Happy to be Traveling

Simon Schama is a British historian known for his high brow television commentary in the tradition of Kenneth Clark. (His passionate appreciation for Bernini’s sculpture is practically operatic.) He has curated an exhibit in den Haag at the Mauritshuis called BIRDS that explores how humans have always had an emotionally conflicted relationship with birds. We…

The iconic Dutch windmills still stand although not so many are still in operation. Molen de Roos is the one remaining working windmill in Delft and if you dare, you can climb the vertical, wooden ladders to peer at the inner gears and ropes. I dared. Grubb called me nuts but there he was right…

We had dinner again with Esther at her home in the UNESCO neighborhood Agneta Park. Her son-in-law, Josh, and two granddaughters were there as well. Very cute Juneau and Cleo (not sure I’ve got the spelling correct).  Abive: more bird life near the pond. Photos says Grey Heron. I think it’s in the family but…

Yesterday, after our Vermeer sampler, it was time to go to grab a bite at my favorite broodje stand in the whole world that Hendrik introduced me to years ago.  The secret to a broodje is fresh herring. And a sign of fresh herring are the seagulls that want to steal your snack. Once the…

You’d think that to get a good view of Delft all I’d have to do is walk out the door of where we’re staying in Delft and take a look around. But no, not for the art snob. I have to take a train to den Haag and drag Ella to the Maritshuis to see…

Wednesday morning (May 6) we had the chance to catch up with Esther in Delft, for cappuccino and a lusciously decadent slice of apple pie at Stadskoffyhuis, a local prize-winning coffee house in business for 60 years. You know those relationships that remain familiar despite time and distance? It’s like that with Esther. These types…

In talking with our friend Hendrik last night he reminisced about how wonderful it was to visit Venice in 1972. The adventure of a Baby Boomer exploring the world. I thought of Kit Carson whipping by me on his bike, how in an earlier incarnation, retired from mountaineering, he might have had nostalgic moments in…

We were in den Haag. He was sporting a Custer’s Last Stand goatee and dressed like a fur trapper in a fringed leather jacket and floppy wide-brimmed hat. He wheeled by me without so much as a two-fingered salute. Later I imagined if I saw him in a café the conversation would go something like…

We’ve been spending time with friends. Yesterday Esther here in Delft. Today, Hendrik and Gina in den Haag (The Hague). Fuller posts coming soon. For now, more canals… Above: canals in den Haag. Above: More canals in den Haag Above: Photos is identifying this as an Egyptian Goose

Finally a sunny day for shadows

After coffee and pastry with Esther this morning, we dropped in  to check out Delft’s Vermeer Center. Years ago (ten?) we went to an exhibit on the history of Delft and there was Vermeer’s “The Little Street” on display. Back then I was thrilled since we were staying at a place a block away from the…

Here is a peek at our AirBnB in Delft. It’s an old building so it has “character”. Above: Looking through to the kitchen to the balcony door, and the balcony

May Fifth is Independence Day in the Netherlands. In the Middle Ages rooting out Satan was always good for a celebration; now it’s ridding the country of Nazis. We took a Delft canal stroll and by dinner time we were at Doelenplein where there was a soundstage entertaining the crowd drinking and dancing.  It wasn’t…

We landed in Brussels on April 22. Today is May 6. We are halfway through our trip and wishing we’d planned for a longer time.  The map below shows how far we’ve come..said cheekily because if you hopped in your car in Brussels and drove to Delft, it would only be 4ish hours. And if…