Happily Headed to Haarlem!
That morning I ate my cereal and started packing up. Suddenly all of the "pack light" stuff started to come back to bite me. I swear my luggage had gained weight- and the only things I'd bought were chocolate and lace hankies! I barely got my suitcase closed and my backpack zipped and I still had a sack and my camera... I didn't get it...
My taxi arrived quickly and was actually a roomy van. Tanneke wished me well and said good-bye. The cab driver asked where I wanted to go. My plan was to take the cab to the train station and then take the train to Haarlem and walk from the train station to the hotel. "Just out of curiousity," I said, "approximately how much would it be to take the cab to my hotel in Haarlem?" I quickly struck a deal. So with a pleasant smile on my face, I sat back and relaxed all the way.
Cars aren't allowed on the streets around the hotel during the main hours of the day. Bikes and pedestrians only. So I was dropped off a block from the hotel and given instructions on how to get there.
My room wasn't ready when I arrived at 11:15, but I was told I was welcome to store my luggage and go out and explore. It was then that I met a nice retired couple in the lobby. John and Shirley were from Colorado and would be on the tour tomorrow. We chatted for a bit.
My taxi arrived quickly and was actually a roomy van. Tanneke wished me well and said good-bye. The cab driver asked where I wanted to go. My plan was to take the cab to the train station and then take the train to Haarlem and walk from the train station to the hotel. "Just out of curiousity," I said, "approximately how much would it be to take the cab to my hotel in Haarlem?" I quickly struck a deal. So with a pleasant smile on my face, I sat back and relaxed all the way.
Cars aren't allowed on the streets around the hotel during the main hours of the day. Bikes and pedestrians only. So I was dropped off a block from the hotel and given instructions on how to get there.
My room wasn't ready when I arrived at 11:15, but I was told I was welcome to store my luggage and go out and explore. It was then that I met a nice retired couple in the lobby. John and Shirley were from Colorado and would be on the tour tomorrow. We chatted for a bit.
Home Happy Home~ The Ambassador Hotel
I was thrilled to go out and start exploring. The sun was shining, the temperatures were actually comfortable and I was pleased to leave my raincoat behind, happy in my t-shirt and sweater. It was market day. I loved walking around and looking at all of the food and goodies to be bought. But my goal was to get to the Corrie Ten Boom house early so I could take the tour of St. Bavo's at 2.
Corrie's house on the Barteljorisstraat was only about 2 blocks away from the hotel. There was a crowd was in the alley and it looked like they were just letting in a tour so I got in line. Unfortunately, about 4 people in front of me, they cut the line. "Regulations only permit us to let in 20 people at the most," a guide explained. "You are welcome to come back for a later tour." Well, that was a bummer. The tour I'd taken 3 years ago had about 30 people in it. Maybe the regulations were tougher now. Whatever the case, I wasn't getting in at that moment!
Here are some random pictures from around town.
Corrie's house on the Barteljorisstraat was only about 2 blocks away from the hotel. There was a crowd was in the alley and it looked like they were just letting in a tour so I got in line. Unfortunately, about 4 people in front of me, they cut the line. "Regulations only permit us to let in 20 people at the most," a guide explained. "You are welcome to come back for a later tour." Well, that was a bummer. The tour I'd taken 3 years ago had about 30 people in it. Maybe the regulations were tougher now. Whatever the case, I wasn't getting in at that moment!
Here are some random pictures from around town.
No biggie, there was plenty to see. I headed to St Bavo's to see what was going on there. The old cathedral was HUGE! It was so massive compared to the buildings around it that it was strange. I wondered if perhaps the town was built around the church. Whatever the case, I got right in. For 2 Euro and 50 cents I could go in and look around. They gave me an English brochure to guide myself. Then they informed me that there would be a vocal concert at 1:15 if I wanted to stay for it- or use receipt to come back. That sounded wonderful! I began to explore.
What can I say about the Grote of St. Bavo Kerk. Wow. Incredible! Spectacular! What drew me most to the old church was its connection to Corrie Ten Boom and her family. As I wandered around, admiring the massive structure, I pictured Corrie and her family in there. Where did they usually sit? It was surreal.
St Bavo's is also well known for having both Mozart (in 1766 when he was 10 years old) and Handel play on the organ there. It was tough to wrap my mind around such history.
Some St Bavo facts from their brochure:
*1370-1538- Construction of the present church.
*1559-1578 The Bavo becomes a Cathedral.
*1578- The Reformation influences the church and becomes Protestant.
*1735-1738- construction of the Christian Muller organ.
*In Mary's chapel, within the cathedral, there is a sarcophagi that dates back to the 12th century. There is a 15th century box which is the oldest "safe" in Haarlem. It used to hold (among other things) the town privileges of Haarlem.
*The oldest part of the pulpit dates from 1434. The banisters are formed by two brass snakes symbolizing evil fleeing the world.
*There is a brass lectern which is shaped like a pelican- or what people thought pelicans looked like in 1499!
*When the Spanish seized Haarlem in 1573 the people were so hungry that on the back side of the communion board it is written that "Ja honden en catten waren wilbraet gheheten" or "dogs and cats were called roast game".
*The floor of the church consists entirely of gravestones (1500 of them)- the oldest dates back to the 15th century.
While wondering around the church, I ran into Lori, her sister Emily and her mom Suzanne. Lori recently graduated from nursing school in Montana. We met through the Rick Steves message board. For months we'd been chatting back and forth in anticipation of our trip. It was surreal then, to randomly meet up in St Bavo's. We talked for a bit there in the church and then went our separate ways. They were soon to go on the wetlands safari tour that I had told them about (I ran out of time in my own schedule!).
I returned to my hotel to freshen up a bit before the concert. I was pleased to find my room was ready. Then I learned that my room was not in the hotel! The Ambassador, like many Dutch buildings, was a bit quirky- to say the least. My room was located behind the hotel- though separate from it. I had to go outside, down the street, around the corner, down the street some more, through a door, through another door which leads to a courtyard... and there was my room, half hidden behind construction materials. It was a very nice room, part of their new construction. I had the European version of a double bed- two twins smashed together and "dressed" separately. I was told at check in that I'd have to change rooms the next day once the tour started. Quirky was a great word to describe such a fun hotel.
St Bavo's is also well known for having both Mozart (in 1766 when he was 10 years old) and Handel play on the organ there. It was tough to wrap my mind around such history.
Some St Bavo facts from their brochure:
*1370-1538- Construction of the present church.
*1559-1578 The Bavo becomes a Cathedral.
*1578- The Reformation influences the church and becomes Protestant.
*1735-1738- construction of the Christian Muller organ.
*In Mary's chapel, within the cathedral, there is a sarcophagi that dates back to the 12th century. There is a 15th century box which is the oldest "safe" in Haarlem. It used to hold (among other things) the town privileges of Haarlem.
*The oldest part of the pulpit dates from 1434. The banisters are formed by two brass snakes symbolizing evil fleeing the world.
*There is a brass lectern which is shaped like a pelican- or what people thought pelicans looked like in 1499!
*When the Spanish seized Haarlem in 1573 the people were so hungry that on the back side of the communion board it is written that "Ja honden en catten waren wilbraet gheheten" or "dogs and cats were called roast game".
*The floor of the church consists entirely of gravestones (1500 of them)- the oldest dates back to the 15th century.
While wondering around the church, I ran into Lori, her sister Emily and her mom Suzanne. Lori recently graduated from nursing school in Montana. We met through the Rick Steves message board. For months we'd been chatting back and forth in anticipation of our trip. It was surreal then, to randomly meet up in St Bavo's. We talked for a bit there in the church and then went our separate ways. They were soon to go on the wetlands safari tour that I had told them about (I ran out of time in my own schedule!).
I returned to my hotel to freshen up a bit before the concert. I was pleased to find my room was ready. Then I learned that my room was not in the hotel! The Ambassador, like many Dutch buildings, was a bit quirky- to say the least. My room was located behind the hotel- though separate from it. I had to go outside, down the street, around the corner, down the street some more, through a door, through another door which leads to a courtyard... and there was my room, half hidden behind construction materials. It was a very nice room, part of their new construction. I had the European version of a double bed- two twins smashed together and "dressed" separately. I was told at check in that I'd have to change rooms the next day once the tour started. Quirky was a great word to describe such a fun hotel.
Once I got settled in, I grabbed my room key and headed back to Bavokerk for the concert. It was a quartet/quintet and boy were they spectacular! Goosebumps!
The concert lasted about 45 minutes and was just what the doctor ordered for me. I used to direct the choir at my church and have sung all of my life. I just closed my eyes and FELT the deep impressive harmonies.
When it ended, I hustled myself to the Corrie Ten Boom house. The next tour wasn't until 3. With an hour to spare, I decided to get some lunch. My daughter and I had eaten at this Subway three years ago. I had to go back.
When it ended, I hustled myself to the Corrie Ten Boom house. The next tour wasn't until 3. With an hour to spare, I decided to get some lunch. My daughter and I had eaten at this Subway three years ago. I had to go back.
Yes. It tastes different than back home. Not bad. Just different.
Important things to know: When you walk into a building, you walk onto floor zero. You go up to the first floor. And how do you get there? On a "lift".
I made it back to the Corrie Ten Boom house just in time. There were four other people waiting. Within minutes it was ten. Then twenty. Soon nearly forty people crowded in that dim, narrow alley. They would only take twenty.
The tour was a bit different than when my daughter and I took it three years earlier. This time the only place pictures were allowed was in the hiding place room.
I made it back to the Corrie Ten Boom house just in time. There were four other people waiting. Within minutes it was ten. Then twenty. Soon nearly forty people crowded in that dim, narrow alley. They would only take twenty.
The tour was a bit different than when my daughter and I took it three years earlier. This time the only place pictures were allowed was in the hiding place room.
I picked up a few things at the market for supper. Stroopwaffels which are very Dutch (I ate one and took the rest home to the family), a mini apple pie and a blueberry muffin. Who, WHO, could resist such goodies? Not me!
However, before I could eat, I had to go to the hotel lobby and get my wi-fi info. When I got to the front desk, I found this!
To quote a spunky little redhead, "Tomorrow, to-morrow, I'll love ya, tomorrow! You're on-ly a dayyyyyy aaaaa-wayyyyyy!!!!"