naarden vesting: intramuros in holland

Intramuros counterpart in Holland, Naarden Vesting (as seen from a borrowed pic from www.vestingvaart.nl) is the walled city that aimed to protect Amsterdam during the 1500s (complete with cobblestone roads).

It's amazing to see from the top as it looks like a star (parol!parol!). Unfortunately, despite its great architecture, it wasn't a good stronghold as it was invaded by Spain ("where they killed everyone inside").

Today, Naarden vesting is a ritzy little village with restos, bookstores and coffee shops. Astrid, Faye & I were toured around by Gert as he grew up around this area. As you can see, this former bunker is now a coffee shop/artshop (cappucino €1,60).

Nearby Naarden are other pretty little towns that have their own claims to fame. Muiden has its very own castle (or fort depending on what profile you read). Meron ding sea port filled boats of varying designs (meron pa ngang mala-Pirates of the Carribean).

A nice little stroll beside the very-dutch window-filled houses during sunset makes for nice pictures (the golden hour!). Salamat kay Faye for this really nice pic.

There's a definite feeling of "old world" when you walk around such areas. I can't help but have a bit of a global afterthought at how our country is... Intramuros is ... during these times as well. Did I give our old walled city the same amount of appreciation?

Siguro kung masarap din ang ice cream (la laaang).