Happy Easter!
Today we were blessed with beautiful weather even though rain had been forecast for most of the time during our stay.
After a nice breakfast and a round of “Happy Easter,” we drove down to Delft Pottery in Rijswijk (Northern Delft). We took a brief tour of the pottery-making and painting process. The pottery is molded, kiln-fired, then designs are transferred from templates (for some designs), then the pottery is hand painted, dipped and fired again. There were many beautiful pieces to admire.
Next, Cal drove us down to Kinderdijk to visit the 19 windmills that line the dykes, originally built to pump water in and out of the basin. We also had a chance to climb up into one of the windmills to learn how “Miller’s” families lived and how the windmills moved water. We watched a brief movie that reminded us, “God created the earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” This, referring to the notion that the Dutch managed water so expertly they have been able to create stable living conditions.
To finish the day, we had supper at a Turkish restaurant, eating dishes that reminded us of our time in Istanbul. Cal and Bonnie liked the food and we finished with some baklavah.
We enjoyed another day together, celebrating Easter with fellowship and learning.
Video
Photos
- Amsterdam from our hotel, facing Westerkerk
- Our hotel lobby
- A rower in Northern Delft across from Delft Pottery
- The Delft Pottery building, containing the workshops and showroom
- Our tour guide explaining the Delft pottery kiln firing process
- Delft pottery molds
- A board showing the process, from blank pottery to cobalt/copper impression and painting to the finished, glazed product
- An example of a color Delft Pottery painting (hand painted)
- Samples of blue Delft Pottery
- Samples of color Delft Pottery
- Homes near the Delft Pottery building
- Cal conversing with the ducks near Delft Pottery, enjoying the calm stream and lively nature
- Katelyn and Zach in Kinderdijk
- A bird flying above Kinderdijk
- Bonnie, Cal, Zach, Katelyn and Kim in Kinderdijk
- Katelyn climbing down out of a windmill
- Wooden gears driven by wind inside a windmill
- Wooden boots worn by "Millers" - people who lived in and tended the windmills
- A windmill with collapsed sails (they are fully trimmed only when in operation)
- Bonnie, Katelyn and Zach next to the tip of a windmill wing
- Bonnie and Cal
- Zach, Katelyn, Kim and Aaron
- Cal and Zach walking and chatting
- A modern corkscrew pump at Kinderdijk
- Aaron lamb, yogurt and rice dish
- Zach's lamb dish
- Katelyn and Bonnie shared some Tavuk, skewered chicken
- Kim and Cal had stewed lamb with greens and rice
- A beautiful lamp at the Turkish restaurant
- Happy Easter! He is risen! (photo by Katelyn)