We left Bruges on a rainy morning for Utrecht by train. We made two transfers since there was not a directly route to Utrecht. It took about three and half hours to travel the 210 km distance between these two cities. Fortunately, our hotel was around the corner of the central train station. It's located in a famous shopping center, Hoog Catharine and not far from the historic city center and the canals.
The reason for Utrecht stop was to visit my uncle and his family in addition to playing tourist in this fine city. My uncle's family came to Utrecht in the late 1970s from Vietnam as refugees. The first time I visited them was in 1989 and again in 2001 with my parents and sister. It's a good opportunity for Michelle to meet my uncle, aunt and their daughter, Khanh while we're in Utrecht for a few days.
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Our hotel - The Hampton By Hilton in Utrecht
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Hoog Catherijine, the largest indoor mall in the Netherlands
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Weekend outdoor market outside the mall
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Dinner with my uncle and family
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A quick trip down memory lane. We stopped at my uncle's old restaurant in the heart of the city center, a block from the Dom Tower. Since the Dom Tower was closed to the public, we visited St. Martin's Cathedral and the nearby Utrecht University where my cousin Khanh used to go to school.
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Utrecht University
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Courtyard at St. Martine Cathedral
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The cathedral's courtyard
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St. Martin's Cathedral
 | Altar piece in St. Martin's Cathedral
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Utrecht has a famous canal that runs through the city center. Only about 2 km long, the Oudegracht (old canal) of Utrecht attract tourists to many trendy restaurants and cafes at a canal (water) level. It's a perfect place to hang out for a drink and people watch.
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Canal stroll
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| Snack time - The savory little pancakes from a truck vendor nearby |
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Shops and restaurants along the Oudegracht.
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A nice day for pedal boats and kayaks
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| A selfie! |
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 | We had a nice lunch and drinks at the popular Winkel van Sinkel restaurant on the charming Oudegracht (old canal).
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Delicious Dutch French fries (with mayo) and sweet potato fries
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As promised, Khanh took us to see a windmill not far from my uncle's house. It was a traditional working windmill in Breukelen, a small town along the river Vecht. The windmill is still there but now is a museum. I recognized the windmill right away even in the rain. But, the area looked different than what I remember. There was no Chinese gate, an entrance to the Chinese restaurant!. Later I was told that the gate was removed many years ago when a German owner took over the restaurant. Nowadays, instead of the Chinese gate, tourists can see a prominent restaurant sign, the McDonald's double arch across the parking lot from the windmill!
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Windmill of Breukelen - 1989
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Windmill of Breukelen - 2019
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It's time to say goodbye to my uncle, my aunt and cousin Khanh. They were wonderful hosts and we had a great time visiting the family. We much appreciated their hospitality, especially Khanh's. She was an excellent tour guide and chauffer for us. It's fun to hang out with her as we are glad for the opportunity to get to know our cousin. We hope to see Khanh and uncle's family again in the near future.
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Farewell to my uncle family at his house
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