We got up in a leisurely fashion, and Christian and I went out to the supermarket around the corner to buy some things for breakfast. Then we came back and ate some of them. We got some really tasty crispy cheese bread things, some brioches, and some strange round things that were quite solid and sweet. We woke Hugh up, and he decided to hang around the house for the day. We decided to go to the zoo.
We headed out, and got the metro to Blijdorp station, despite having been advised to walk from Centraal. This meant that we had a pleasant walk through Vroesenpark to get there, but we had to cross a major road. It was fine. We got there and bought our tickets.
Venturing into the busy zoo complex, the first things we saw were the seal enclosure and part of the aquarium. The seals were tearing from one part of the pool to another, playing games. Christian said that the enclosure was too small for them. The aquarium was particularly impressive, with lots of different habitats and groups of species. Then some birds, reptiles, penguins, and back outside for some furry things, then back inside for the main aquarium part. Sharks, jellyfish, all sorts of things. Amazing. Then some raccoons.
We stopped for a late lunch (ciabattas and sausage roll), and then continued with a polar bear, some buffalo (I think), and wolves. We spotted a sign for a bird show, and decided to wait for about 15 to see that. It was brilliant, despite being narrated in Dutch. There were some birds of prey, but also some parrots, and something that I thought was a kingfisher but is actually (we think) a kiskadee. They were flying wild, but were clearly excellently trained. Some flew immediately above our heads.
After the birds, we went into the butterfly house, which was very warm, but lovely. Butterflies flying around everywhere unconcernedly. We then moved outside again to see some tiny camels that looked like llamas/alpacas, some scarlet ibises and other random birds. Then to the African section for some camels, elephants, rhinos, wild cats, and flamingos. We couldn't afford to stay much longer, and so headed back into town, walking to Centraal this time.
We got the metro back to the flat, left Christian's camera there, and got ready for round two of the festival. We got the metro straight there, and made for the E.S.T. Symphony. They were playing arrangements of songs written for smaller band, but they worked well in that format. Christian and I then headed outside to Mississippi to catch the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest. They were quite young, and quite loud, but fairly impressive, and good to listen to. We met Hugh, and sat down for some dinner. Christian and I had meat skewers that were very tasty.
We then headed back to Congo Square to catch the TBC Brass Band. They were a bit rough around the edges, but very enthusiastic, and definitely an authentic New Orleans sound. The crowd responded well to them. We stuck around in Congo Square after their set, and caught some of Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni BA - they were very African-style, as you might guess from the name. They had an amazing stringed instrument that looked like it had been made from a gourd. Before long, we went into Nile and got seats in the stand for the Roots. I didn't know much about them, apart from the fact that they were hip hop.
They were good musicians, didn't use electronic effects much, and kept putting in very amusing quotes from other songs (e.g. Sweet Child of Mine). They had a sousaphone player, who I could often barely hear, but who jumped around much more than a sousaphone player should. In fact, there was some good choreography from him, the guitarist, and the bass player, including rhythmic jumping. The guitarist was a good singer.
I think we must have headed off after this. We got the metro as usual, but it didn't stop at Beurs. So we kept going to Centraal, hoping to get a tram. The last tram had gone. So we attempted to get to Beurs from the north. Yet again, it didn't stop. So we got off at Leuvehaven, and walked all the way back to Maria's, via Vasteland. Fitting. I was totally exhausted, and trying not to fall asleep. It wasn't terribly pleasant, but getting into bed felt wonderful.
We headed out, and got the metro to Blijdorp station, despite having been advised to walk from Centraal. This meant that we had a pleasant walk through Vroesenpark to get there, but we had to cross a major road. It was fine. We got there and bought our tickets.
Venturing into the busy zoo complex, the first things we saw were the seal enclosure and part of the aquarium. The seals were tearing from one part of the pool to another, playing games. Christian said that the enclosure was too small for them. The aquarium was particularly impressive, with lots of different habitats and groups of species. Then some birds, reptiles, penguins, and back outside for some furry things, then back inside for the main aquarium part. Sharks, jellyfish, all sorts of things. Amazing. Then some raccoons.
We stopped for a late lunch (ciabattas and sausage roll), and then continued with a polar bear, some buffalo (I think), and wolves. We spotted a sign for a bird show, and decided to wait for about 15 to see that. It was brilliant, despite being narrated in Dutch. There were some birds of prey, but also some parrots, and something that I thought was a kingfisher but is actually (we think) a kiskadee. They were flying wild, but were clearly excellently trained. Some flew immediately above our heads.
After the birds, we went into the butterfly house, which was very warm, but lovely. Butterflies flying around everywhere unconcernedly. We then moved outside again to see some tiny camels that looked like llamas/alpacas, some scarlet ibises and other random birds. Then to the African section for some camels, elephants, rhinos, wild cats, and flamingos. We couldn't afford to stay much longer, and so headed back into town, walking to Centraal this time.
We got the metro back to the flat, left Christian's camera there, and got ready for round two of the festival. We got the metro straight there, and made for the E.S.T. Symphony. They were playing arrangements of songs written for smaller band, but they worked well in that format. Christian and I then headed outside to Mississippi to catch the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest. They were quite young, and quite loud, but fairly impressive, and good to listen to. We met Hugh, and sat down for some dinner. Christian and I had meat skewers that were very tasty.
We then headed back to Congo Square to catch the TBC Brass Band. They were a bit rough around the edges, but very enthusiastic, and definitely an authentic New Orleans sound. The crowd responded well to them. We stuck around in Congo Square after their set, and caught some of Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni BA - they were very African-style, as you might guess from the name. They had an amazing stringed instrument that looked like it had been made from a gourd. Before long, we went into Nile and got seats in the stand for the Roots. I didn't know much about them, apart from the fact that they were hip hop.
They were good musicians, didn't use electronic effects much, and kept putting in very amusing quotes from other songs (e.g. Sweet Child of Mine). They had a sousaphone player, who I could often barely hear, but who jumped around much more than a sousaphone player should. In fact, there was some good choreography from him, the guitarist, and the bass player, including rhythmic jumping. The guitarist was a good singer.
I think we must have headed off after this. We got the metro as usual, but it didn't stop at Beurs. So we kept going to Centraal, hoping to get a tram. The last tram had gone. So we attempted to get to Beurs from the north. Yet again, it didn't stop. So we got off at Leuvehaven, and walked all the way back to Maria's, via Vasteland. Fitting. I was totally exhausted, and trying not to fall asleep. It wasn't terribly pleasant, but getting into bed felt wonderful.
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