17 June 2014

Tuesday 17 June 2014

I slept so well!  My tummy’s still a little wobbly, but overall, a bit better. I am taking over the counter meds, so hopefully all this yuckiness will subside.  I kept the window open and I think the temperature was probably down into the 50s.  Under a warm, fluffy duvet…paradise for sleeping!  I woke up a little before nine and took a quick shower.  Then came down to eat breakfast.

After Ellen took a shower, we left to do some shopping.  This is herring season and there is an abundance of new herring.  The season began about two weeks ago. I so much enjoyed them when I was here last time!  So, off to the market we went.

One of their granddaughters is having her 8^th birthday party tomorrow and we’re going to go.  We went to a very nice department store to find a gift for Victoria.  She discovered the bracelets made with rubber bands that were all the rage in the US at Christmas. So, I bought her a booklet that shows some designs.  Ellen wanted to find her a container to keep everything separate and organized, but we didn’t   like them.  Ellen bought an art set instead. An easel, 2 brushes, and a canvas. After that, we went looking for some hair clips for Ellen and I had a quick look around that store too.

Then we went into the market.  We bought some potatoes, white asparagus (I don’t know how to spell the German word….the white asparagus is far milder and I like it), green beans and Chinese pea pods.  Then we went in search of herring.  Yummy stuff!  Found them and some teeny little shrimp (shrimpy shrimps, haha!) and then came home.

After a yummy lunch, we went on a road trip to three different places.  First, we went to a lovely little castle called “Kasteel Het Nijenhuis”.  It is a very pretty castle originally dating from the late 1300s.  It now houses different unique and varied art exhibitions.

There were two when we visited.  One was of “normal” art that depicted things like cows, sheep, meadows, and other pastoral scenes.  The second was of modern art that was attempting to make a political statement.  Ugh.  Yuck. What?  This is art?!  Ellen and I decided it was not our cup of tea.  Not that I’m an art snob, but I know what I don’t like.  Modern art is pretty much one that I don’t like.  

The castle has long been an art museum so there aren’t very many original things about the castle around.  I did like that it had a moat…that added an air of authenticity to it, haha!  We didn’t spend time in the sculpture gardens.  There were several different kinds of sculptures in and amongst the pathways. 

After that, we took a leisurely drive on a road to a ferry.  This ferry was a simple passenger, bike, and car ferry.  It was normal.  It went across a small river that actually divides Holland.  Once we were on the “other” side, we drove for several miles along a simply gorgeous dyke.  It’s what you think about if you think about countryside in any European country.  Green, lush, calm, horses, sheep, cows….quiet bucolic setting. We almost ran into a tractor coming around the bend, but since neither of us was going fast, Fons was able to stop and back up.

We then found a bridge and went back across the river into a medieval town called Deventer.  Everything was shut down because it was after 5pm, but we walked into the center of town, saw the very old town hall and then found a lovely little pub to have a drink.

We drove back home on the motorway and went over to Edith and Kon’s house to borrow her bike.  We came home and had a quick snack of herring and onion.  Yummy!  From there, Fons and I went by bike to the Italian restaurant about ¾ mile away and Ellen drove because she couldn’t make the bike work and Edith had already left her house.

The food was great and I was able to speak some Italian with the waitress.  After not being able to speak any Dutch, being able to speak, understand and be understood was so nice even though my Italian is rudimentary!  Although, I think every Dutch person probably speaks English too.

Came home and now I’m writing this before I go to sleep.  I am just exhausted!  Tomorrow is a big day…..we go into Amsterdam to see Victoria who is turning 8 and everyone but Carla’s family will be there.  I’m excited to see everyone again!  But first, I must read a chapter of my book…it’s so good!  Who is the sorcerer (a.k.a. the evil one)??