The most dominating feature of Haarlem is the great Bavo church. We just had to go inside to explore it. It has a huge pipe organ (unfortunately no-one was playing it) that was once played by no less than a young Mozart and even Handel. The church floor we walked on was completely covered with burial vaults. Most dates were worn off but I found one from the 1700's. They all have a little hole which I find creepy. Probably a way to get the stone off, if needed (can't imagine). What is very alive about this church is the carillon. Every 15 minutes we hear a brief song. Between 11 and 1 pm we enjoyed a virtual concert while sipping our coffee at a patio table.
Because it was Monday all the museums are closed. We would have liked to visit the Corrie ten Boom house. We did stand in front of it, however. Luckily we are not into museums too much.
We have already decided to take a taxi out of town tomorrow morning and to be dropped off at the Kennermeer Park where we plan to rejoin the route.
At 6 pm we plan to meet up with my two cousins and we spent part of the morning looking for a fun place to take them for dinner. The hotel we are in is a bit too formal and same old, same old menu (like breast of duck, which I hate). I will do another blog entry after our dinner, with some pics.
Hi Chris and Jeff - enjoyed the blog and pics today, as always, but with a fun (?) memory of being at the St Bavo Kerk with Joe for an organ recital (Bach Fugues, mostly)and deciding I could not take another second of it, standing up to get out, when all at once everyone else stood and started madly applauding what must have been known to them as the last crashing, roaring chord, and I realized I had stood up to leave at the exact moment the concert ended! Plus, it was freezing cold in there :) Funny, looking back! Have a good day walking today!
ReplyDeleteToo bad that the Corrie ten Boom museum was closed for you today....good to know ...if you are into museums ...you should not have a Monday rest day...the streets look very empty for a city...maybe everyone is on the Pieter Pad....
ReplyDeleteI remember being very restless on our rest days on the Camino...but still you managed to walk 7 k without trying...very interested in hearing about your time with the cousins..since they are mine as well....the pictures should be interesting...Diane