Leiden is one of my favourite cities. Not only does it have in common that it was liberated from the Spaniards in 1574, with my own home town Brielle (we were first though: 1572). But it also has two of my favourite places to visit: the Museum voor Oudheidkunde and the Hortus Botanicus. But fìrst two photos I took today, at 6 a.m. and at 2 p.m.
My Narcisii are blooming, yay! Apart from them, all is still sodden and brown. But we are going in the right direction! Right, Leiden here we go.
The painted detail is simple but exquisite at the same time.
If the mummy of that woman found inside is anything near as gorgeous as this receptible, that woman must have been beautiful.
Now I do know that beautiful is not a correct word to describe mummies...but you know what I mean, right?
I'll give you some impressions of other exhibits, before reverting to plants.
Large, flat feet! But so sweet, this sculpture.
Okay, back to my not so secret pleasure! The winter garden of the Hortus Botanicus was the same as my winter garden, that is to say some bulbs and other very early plants, but mostly bare earth and withered stems.
Still, the anticipation of Spring was palpable!
The Helleborus were looking amazing already!
Is there anything more beautiful than what nature produces? No, of course not! We try, and sometimes come near, but never completely.
Leiden is lovely, so put it on your list if you ever visit the Netherlands!
Okay. This is it for this week. I'll leave you with the good news that the 2nd part of my murder trilogy has been published. You can find it in the web shop of Trichisboeken.nl, under the name Zwaartekracht. It is in Dutch, but these days that is no problem, as the friends of my Taalcafé show me each week. They simply point their phone at the Dutch text and it gets translated into Chinese, Farsi, or whatever 😊
Have a great week, wherever you are!
Renée Grashoff
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