utrecht weekend.
Courtyard - Dom in background
Original 1928 police station (Amsterdam School of Architecture)
http://www.louishartloopercomplex.nl/
No comments:
Post a Comment