Scheveningent, that's where I am at - it is the neighboring city of Den Haag aka The Hague. What's interesting is this is a beach town of sorts - it was quite windy but there were lots of people on the beach and rows of emtpy chairs on boardwalk cafes - not an image I associate with the Nord Zee! Can't imagine ever being hardy enough to wade in the cold water - then again this is someone who usually has to wear socks to fall asleep in the cold.

Today was a gorgeous day, I arrived in the station at 2, got my strippenkaart for the trams and met up with Kirsten. Got oriented to her flat and the beach is literally just across the street. We found a nice spot to have a late lunch - had some lovely discussions about being in the NOW and meditation. We always end up having these philosophical type of talks and even though its been bout 4 years since our last proper visit - it feels like no time has elapsed. thank god for calling cards.

Lunch felt a little surreal, howling wind but lots of sun and protection by glass partitions from the beach, tapas bar with salsa music playing, lousy dutch waitservice with typical dutch fare + some gazpacho + some hoegaardse. YUM. We ordered some bitterballen, very dutch - bar food type - deep fried I don't really want to know what the concoction is - but oh so yummy. kinda creamy and meat flavored and maybe mushroom saucey like?! I think it was sunny enough that I got a bit sunburnt, my cheeks are reddish, that may have been from the wine we had at dinner though.

Maybe some sun will get rid of these persistent acne bits I seem to have picked up in 'Nam. (I was told no one said that but my dutch friend who has been there repeatedly calls it that so it *must* be ok. hell, its my blog right?!) I don't know if it was from the humidity, sweat or sunscreen - probably a bit of both but I am SO over it - its been over a week, can't wait for my skin to come back. gosh I hope it does.

Here is an interesting tidbit - the pronounciation of Scheveningen was a bit of a test during the war. A dutchman would ask you to pronounce the name as a test to determine if you were a german or not. It's a bit of a tricky pronounciation - very dutch sounding.

after lunch we walked the dog, loekie, then went to Albert heijn the supermarket. I felt SO nostalgic for that place, buying fresh produce and all the yummy cheese products and special dutch snacks. I'm gonna stock up on olijvinnaise - olive flavored mayo - great with anything potato yum. Wouter (kirsten's man) came home, we had dinner. He played vid games after, we watched the Sixth Sense - I forgot how good that movie is - was tearing up a bit at the end. smoked some hasj from the coffeeshop and now here I sit winding down to get to bed.

Just wished Kirsten 'slaap lekkerig' which literally means sleep delicious. Look forward to wandering around the town tomorrow, been jonesing to see the Girl with Peal Earring up close - it is at the Mauritshuis in Den Haag.