A mirror with some ripples.

This grebe is probably not aware that he (or she) is floating in this amazing reflection. And that by floating there he makes it even more complex.














When the sky is blue and there is almost no wind a water surface is an ever-changing mirror.
Especially when there are just a few ripples in the water; hopefully in a nice pattern.
Just flip over the pictures (vertically) and a colorful under water world reveals itself.
These pictures were taken in the small Dutch town of Delft (famous for it's blue and white
pottery named Delft Blue).








































Terraces seem to float among the leaves of waterlilies.

Cars are parked underneath blue draperies .....



.......or in front of sketchy houses.




















































Reflections in winter are made even more interesting by snow and ice in the canals.

Ohhh, this "hanging tin" sure is a give away...

.

A walk along the river.....

The large port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is situated on the "Nieuwe Maas" (New Maas) The city has some impressive bridges.

This is the (new) Willemsbrug a bridge for normal traffic. In the back is the famous "De Hef". You can see it is open. De Hef was a bridge for trains. Now there is a tunnel for the trains and the bridge has become a monument. The new Willemsbrug was completed in 1982. Before there was the old Willemsbrug, a bridge that was built in 1878 for trains. Going south in a train you first would pass the Willemsburg and then De Hef.

This was what the old Willemsbrug looked like.

And this is the new one.....

When you are under this bridge you start to think "what is hanging there...?"

 



















But when you get further down the quay you discover it is an artwork. The "Maasbeeld" (Maassculpture) is made by Auke de Vries. It is 182 meters long......  The people of Rotterdam, always in for a joke,  call it "The Clothesline"....

It is so nice to spend some time along the banks of the river....

Especially when there is a such a beautiful bridge to look at.

More blogs about bridges.....

An elegant bridge

Amazing bridges

Want to buy a pier....?

..... Then this is the moment. The “Pier of Scheveningen” in the Netherlands is
supposed to be auctioned in May this year.
The pier was opened in 1961 by Bernhard, Prince of the Netherlands. Now in
2013 it is derelict and falling apart.




It is good to walk here; in the wind, high above the sea. Especially in winter, when there are almost no people around.

 The view of Scheveningen. Chairs left behind in warmer days....

The casino and restaurant

The belvedere and the adventure island

 It is obvious that something has to be done, although this decay has its own beauty.

What is this for?? Kind of slide into the sea.....

Well is this the end of the Pier in Scheveningen? 

Or is it still standing strong enough for another bright future?

 I really hope the Pier will resist this special storm and will stay there for us to enjoy the waves and storms for many years to come.....

Autumn on the verge of winter.....

The water of a canal brightly reflects an old bridge in the sunshine.

Going from November to December there is a major change in the weather.  The red and gold of autumn fades away to the black and white of winter. 

Many nights it rains. Everything is wet. At the building site there are also interesting reflections. What will they be doing with these stairs...  They look like giant hurdles. 

Overnight, the bags and iron hooks turn into a still life.

But the mornings get foggy. Sometimes there is already a thin layer of ice on the water.

When the fog gets thicker the world gets smaller and more quiet. 

Along the river the light is bleak.

And then we have the first snow. Early this year. Less trains, so longer waiting in the cold.

But in the city everyone prepares for Christmas. Canals are lined with lights. People are busy shopping. There is a festive feeling in the air...

 And in a few weeks we will have real snow, and maybe even a white Christmas.

May I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!