Eliot's Travels

Maria van Jessekerk was open Sunday as part of the monument weekend. The boys and I went to check it out right after lunch. We see this church every time we go to the produce market and have always wondered what it looked like inside. We call it the double church because of its two steeples - we can also see it from our bedroom window. It's very pretty with nice stained glass, several altars, and a gorgeous pulpit which was under restoration. The main stucture inside the church has beautifully painted bricks and paintings. I really enjoyed the gargoyle above the main entrance - or is it a dog?

Eliot recently has been into buying things (and asking nonstop). He really wanted to buy this handmade card we saw in the church. So after we left the church and being bugged all though snacking on the steps, I told him he needed to go back inside and ask the ladies at the table the price of the card. He was inside by himself (he's very independent nowadays) for a few minutes, so I decided I better go see what was happening. A nice older lady was holding his hand walking him outside to find me. She wasn't sure what he was asking in English, so I told her he wanted to know the price of the card. 1.50 Euros - which was cheap enough for him to use the rest of his money (spare change) to buy the rose card with a Dutch phrase on it - it could be a sympathy card for all we know.
Afterwards, we walked to the Markt toward the sound of singing. In the grandstands, a band was playing with a singer up on the stage. People were passing out written handouts - it was a Dutch sing-along!! With Miles asleep in the Ergo, Eliot and I headed into the stands to sing along. It took me 3 songs to figure out where we were but then I was able to join in with very poor pronunciation. I kind of felt like we were singing the Dutch version of "Roll out the barrel." It ws fun.

I walked around with Eliot in the stroller until he fell asleep. Both boys were exhausted from Aunt Julie's visit (so was I). With Jim out of town until Tuesday, I treated myself to a chardonnay on the outside patio at Kobus Kuch in the gorgeous afternoon sun. It was awesome just sitting there soaking in the rays with 2 sleeping boys. One could not have asked for better weather that weekend. After one drink, I decided I shouldn't press my luck, and we headed home for dinner.

posted by Whitney @ 9:02 AM