Current Events in Groningen: April 2012 Edition

I've been having so much fun enjoying springtime in Groningen that I forgot to update my blog for a couple of weeks!

So, what's been happening here in the North of the Netherlands?  Well, for one thing, the spring bulbs are in bloom and they are gorgeous.

Crocuses blooming on my balcony

Tulips, also on my balcony

There have also been lots of other fun things happening in Groningen.  In this blog post, I will share my photos from two recent special events - the Bloemenjaarmarkt and the Bierfestival Groningen.

Two weeks ago, on Good Friday, Groningen hosted the Bloemenjaarmarkt. The Bloemenjaarmarkt, also known as the Bloemetjesmarkt, is a giant flower sale that attracts people from all over the Netherlands and Germany. There were flowers and small trees for sale everywhere - on the sidewalks, the streets, and the squares in the city center.  It was a sight to behold!

The Bloemenjaarmarkt took over a portion of Groningen's city center on Good Friday

Flowers could be purchased at very low prices

Entertainment included a street organ with moving figurines

Garden decorations were also well-represented at the Bloemenjaarmarkt

There was even a flower auction!

Evidence that people really do grow flowers in wooden shoes here

Bierfestival Groningen was held last weekend in the Martinikerk, one of Groningen's most remarkable old churches in the city center.  The festival brought together breweries from Europe and America, including a good representation of breweries from the northern provinces of the Netherlands (for example, Maallust Brewery, Witte Klavervier, and the Groningse Stadsbrouwerij, just to name a few).

As you can see, the church provided a beautiful backdrop for an evening of beer tasting.

The Martinitoren, with Martinikerk in the background

Interior of the Martinikerk

A beer cart parked in the Martinikerk

Representatives of Witte Klavervier brewery discuss the brews on tap for the bierfestival

The view of the bierfestival from the gallery above the chapel

You can also view a short video about the bierfestival by RTVNoord news channel at this YouTube link: http://youtu.be/fg5KYxT5KUs  If you know me and my husband, you might recognize us in the video near the 2-minute mark.

A Weekend in Paris

One of the best things about living in Groningen is that the beautiful cities in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe are just a train ride away.

Last weekend, my husband and I took advantage of our proximity to France and spent a long weekend in Paris.  Paris is less than 6 hours by train from Groningen, and it is possible to plan the itinerary with just one connection in Rotterdam.  So, getting there is extremely simple and affordable.

Our trip to Paris was focused on three main activities: discovering as many of its vegetarian restaurants as possible, walking, and museums.

Even in the bitter cold - temperatures hovered around freezing during our entire Friday through Monday trip - we found Paris to be a very walkable city.  The Seine, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower served as landmarks for finding our way around the main sights.  We supplemented our walking with Paris's subway system.  Upon arrival at the Gare du Nord, we picked up 3-day Paris Visite Metro Cards for about €22 each.  These unlimited ride cards were very handy, and the subway system extremely easy to use.

The Seine

Although French cuisine normally is not associated with vegetarian food, Paris has a plethora of vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants, some with French dishes and others representing cuisines from Asia and the Middle East.   Our favorites from the trip were Saveurs Végét'Halles in the 2nd arrondissement, Tien Hiang in the 11th arrondissement, and Loving Hut in the 11th arrondissement.  We also visited the vegetarian-friendly Maoz, Veggie, and Le Pain Quotidien for lunch breaks from sightseeing and museum-visiting. Our most exciting food-related experience was definitely visiting Vegan Folie's, an all-vegan organic bakery on the Rue Mouffetard specializing in cakes and cupcakes.  This is where we picked up an absolutely amazing slice of chocolate-peanut "cheese"cake.

Le Pain Quotidien

Savory vegan crepe at Loving Hut Paris

Dinner at Saveurs Végét'Halles

Vegan Folie's: vegan cakes and cupcakes in Paris

We chose to visit two museums on this trip to Paris: the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée du Louvre, spending the better part of Saturday in the Orsay and most of Sunday in the Louvre.  We definitely could not view the entire collection of either museum in just a weekend, but we tried to see a few of the highlights of each.  In the Orsay, we made sure to spend some time with its collection of impressionist works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Dégas, as well as its post-impressionist collection of Van Gogh, Seurat, and Signac.  At the Louvre, we focused our visit on its Greek and Roman sculptures, Italian Renaissance paintings, and 18th and 19th century French paintings, saving almost an entire wing of that museum for a future visit.

Musée du Louvre

The Mona Lisa Crowd at the Louvre

We had a lovely time in Paris. We left with a great impression of the city, hoping to return as soon as we've saved up enough money.

Here are some more photos from the trip:

Jardin des Tuileries

Walking in the Jardin des Tuileries

View of Paris, with Eiffel Tower in the distance

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in the Jardin des Tuileries

The Centre Pompidou

Notre Dame Cathedral, as seen from the Seine

 Close-up of Notre Dame Cathedral

Tour Eiffel, at night

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile

Exploring Groningen: China Light Festival at Hortus Haren

The entrance to the China Light Festival at Hortus Haren

I've been taking advantage of my abundance of free time lately to explore new things in and around Groningen, from chamber music performances to urban gardens.  Last week, my explorations took me to the Hortus Haren Botanical Garden in Haren, which is a village just south of Groningen.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year (the 23rd of January), the Hortus Haren is currently decorated with fantastic light displays presented by the Groningen Confucius Institute. These displays can be viewed in the evenings through the 29th of January.

My husband and I visited Hortus Haren on a particularly cold evening, with temperatures hovering just above freezing. We were concerned that the cold weather would interfere with our ability to enjoy the outdoor light displays. However, after downing a couple of glasses of glühwein from a stand that was conveniently located within the botanical garden, we forgot about the cold and charged on through the wintery weather.  The result: an absolutely dazzling experience and a deeper appreciation for the detailed craftsmanship involved in the creation of light displays.

Here are my photographs of my favorite displays: