Market

Yesterday marked the last day of Saturday market for the season.  This is a smorgasbord of delicious smells, sights, and people watching.  You can purchase everything from produce to leather goods to used books, to antique bread tins (read old stuff that's been sitting in someone's grandmother's attic).  For Rose, this has been a highlight in Delft since browsing is one of her favorite things to do.  I think getting a bargain is her next favorite.  She found some good deals.  Rose befriended a nice lady who knits beautiful doll clothes.  In the photo below, Rose is trying on a sweater this woman made to fit Rose's doll.  Since Rose had bought a few pieces from her already, and because she was so charmed by Rose, she gave it away for free.

Do you think Rose's t-shirt helps her bargaining power?

The other thing in plentiful supply is beautiful flowers.  Rose has learned that if you wait until 4 pm you can get enormous bunches of flowers for 5 euros.  It is lovely to walk by the flower stalls, and when biking around the outskirts of many cities, it's easy to see many acres of greenhouses, and thus the reason for such readily available flowers.  If flowers aren't your thing, there are stalls for every need.   An entire stall is devoted to candies (different from chocolate).  A second has all nuts roasted and/or shelled to taste.

Frans & Rose liked walking by the candy stall...

For the nut lovers, everything is here.

Then, there is the people watching.  This man is demonstrating the proper way to eat a herring.  Above, he has just dipped his fresh, raw herring into a pile of raw onions.  Now, holding firmly by the tail, he tilts the head back to get everything in before the onions fall off.  Well done.  I am not the biggest fan of herring, but Frans and Rose (and Erzo, of course) love the occasional snack.  You should note that this tastes nothing like (and is much better than) any herring you could get in the US, which usually comes pickled or smothered in sour cream.

So, our beautiful September, with many sunny, breezy days, has come to a close.  It's now really Fall, a turning point emphasized by the nasty fall colds passing through our house.  We're turning towards cozier pursuits and checking our bike lights, as the daylight is shortening quickly.  More soon...