Off to Haarlem

Papa's cousin Henk

After seven days we said goodbye to Amsterdam and our lovely apartment. For our second week we headed to the beautiful old city of Haarlem, about a forty minute drive away. Haarlem is the birthplace of Gordon's father, his grandparents, and also of his two older sisters. It is the place where his father and his siblings grew up, and where his parents were married and made their very first home together.

Gordon's cousin, Henk, whom he hadn't seen since childhood, resides in Haarlem with his wife, Ellen. He very kindly offered to pick us up at our apartment in Amsterdam and drive us to our hotel in Haarlem. Henk is a retired journalist and documentary film maker, who still occasionally works freelance. He appeared exactly on time at 11 AM sharp, and after hugs and European kisses, we were off. A very charming man and one with whom we immediatly felt comfortable. The plan was for us to check into our hotel and then Henk would drive us to his house where we were invited for lunch, and could also meet Ellen.

We had booked a room with a kitchen in the Joop Hotel, right in the heart of old Haarlem, near the Grote Markt (Market Square). For 700 years The Grote Markt, where ten streets converge, has been the town's delightful center.

The Grote Markt (Market Square).

Our hotel room at the Joop Hotel in Haarlem. We had two double beds and a single bed for Ariana.

We also had a very basic, but adequate, kitchen area. It had a small fridge, a double hot plate, and a microwave oven.

It was Ariana who discovered that our room had a large, private balcony. Seeing a door in the wall in the corner, she opened it ... and there it was!

                                                        Papa and Ariana on our balcony.

                                                 View looking straight out from the balcony.

                                              Ariana watches the sights below as we unpack.

Lunch with Henk and Ellen was wonderful. It was so nice to spend time with family again. Even though they were basically strangers to us, it didn't feel like it. We share a common last name, blood and ancestory, and we felt them to be kindred from the very first. Ellen, who is a recently retired Early Childhood Education teacher, was kindness personified. Both she and Henk were very welcoming to us.

                                                                             Ellen

We had a lovely lunch of a selection of cold meats, cheeses and breads, pickles and tomatoes, delicious Dutch almond cake, date and nut squares, butter cookies, and fresh strawberries with whipped cream. We drank glasses of chilled white wine to toast our newly found connection, followed by tiny cups of dark, intense espresso. Ariana had orange Fanta, a drink she enjoyed several times in Holland.

Henk and Ellen gave us a tour of their house, and showed us pictures of their two sons and three little grandchildren. The conversation and laughter flowed easily. Ellen brought out lego for Ariana, who had also brought along her Girl's Activity book. Ellen was very impressed by Ariana's politeness and also how happily she amused herself .

Before driving us back to our hotel, Henk made arrangements for us to get together the next day for a tour of Haarlem, concentrating on family history. He would take us to see, among other things, the house where Gordon's father was born, the church where he was baptised and served as as altar boy, and the place where his parents met.

Later we discovered that there was a McDonalds right there in the Grote Markt. Ariana was very excited when we asked her if she'd like to have dinner there that evening. Although we had picked up a take-out McDonald's lunch for her once in Amsterdam, we hadn't yet actually been into one.

We had the McKroket and french fries, followed by ice-cream sundaes.

Papa also had the McBeer. Now, don't you wish we had that in Canada!

And, dank u, Ariana. Having been so amazing the past week, Papa and I felt she certainly deserved this treat. Seriously, not once had she ever complained or whined about anything! Not only that, she listened to every single thing we asked her to do, and did it immediatly and cheerfully. It may sound like I am exaggerating, but I am not!