I went to Amsterdam this weekend. I hadn't been before- what a lovely place it is. Whilst there, I read this:
'According to legend, Amsterdam was founded by two fishermen and a seasick dog, which ran ashore and threw up on the site of the city when their ship ran aground. The reality, sadly, is rather more mundane.'
More mundane than a vomiting dog? Crikey.
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
I mean, if it was a seasick dragon, I could understand...
Posted by John Finnemore at 12:41 am
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3 comments:
"Ah well, there's an interesting story behind that. Buckle yourselves in..." That is extraordinary. I - and I don't use this word lightly - literally can't think of anything more mundane.
Ok,try this on for size. 'In 1204 the Lord of Amstel built a castle nearby on what is now the outskirts of Amsterdam. After the Amstel was dammed in about 1270, a village grew up on the site of what is now Dam Square, acquiring the name Aemstelledamme.'
Now, that's fairly mundane. But is it more mundane than dog-sick? I'm not sure it is. For a start, it involves the Lord of Amstel, an aristocrat I imagine having regular jousts and duels with his rivals the Duke of Heinekken, and Sir Percy Newcastle-Brown.
And castles. And Monsignor Peroni proudly sporting his lime injury. No... Dog sick. Definitely two fellas turning up and a dog being sick.
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