When you transplant yourself to another country, expect inevitable delays in finding everything you need to access. I still don't even know which way is South, let alone where I can get a camera charger (mine is sadly losing power and I forgot the charger at home). My blog may be on temporary hiatus until I find a charger that works. In the meantime, I can cheat and post pictures from the last time I was in Delft in 2007, like this one to the right & below. I'm also having a hard time finding yeast and flour - I have to make my pizzas!
Another slight inconvenience, but not at all unexpected, is not speaking the native language (Dutch). Did I really want to spend time learning a new language that I would only use for 3 months and completely butcher anyway? Not really, but I do like to be as respectful as I can as a tourist. Thankfully, Claire speaks Dutch, and the boys are quickly catching on, so they help me with phrases like, "Why do I have to pay you so I can use the toilet?" ha, just joking, although it's true, you pay before using a public bathroom, which isn't that uncommon if you think about it. But while I'm at it, I will add it to the list of minor inconveniences. Oh, and it's rather irritating that everything on the internet is now in Dutch. I know that I can change it somehow but it's hard to start the process when everything is in another language. |
| Everything is just a 5 minute walk away |
Ah! Why am I complaining?! I have nothing to complain about, I only like to point out the cultural differences that I find due to my own ignorance. Something that's NOT inconvenient about Delft is how easy it is to walk around and be anywhere in the town within 7 minutes (if you're walking with young children, add 30 minutes). Another convenient thing is with a giant clock tower in the center of the town, you always know what time it is. Every day at 11am the clock tower's bells chime a montage of songs (many by the Beatles) for the ENTIRE HOUR. When it stops, you know it's noon. Oh, and there was nothing special about that Clydesdale with the staged organ at the market the other day. It seems like it makes any excuse to make an appearance. I'm starting to feel like we're perpetually on a carousel.
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| The boat we took around the canals of Delft |
Today the family took a boat tour of Deflt, learning about the history of the canals, pretentious princes, and the very, very old houses of the town while we floated down the canals. For instance, there is a church here that took four centuries to complete just the rear of the church. And, there are 79 bridges in Delft! And, the first prince of Delft had a doctor move to Delft with him to continue his care. The doctor stayed in Delft's smallest house with 7 of his children. The prince, however, didn't want to use the small door that came with this very small house when he visited the doctor for his appointments and such, so he had an even larger door installed next to the original door. Only the prince could use this larger door to enter the doctor's house. I'm sure there's a punch line hidden in here somewhere, but I'm just too tired to care to think of one...uh...it turns out the prince was a fat pig of a ogre who ate all the children...no, that's not a joke...bagh. I'll have to get a picture of it the next time I'm in that part of town.
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