After spending last night until midnight marvelling at the frequency — every 15 minutes — and proximity — seemingly across the street — of the church bells, we received our unrequested 7:30 wakeup toll. (no need to wear a watch anywhere in this town)
We enjoyed a relaxing morning en suite (the bedroom part is down some stairs and through an arch in the wall, so it’s more like entering a grotto), then went out to stroll the city. Lunch was one of our more delicious meals: a giant Dutch pancake w/whipped cream and fresh strawberries and a ham/mushroom/cheese omelette. Really hit the spot.
We had the time and felt the need, so we tried to get in to see a chiropractor. There is only one in Delft, and we couldn’t get the phone to work, so we tore out the yellow page from our hotel’s book (fully intending to return it) and went to the tourist info office where we were scolded for tearing out the page, and were told that the phone system had changed. We called but couldn’t get in today, so we booked for tomorrow in Den Haag.
We then walked just about every block here in Little (and more civilized) Amsterdam. Saw much famous Delft blue ceramics (though they’ve now branched out to black, green and pink), and many other shops containing some key finds including South of the Border spices for Milton to bring back, as well as new Twinings Decaf English Breakfast Tea (which I am really enjoying while typing this!) All done while savoring delicious double dips of Ben and Jerry’s. Ambled back to the room and watched some amusing Euro-TV (including “Growing Pains, MTV, an old MGM movie, and some cheesy American daytime Soap; who picks these?) then went, literally, next door to Osteria Luciano. Very homey atmosphere with homemade pastas (we had lasagne and pesto spaghetti) and a sublime carpaccio w/parmigiano. Came back to the room, stopping to pick up some milk from the hotel’s bar for the tea, and continued our relaxing day while enjoying the church bell repetitions.