Christmas season in Holland
>> Monday, December 24, 2007
As a part of my Sinterklaas present from Vito's parents, this Saturday we all went to a CASTLE! I'm such a sucker for beautiful castles with mots and mysterious gardens and roaring mighty lions that guard the entrance... aren't you?
The day could not have been more perfect. It was sunny and the cold was crisp, and there was even some frost covering the ground and trees. Perfect weather conditions for visiting a mysterious castle!
And perfect timing as well because I'm reading a book (also part of my Sinterklaas present) The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipa Gregory, which talks about Anne of Cleves who became the 5th wife of King Henry VIII of England. Incidentally.... Cleves, right on the border of Netherlands and Germany, was a very important place in the mid 1500, and this castle was given to a manservant of the Bishop of Utrecht around that time. (Not a bad present for being someones maid?)
What a fantastic day! I know Europe doesn't have Grace land, home town of the king, but it got some pretty castles which is cool too! :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!!
5 comments:
One of the better places we have found for castles is Luxembourg, especially the northern part. Most of these date back to the 14-15th centuries when the Dukes of Burgundy were in charge of the area.
We strongly suspect AinA met some horrible fate during a past life in that period. Ask here about her experiences when she was a baby visiting these castles.
I'm a total sucker for those Philipa Gregory books (especially the Boleyn ones -- is it just me, or is William Stafford the best person to ever enter a book 300 pages in?)
Merry Christmas!
Belated Merry Christmas (and premature Happy New Year)
wow, if i got a castle like that for being a servant, sign me up! just don't ask me to do any dishes. :)
merry christmas!
Sounds like you had a great time at the castle. What a wonderful gift!
My favourite Phillipa Gregory book is The Little House. Totally gripping stuff.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas - or should it be Prettige Kerstdagen?
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