Tuesday, May 28, 2002

 
I have nothing to say today. Why did I decide to post, you ask? I don't know. Maybe it's an automatic reflex when I get on the computer now. Maybe I miss talking to people. Maybe ritual animal sacrifice isn't as fulfilling as it used to be and I just need some attention. Well actually I do have a question. In Den Haag, on Elandstraat, there's an establishment called the Mayfair, which advertises my means of a large and tasteful poster of a partially dressed woman (not sarcasm. It's beyond tasteful) in black and white, with the caption, "The Mayfair" and something like "the best" written next to it. I've passed this establishment many a time and it takes up two buildings with darkened storefront windows, in a nice, expensive neighbourhood. The entrance is denoted with a little plaque that says "The Mayfair. Members only."

Obviously, this piqued my interest. Den Haag is no den of vice and sin a la Amsterdam, so what's the deal? I've decided to find out and will post as soon as I know.
posted by Alleen at 2:57:56 PM

Sunday, May 26, 2002

 
Yay Delft! About 20 minutes by tram from Centraal Station in the Den Haag, Delft is small, charming, full of history, and very very Dutch. Hell, they've even got a windmill. Yesterday, I went to Delft in search of some culture and IKEA. The culture came in the form of a 500-year-old church in the main square of Delft, ironically known as the Nieuwe Kerk or new church, the Oude Kerk or old church being down the street (it's 700+ years old). Not only did this church contain the Dutch royal family crypt, topped off with a really bizarre monument to William the Silent (who was assassinated in Delft), but it also had an extremely high tower, which I'm proud to say I climbed to the top of. Sure I could get the same view from a really tall apartment building, but they don' t have those in Delft, and hey, I wouldn't get the oxygen deprivation, vertigo- and claustrophobia-inducing fun of climbing up an extremely narrow spiral staircase for a good half hour. All your fears bundled in one little package. Still, it was a hell of a view.

It was kind of ironic because I didn't even stumble on these stairs, but when I got home I took a lovely fall on the stairs to my apartment. I banged my wrist on the bannister so hard I have a lovely combination bruise/gash. First I jump in front of a car and now this; the Dutch are going to put me on suicide watch any minute now.

IKEA, on the other hand, just wasn't the same. Sure, it still had the same old stuff, but in the Netherlands cleverly-designed and cheap pieces of furniture are as common as mud. Also, I wasn't accompanied by my former roommate Cecilia who added a certain special joy to each IKEA outing. Sigh.

The day was ended as all good days in the Netherlands must end, with dessert. I had poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes covered with powdered sugar and butter) with strawberries for dinner, and then headed back home to the funny smell in my bathroom. I have spent today buying things to improve my tiny home with. Next weekend, Antwerp for sure.
posted by Alleen at 4:59:15 PM

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