Delft and The Hague

Our day began with a walking tour of the city with Ann. Using our VOX audio devices and ear pieces works well.  When Ann spoke in a normal conversational tone we could hear her very well. That has been the case with all other local tour guides as well as with Ruby, our Rick Steves guide for the entire tour. She is 34, and this is her first tour as guide. She has completed three tours as assistant, which is a Rick Steves requirement. Now Etelka, our assistant tour guide is actually very experienced in Eastern Europe tour guiding. Apparently this year Rick wants assistants on all tours due to the pandemic. 

We heard stories about famous local residents: Johannes Vermeer, the painter, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who developed greater magnification of the microscope than in use at that time, and William I of Orange, a Protestant and well loved leader. We learned history and saw it preserved in the architecture. 

That was a great contrast with Hague, a city with lots of tram lines and little if any distinctive architecture except the country's Parliament buildings. We took the wrong tram then the correct one for the half hour ride which Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery houses the best collection of works by Netherlands' artists next to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.  There I soaked up the beauty and skills of Vermeer, Jan Steen, Rembrandt and many others. One particular Rembrandt painting, a self portrait,  hung in Tom Hubbard's office.

On the morning tour we also visited the de Candelaer Delft workshop and learned how the gorgeous pottery was made. I was thrilled to be there.

We window shopped, looked at clothing, and prepared for our happy hour hosted by Ruby. She offered several Dutch liqueurs and liver pate, pickles, and pieces of cheese. That experience led to lots of conversations which led ten of us to have supper together.  I had a cold plate with Lamb pate, some pickled vegetables, small pieces of local cheeses, and mustard with tomatoes and sour dough bread.  It was an experience. Our conversations became deeper, and I felt I got to know several others much better, and that felt good. Several asked how I knew Colin Firth.  (He played the role of Vermeer in the film The Girl With the Pearl Earring, which painting was also the main reason we went to the Mauritius museum).

After the conclusion of our supper and back at the hotel I realized that I left my cellphone at the restaurant.  Premilla accompanied me, and after a couple wrong turns we found the restaurant still open and the cellphone lying under some menus. WHEW!  Yes, Uncle Orliss,  I have learned a valuable lesson.

It is after 11PM, and I am turning off the light. Guten Nacht, Susan

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