Changing the lamps

This week the city was replacing the lamp posts on my street.  Shiny new lamp posts!

Skilled craftsman at work

Right in front of my door

Zebra vs. Lion

Twins

Whatever they're discussing, they're amused:

Presidential PC

President Obama taped a town hall meeting in Columbia Heights, D.C. and poked a little fun at Univision moderator Jorge Ramos when Ramos asked whether Obama had his own computer:

"I mean, Jorge, I'm the president of the United States. You think I've got to go borrow somebody's computer? 'Hey, man, can I borrow your computer?'"

Ark Royal for Sale

The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal has gone up for sale on the Ministry of Defence's auction website.

The Royal Navy's former flagship was decommissioned two weeks ago after 25 years' service as part of the government's defence budget review.

Proposals for it include turning it into a commercial heliport, a base for security personnel during the London Olympics, or a school and nightclub.

But it could also be sold for scrap like its sister ship HMS Invincible.

Ark Royal's operations have included leading the UK's naval forces during the invasion of Iraq.

The current ship is the fifth vessel to carry the name - the first saw battle in 1588 against the Spanish Armada.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12883511

Germany has windmills too

Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven's soccer stadium

Sun is out

... and so are the Dutch, outdoor cafe time.  Within a 15-minute walk of the apartment today:

Return Trip

Coming back from Berlin:

Will my train be crowded?  A few people waiting ...

... and waiting

But not too crowded

 

Room for all my stuff, and a big picture window to enjoy the view

German windmills

LOTS of German windmills, biggest wind farm I've ever seen

Change trains at Amersfoort

VW Wolfsburg

Handy App

NS Reisplanner Xtra for Android lets me look up live timetables for trains within the Netherlands ... very handy for seeing when that connecting train in Amersfoort is!

Waiting for the train, Olympic Stadium Berlin

On the way to Berlin

Waiting at Hilversum for the Berlin train ... which of course, came right on time

Comfortable seating

Standard Dutch farming countryside

More of same

Monument to a conqueror or Saint ... we must be in Germany, because (a) the Dutch don't build these, and (b) look, a hill!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Thalys -- faster than driving

A commercial you aren't getting in America

Bikes, bikes, bikes

Coming from Amsterdam Central Station toward home, a few bicycles ...

Right outside station entrance

Overflow on the way to the bike bridge

Bike Bridge

More overflow after bridge, my apartment is 4 blocks 'thataway'

Monday flea market, Westerkerk

Awww ...