Eliot's Travels

Today we ventured into Noord Holland to a small town called Haarlem. It's a beautiful old city where much of the original 17th century layout is preserved. The Grote Markt has beautiful buildings along the border. The 17th century Vleeshal (a former meat market) and the Verweyhal (an old fish market) are now part of the Frans Hal art museum. Jim toured the Frans Hal Museum to see paintings by Dutch masters. The collection focuses on the 17th-century Haarlem School, which is regarded as the pinnacle of Dutch mannerist art (Lonely Planet guide). Jim enjoyed his quiet journey, while the kids and I walked around the old city. The Nieuwe Kerk is also from the 17th century. Kids were playing tennis against its tall building walls. We also walked by the Bakenesserkerk which had a beautiful tower of sandstone (hence, the contrasting white) that was built in the late 15th century. This stone was intended for the Grote Kerk which was too weak to support a heavy steeple. We walked in the courtyards of three different Hofjes. Hofjes are leafy courtyards enclosed by rows of sweet little homes that were first laid out as monasteries in the Middle Ages. The residents were working in their gardens or sitting at their tables and visiting with each other. To me, they felt like the original co-housing concept where the fronts of all their homes faced a beautiful courtyard.

posted by Whitney @ 2:43 AM