Yes, that's a gondola on the left bank. Usually it's in the canal; now it's out for spring cleaning.
A 17th-century church. Its bells ring every 15 minutes. That can get annoying after hearing "If I Were a Rich Man" several times a day for an entire week (the bells' playlist changes every Monday).
A month ago, I endured the most chaotic and stressful move of my life, thanks to French movers showing up a day early and resulting kerfuffles galore. The movers managed to damage antiques; break rare porcelain and worst of all, lose seven pieces of my beloved Nelson McCoy pottery collection. Currently I'm wading through a maze of French bureaucracy to settle the claim.
Now we live in a 200-year-old maisonette in this charming little village (a city in terms of population, but it feels like a village. It's a brief train ride from Amsterdam). Some highlights:
Fresh stroopwaffels...caramel goodness impossible to resist, made in front of you.
A florist who is a design genius, has impeccable taste and sells exotic blooms I'm seeing for the first time. The entire staff is friendly and helpful (not pictured; will do a photo essay about this third-generation florist soon).
Sunny bay windows filled with orchids: magenta; fuschia; yellow and white - a flower until now I've never successfully grown.
Climbing steep and dangerous stairs 20 times a day (the up side means I have tightened my belt a notch. Hooray!)
Bureaucracy: I was unprepared for bureaucracy that rivals the French (although the Dutch are in a better humour, when administering it)
An award-winning baker, selling a variety of truly delicious breads.
Friendly neighbours and helpful locals.
Possibility.
A simpler, cleaner look...90 percent of my art is NOT on display. Suddenly I don't need all those collectibles that filled our Paris apartment; it feels lighter and freer.
Exquisite light for photography.
Canals. Water, water everywhere.
Bicycles...my bike has been for a tune-up and now sports a basket to carry my camera gear.
Airy, light-filled space - even on grey wintery days (interior photos to follow).
The historic town gate; the River Lek lies less than a mile beyond it.
Inside the city's gates is the Town Hall complex (with a white stork's nest on the roof).
A bronze horse and a box of wooden birdhouses outside one of the town's florists.
The obligatory Dutch cheese shop featuring large wheels of Gouda.
Spring touches on a bicycle.
Flowers in unlikely places.
Wreath of roses.
Serenity in a private garden.
A beautifully-paved brick-and-cobblestone street on a foggy afternoon.
....and I am there. Paris that is....well, almost. I leave Phila. this afternoon. Just missing you it would seem. :-(
Your beautiful new world is spectacular. Yes, so different from Paris. I hope you enjoy every beautiful moment.
I will be thinking of you while I am in the city of lights.
xxoo Karen
Posted by: karen cole | 31 March 2011 at 17:52
Welcome to my world Tara - you'll enjoy the ride.
I know that Dutch bureaucracy can be mind-blowing, only
the Belgians manage to beat it.
Posted by: Peter | 30 March 2011 at 12:51
I was able to post a comment! so I came back to tell you, this made me cry!! So beautiful, and really glad you guys are settled and well. Losing treasured things is a nightmare and one reason it's so hard to depend on strangers. I wish this had not happened, and I hope you're getting restitution.
Posted by: Chris | 27 March 2011 at 20:33
Hi Jeanie - Thank you! Those tricky stairs are within our place - but similar steep and dangerous stairs are everywhere in Holland. So we must adapt.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 25 March 2011 at 10:43
Now this, my friend, is the post I have been waiting for! It's so beautiful - and by "it" I mean everything! (Although I have to say that clock could get annoying after awhile! And pretty amazing on the those steps -- to your place or just steps everywhere? So many questions! I look forward to seeing the flowers from the shop -- sounds wonderful!
But I'm so sorry about all the damage on the move -- hope the claims will settle sooner rather than later. McCoy -- I can feel it in my bones... deep sadness.
Hugs across the sea -- or the canal.
Posted by: jeanie | 24 March 2011 at 22:53
Tara...I am in LOVE with your new part of the world!!
happy that you are settling in and looking forward to all you'll have to share
x..x
Posted by: Stephanie | 24 March 2011 at 22:39
Lovely! I love all the brick so much. So charming! When Kory and I went (so many) years ago, we were so in love with it. I really loved it.
The flowers in the boots are too sweet. Sorry your move was so hard. :(
But when will you come back to SF for a visit? Miss you. Shoot me an email when you have time, tell me how you are.
oxox :)
Posted by: amber | 24 March 2011 at 17:25
Loved seeing these glimpses of your new surroundings - I wish you happiness and look forward to seeing where the new possibilities take you!
Posted by: Karen @PasGrand-Chose | 24 March 2011 at 09:07
Oh, WOW! Wow wow wow. I am SO happy for you in your beautiful new home. And I suppose the best of it is, or at least worth a serious honorable mention, is that you'll never have to deal with French movers again.
Bliss.
Posted by: Natalie | 24 March 2011 at 06:00
Catherine, thank you. I forgot you were in Christchurch. Hope you, your family and friends weren't too badly affected by the earthquake. Such a tragedy. x
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 23 March 2011 at 10:47
Your new town looks lovely. Sorry to hear about the broken treasures, and I hope the insurance gets sorted soon. You have my sympathies on that one, we are all here in Christchurch waiting on insurance companies just now :)
Posted by: Catherine | 23 March 2011 at 09:33
I love those shoes that have been recycled as planters. Shoes meant for moving and walking, now grow moss.
Beautiful pictures of your new town.
Posted by: Diogenes | 23 March 2011 at 06:12
Congrats on the move!! It is amazing...so timeless yet the church bells have a playlist!! Love it! Thank you for sharing.
missy from the bayou
Posted by: missy | 22 March 2011 at 18:02
YAY! At last!
It all looks amazing. I hope you are going to decorate you bicycle for Spring?
Possibilities are endless. Good luck in your new home x
Posted by: Elsie Anderton | 22 March 2011 at 16:44
A small gasp of delight when I saw the new photos posted! We shall all be so fortunate to see Holland through your eyes. I collect white McCoy vases and some of my earliest pieces are Nelson McCoy. I actually hand carried most during our last move as the threat of death to the movers if they broke any was too much for most of them....can't wait for more about the florist. The shop looks like such fun.
Posted by: Mary H. | 22 March 2011 at 15:12
It looks as though Vermeer could have painted your new life! Good luck in the new home.
Posted by: patricia | 22 March 2011 at 14:46
Fragments of heaven at every turn! Pockets of earthly beauty in between! What a great little world! Fascinating photos!
Posted by: Gemma @ Greyscale | 22 March 2011 at 13:03
Very exciting. Best wishes to you and david
Posted by: Martha ann sloan | 22 March 2011 at 08:20
I missed your photos! And now i'm happy seeing it again! :)
Posted by: gracey | 22 March 2011 at 04:01
Tara,
You live a life many of us dream of and I thank you for sharing your beautiful photography of that dream :) Many Blessings in your new home.
P.S.
Why is it that my belt isn't tightened a notch after my several flights a day? ;)
Posted by: Elizabeth Rhiannon | 22 March 2011 at 00:22
I second what Vanessa said!
Your new home is paradise. Bureaucracy will sort itself out, give it time. All that water, lucky you! It seems each view worthy of painting a picture. I can see you on that bike...if it were me I'd be toting a huge wheel of that cheese home!
Sorry to hear the movers were bumbling keystone-cop types. Shame. I hope you recover your missing collection!
Love to you & D in your new beautiful home.
xoxo
Posted by: Gillian | 21 March 2011 at 21:31
My goodness ~~ how beautiful. I am so sorry the move was hellish. But.. you are in a new paradise! Wow, Tara.. I'm loving it.
Posted by: bella | 21 March 2011 at 21:10
I am so excited to follow your journey in Holland, Tara! This town reminds me of Vinkeveen, where my school teacher lived all her life long. I love the ceramic chickens and the violets in the shoes.
I'm so sorry to hear about your McCoys. I have one piece my mother bought at a flea market years ago. Dare I hope that you get them back?
Posted by: dutchbaby | 21 March 2011 at 21:09
Lovely! Wonderful! I am going to love seeing your pictures of Holland and your new surroundings. Each place may be different, but each has it's own joys and flavors. Totally Delightful!
Posted by: Marilyn | 21 March 2011 at 21:04
this place looks absoutley beautiful! i wish where i lived was more bicyle friendly - would love to just hop on a bike and pop to the shops :) xx
Posted by: Rhiannon | 21 March 2011 at 20:54
Tara, you seem to have made the perfect choice. Congratulations!
Side note: Being French myself, I have a hard time believing Dutch Bureaucracy could rival the French one, and I am glad for you that they have a better sense of humour ;-)
Posted by: Anyes | 21 March 2011 at 20:45
OKay so, Paris was awesome. French, Chic etc... BUT, where you have found youself now. SO ME! Paris was the old me and I will still go there with you one day.... But, this Dutch Fairytale, so me now ;)
I am breathless. It is charming beyond words.
I laughed outloud at, if I were a rich man every 15 mins. Thank Goodness the bells' set list changes on Monday, hahaaa! Nananananana nananananananana naaaaaaa
:)
It is glorious there. Those boots, tickled me to no end!
I am so so so so so sorry about the tragedies of broken and lost items. That is totally uncalled for. I would be so upset.
Hooray for bakeris and stairs to work off the treats so you can have more. At least, that is what I would do ;)
LOOOOov you! Vanessa
Posted by: a fanciful twist | 21 March 2011 at 20:38
Beautiful! I love Holland, I love the tiny spaces, the pragmatic creativity brought to bear on those tiny spaces (and to many other challenges of modern life) and I love the bicycles! Enjoy. X
Posted by: Marianne | 21 March 2011 at 19:59