last (boohoo) day of holland

Today Ans' friend Linda showed me around Leiden. I felt very Dutch as I set off on a bicycle to see the sights - although certain parts of my anatomy felt the repercussions of sitting on a bicycle seat for a few hours! Leiden is a very old town and has Holland's oldest University in it. I know that Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill studied there. I was informed of this fact by Glen who tells me he signed his name between these guys in the sweat room (I think this room is where people studied, rather than a sauna!).

We saw Rembrandt's birthplace, where he went to school and where he began painting. There were almshouses, the city hall, the execution square, churches, something called a 'burcht' (probably spelled completely differently to that), windmills, canals, bicycles, houses, narrow streets....etc. It was an excellent afternoon. Linda knew just about everything and was able to keep me well entertained and interested all afternoon.

It definitely whet my appetite to see and learn more about the Netherlands.

I spent the rest of the day talking with Ans and trying to learn a bit of Dutch. I read an ad out of the newspaper and made her laugh a lot. Some sounds my brain refuses to hear and it is even less likely that my tongue can be forced to say them. However, I think I was progressing ever so gradually. It was lovely staying with Ans and Glen. It was very 'gezellig' as the Dutch term it...very comfortable and I was sorry I had to leave when I did.

written by

Abby Benton on February 14, 2008 from Leiden, Netherlands

from the travel blog: UK

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