De Hortus, Oude Kerk, Spui

 We had a mild, misty day as we walked the half-hour to de hortus botanicus Amsterdam, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.  What a glorious wander through a three climate greenhouse and gardens, butterfly houses and surrounding gardens, still generous with bloom even though it is well beyond the prime of the season.  Filled with weird and wonderful plants, some of which were incredibly rare and behind protective bars to ensure their survival on our very precarious planet.  Without further adieu, the hortus - 

This is the upside down version of the one below!

From here, a brief stop at Spui for a planning meeting, which concluded when we decided to wander across a few pleins to the oude kerk (old church).  Not a climbing church (thank goodness) but still outstanding in every way.   I cannot begin to describe my feelings when I am in a church that dates back to 1306, standing on inside graves that are worn smooth with the passage of time and a million wanderers over hundreds of years.  

Like me, this guy lost his head….

These carvings mark every choir seat, and they are hundreds of years old.  They are all different.

Somehow every church can afford the biggest, most exorbitant organ in Europe

Families bought the gravesites a thousand years ago and a then a keyhole was placed in each stone in order to haul it up and add the next generation when needed.  Economical but a little macabre!

We drifted home slowly and most certainly not in a straight line, which is not possible in Amsterdam.  A canal here, a bar there, some flowers to smell, some ancient books and maps to examine.   It’s all unhurried, mindful and so sweet.  So completely different from our N. American rush and efficiency.  This just feels so much more human.

Tomorrow marks our pre-flight Covid test, at 4 o’clock over at Albert’s.   A three minute walk, tops.  How lovely to provide this venue so close and free of charge to boot.   Our results will be in hand in 24 hours and unless something unexpected happens, that is all we will need in order to come back to Canada on Tuesday.  That, and a fifty page dissertation for ArriveCAN.  But before then, there will be another canal to walk.  Suddenly we’re running out of time and the clock is ticking far too loud.