FOOD ALL DAY

Why Aren't the Dutch Heavy?

The Dutch are known to have ‘breakfast all day’. Their eating habits are quite traditional. At breakfast it is common to put hagelslag, chocolate sprinkles, on buttered toast. At 10:30 in the morning  coffee time  is observed everywhere. The strong coffee is  served in small cups. The time allotted to coffee is that given to a meal. The first coffee house  opened in the Hague and coffee was commercially introduced on a large scale in 1711 by the Netherlands East India Company.

At lunchtime one may have erwtensoep, pea soup, or bread with cheese or meat topped with a fried egg. At 4:00 PM  it’s time for afternoon tea which is served with gebak (pastry). Or small pancakes with butter and sugar, known as poffertjes, may also be served. Patat is a cone of french fries smothered in mayonnaise or a sauce.

At 5:00PM it is time for borrel. That’s a drink accompanied by nuts or cheese and crackers. Bitterballen are fried meatballs eaten with a pick after being dipped in mustard.

The traditional Dutch evening meal consists of vegetables, meat, chicken or fish and salad. This is followed with a milk dessert. Then coffee with pie or cake follows, and finally a drink of wine, beer, or liqueur.

After learning about Dutch food habits I thought most of the day was spent eating!

Whenever I have been in Holland I have eaten pretty much at normal times for me and enjoyed the cuisine. 

REYKJVIK RESPITE

        REYKJAVIK BOTANICAL GARDENS

            After exciting busy days on our last afternoon in Reykjavik the gal I was traveling with wanted to go shopping. I’m not a shopper, but never the less after three weeks I was shopped out.

            Our hotel room faced a park and taxis were easy to come by. I had observed what looked like people paying for a cab with a credit card. I left the hotel and approached one of the taxis. Sure enough he’d take a credit card---my first experience with this spreading phonon.

            I had a general idea where the botanical gardens were but thought it might be a trial to find them on foot. As my cab drove along, I paid close attention to the route, following it on my map, so I could find my way back to the hotel. I was glad the cab accepted credit cards as it was an astronomical sum for the two mile ride. When the cabbie realized I was going to walk back he pointed out a short cut on the map for me.

The Botanical Gardens were founded in 1961. It was a gorgeous day and many families were out enjoying the sun and warm weather. The gardens were lovely with several bridges over ponds, tree line lawns and paths, numerous flower gardens, large herb gardens and a gazebo café in the middle of it all. Many park benches were available for people to sit and enjoy.

I thought about stopping at the gazebo for a cup of tea, but it was crowded and being a single I didn’t want to tie up a table that could be utilized by four people. So I opted for a park bench to people-watch and enjoy the day and surroundings. It sure beat shopping!

            When  ready I started to walk back to the city. I was smart to take a cab to the gardens because of its location and my unfamiliarity I would never have been able to find the gardens myself. But it was a pretty easy to walk back. The cabbie told me which street to take as he had taken the harbor/water route where there were no sidewalks. It took me about 55 minutes to walk the estimated couple of miles. The street changed names  three times, so I was cautious following the map.

            As I approached the church I heard the organ play Here comes the Bride. On the patio of the church sat a ‘52 Hudson to carry the new couple away. I sat on a bench, but after awhile when the bride did not appear, I left and walked back to the hotel.   

            It had been a delightful afternoon.