A Winter Wonderland

This was perhaps my biggest contemplation prior to arriving in the Netherlands. I am a Caribbean woman, where temperatures rarely ever go below 25degrees celcius and had alway avoided vacations to any country if the temperature was gonna be less than 20 degrees. I was told on arrival that for the last ten years the Dutch, who have always been serious about ice skating, have not been able to do so for a decade as the temperatures have not allowed for that, the lakes have barely frozen over. Well that changed on my arrival.


Winter 2009 Rotterdam was certainly one of the coldest winters the Dutch have had in a long time. It was my second winter here and very different from Winter 2008. Unlike '08 the temperatures this year have fallen as far as -7 with wind chill factors of -15 degrees. I am happy to say i have adjusted alot and you will too but the idea is definitely come prepared.


Dec 2009 saw most of the public transportation in Europe grinding to a halt - this included Rotterdam (for a day) where along the journey from home to IHS and back, I had to get off trams and walk to the next stop as the rails were all iced over. I had an adventure and a half trying to get around, pretty sure I walked miles. See some photos of the University taken on that day.

Winter clothes and shoes can be purchased at reasonable prices at the local department stores or at the Open Market (Saturdays and Tuesdays every week). Do not assume, that all goods at the Open Market are more affordable than the department stores. I have been pleasantly surprised many times so shop around a bit in the Shopping District of Beurs before deciding.


Last but not least, I took a very brave and courageous stand and decided to try my hands at a snowman, fondly remembered as Snooky. Took me two hours but I found that what they say is true, its less cold while it is snowing than after so I survived those two hours and enjoyed it immensely. Snooky lived only for a day and a half but his face will grace this blog for posterity. LOL! So this is just my way of saying, IF you get a chance to have a White Winter Wonderland don't be tempted to stay indoors go have a snowball fight or build a snowman, after all the whole point of being here is to have NEW EXPERIENCES...right? RIGHT!!!!