Haarlem

I thought I did well to stay up until 2230 (= 0630 Sydney time) last night. I had been going to bed late in the recent days to try to pre-adapt. Hopefully by the time I fly to Cuba in about a week my body will have adjusted better. This was one of the reasons for going to Cuba via Europe. Another was that the alternatives were via Canada or Mexico, not so interesting to me. Then also I could visit friends in Europe afterwards.


I woke about 0600 local time, with a slight sore throat. I turned off the radiator and took paracetamol and high-C tablets, just in case. I repacked my bags since I could leave things in storage with my friends while in Cuba. I listened to Satie with splash of jazz interpreted by Jacques Loussier. Did more repacking. I would be glad to divest myself of belongings during this trip. But what about spiritual encumbrances? Could I divest myself of desire? Desire to fix the world, desire to be liked, desire for stimulation, desire to better others?

At 0730 I could go down and buy some bread from the bakery next door. It turned out to be just a pastry shop but they directed me to a bakery around the corner, next to the snack shop from yesterday. With that I breakfasted on bread, serrano ham, margarine and fruit juice. Then I went back to sleep. When I awoke, there were croissants and coffee on the table, brought by K, who was practising downstairs. P turned up and we went for a walking tour of Haarlem.

This is the cathedral. I was to pass it a few times during my trip.

The cobblestone pedestrian streets of their towns are charming in the inimitable Dutch way.

Haarlem has a water channel that links up with the Ij, which runs past Amsterdam and joins the Ijmeer (Ij inland sea) with the North Sea. Water is second nature to the residents of this part of the Netherlands. And so are the clouds. Their landscape artists have painted them, in all their moods, for centuries.

How could I go to the Netherlands and come back without a picture of a windmill?

And there are always new friends to be made in foreign lands.


In the evening, we had some excellent Indian takeaway in my friends' home. K was exhausted after a long day at the practice so P drove me back to the flat above the practice.