July 5, and still in Haarlem

5 July 2013

Have finally been able to download photos (very laboriously), so over the next few internet days will try to edit current and previous postings to add photos.  Celebrated July 4 with a dinner of burgers, coleslaw, potato chips and beer.  Flew the flag prominently when it wasn't raining.  Today has been gorgeous, and finished painting the "salon." Antique water pump finally died after almost two years of complaining, and we were overjoyed to learn that we could replace it ourselves with not too much effort and with a new and much more efficient model.  The guy who runs the local ships supply store right on the Spaarn has always been helpful and was very encouraging through all of this.  I'm sure we could find parts and supplies less expensively elsewhere but we really enjoy him and he's so helpful that we're happy to subsidize the service.  The bridge just south of us froze this morning, and has only been opening occasionally for mostly commercial traffic

 

and MAYBE letting pleasure boats through if they have the time.  When it closes, it closes with a tremendously loud THUNK!!! The backup has been, in the words of one of the bridgetenders, CHAOS!  We're happy to just sit here, paint, and watch the zoo unfold.  It's been a lovely stay in Haarlem, despite the construction right outside our wheelhouse door and more than a few days of rain.  The waterfront will be really lovely when they get done, especially if they put in a few trees.  And even with night work hours, we've been somewhat protected from all the noise by the side of the canal.  And it's just such a quiet, peaceful sense of community on the water at night after everyone has finally settled in (which usually means about 3-4am for the Dutch!!!).  Complete with carillon serenade if you happen to be awake on the hour.

 

Anyway, it's been a bit of an ordeal getting these photos (yes, all four of them) loaded and getting the painting done today, so perhaps that's it for now.  More in a week from north of here, maybe sooner if we luck into a spot with WiFi.  Till then, best to all - - -

2 July 2013

May have finally figured out how to get photos up, so if they are posted with this entry you might want to go back to previous ones and see what we've managed to edit in. Today is overcast, but warm and lovely otherwise. Yes, weather does seem to play a large part in our lives here. Think we've decided to stay on a bit longer. Haarlem is a lovely city, we know where things are, we're comfortable here (except for the construction on the quai-side but we seem to be shielded from the worst of that), and it's relatively inexpensive. Mostly, I've got painting to do right now to finish my self-appointed chores for the summer. Went walkabout this morning to deal with a whole host of minor housekeeping issues, and, wonder of wonders, Bill didn't get a mental overload from the whole experience. Perhaps we're finally reaching the "settled in" stage. May head for the historical museum tomorrow or the next day. We've been here so often that we've seen pretty much all of what interests us here, but I'm always interested in the history, and especially the pre-history, of the area. Best guess is we'll stay here for internet-day on Thursday, the flea market on Sat, and probably (depending on the weather) leave on Sunday (even though Bill doesn't like to travel on weekends) for places north. Amsterdam or Zaandam, whatever the best opportunity presents.

1 July 2013

Yesterday was a joy, finally. Warm weather for most of the day, sunny, a bit windy but nice. Walked into town in the afternoon and discovered a huge used book market in the square. It used to be that Sundays and Monday mornings everything was closed up tight. Now, at least in the larger places, it seems most shops are open Sundays like they are in the States. More convenient, but less of a local feel to life. We put up shade on the back deck and spent the afternoon reading outside with appetizers and light drinks and then later with a dinner of "leftover soufflé"

while we watched the locals indulge in an orgy of boating up and down the Spaarn. That's their way of celebrating the sun. The river is as crowded as a mall at home the day after kids have finished school for the summer. This morning started nice, but has gone back to overcast and cool. Looks like in a few days we're headed up north to Zaandam, around part of Noord Holland and then back down to spend some time in Amsterdam. Yesterday back in the States Amy's sister Beth was married. Spent the day thinking about them and wishing them the best. Still trying to get photos up, more later . . . .