I had been to Rotterdam once before. That visit though took place a long time ago. I wanted to see the city once again. Marc and I decided to pass by the city on our way to Antwerp, Belgium. Honestly, it was a quick trip but it was well worth the stop. We left Leiden early in the morning so that we would have enough time to roam around the city and see the Cube Houses as well as the Great Hall which we heard about on You Tube. It was a cloudy morning when we set out exploring but it was a good thing the sun came out a little bit that day. For any traveler sightseeing, any dry day is a blessing and this day was for us too. We had umbrellas ready to be used but we sure were glad we didn't have to.

The first thing we decided to do upon arrival in Rotterdam was to deposit our backpacks inside a big locker. They were quite heavy and we didn't want to carry them all over the city while we went touring on foot.

As we walked towards the city attractions, we passed by the shopping district and I remember seeing the TK Maxx on the way to the cube houses. It was closed the first time we set our eyes on it. It was when we went in right after some sightseeing did I see some Mondaine Swiss watches and a Breil Italian watch. I fell in love with one priced at 99 euros and 39 euros respectively. I wasn't sure whether to buy or not. Marc kept telling me not to buy given that I already have over twenty watches at home. We left the store telling myself not to buy. We went back a third time but this time, I put my foot down. "I don't need another watch," I told myself. Guess what? We did go back two days after staying in Antwerp and gave in to my impulse.

Just like any city we visited in the Netherlands this summer, I still wish we had more time to explore and get to know the cities a lot better. I suppose I will have to wait until I really have more time. Perhaps, when I finally retire from the world of work.