Arnhem, Oosterbeek and Poffertjes

I'm down visiting my Great Aunt in a little town called Oosterbeek - just outside of Arnhem (that's still in the Netherlands). Apparently when last we saw each other, she was teasing me (we think about the whole vegetarian thing, as usual) - and I was running off to escape it. That was 23 years ago, give or take, in Oakville.

We spent some time in town and the local park yesterday, as well as visiting with my Great Aunt Janine's daughter Janine, who is - what, also a great aunt? I don't know - all very confusing. In any case, she's an artist (I didn't realize it ran on both sides of my family), and had some really interesting stuff she was preparing for a local art exhibition. Also a fantastic swimming pool that is actually a man-made pond that maintains itself - as long as you don't mind swimming with the tadpoles inhabiting it, you get to avoid the whole chlorine thing. Also looks beautiful. Didn't have my camera on me, but will try to grab a pic before I leave.

Today we visited the National Park De Hoge Veluwe, which houses the Kroller-Muller museum, and also has a quaint little throw-back to NL's roots - 1500 free white bikes that anyone who enters the park can use to traverse the 40km of bike paths within. But perhaps most fascinating to me was the big patch of white sand and sand dunes in the middle of the park... it's surrounded by forest and seems completely out of place, but great fun to traverse.

Oh yes, on my way out of Haarlem, I stopped at a little Poffertjes stand in the main square. Poffertjes are a traditional dutch treat - basically little mini pancakes usually served with butter (lots of butter, it seems) and powdered sugar. Very tasty - give 'em a try when next you're in the area.