A rest day in Heemstede

I woke up with a sore throat and a bit of a headache. Perhaps I might need for myself all the cold remedies I was taking to Cuba.


I bought some cheese and berry juice for breakfast the next day. The bakery where I bought a loaf of crusty white was closed later in the day. Here, unlike some other countries, shops open only the necessary hours and don't stay open just for the sake of making more money. At the Schalkwijk shopping centre I noted that not much had changed in the Netherlands I knew. It has always had an air of restraint due to Calvinist influences; no ostentatious displays of wealth.

Then I walked over to K and P's place to get my clothes washed and tumble dried. Her parents were there and her father was varnishing a table. I had a conversation with them in Dutch. It was not easy for me inspite of the two terms of Dutch lessons I had taken. I lacked enough vocabulary and my grammar was shaky. But they were pleased that I had made the effort.


In the evening I went to an Indonesian-Chinese restaurant for takeaway. I suspected that it was run by Chinese and the Indonesian items and menus were there because that's what the Dutch are familiar with. I had the Babi Pangang, stir-fried grilled pork in chili sauce. Pork is surely not a Muslim food. I took more tablets and had an early night for a change.