A Walk in the Park

I may on occasions complain about the blandness of the Dutch countryside so it's always a treat to uncover a hidden gem. We have continued our exploration of Den Haag, making the most of the unseasonal good weather – I can’t actually remember the last time it rained (it’s a sign of how much I’ve acclimatized that drizzle no longer counts).

Last Sunday we set off for the Japenese Garden at Clingendael. This garden is only open to the public for three weeks in the spring and three weeks in  October.  If you have a beautiful garden, in a public space, which it is, it seems a bit of a shame to limit the access, but I suppose the park-keepers only want the public to see looking its best.

But it was good to discover the entire Clingendael park which is open all year round and a good place to stroll around on a sunny Sunday morning. Mr T was highly delighted when we stumbled upon these ladies also out for a stroll. It could have been some sort of photo shoot but you can never tell with the Dutch. It doesn’t take an awful lot of persuasion to have them stripping off!

And talking of stripping off, my hunt for a regular swimming slot has ceased. Mr T has splashed out and treated us to a years’ membership of the health spa just a five minute walk from our apartment. No need to get lost around the streets of Den Haag seeking out those elusive municipal pools. We can now relax in our luxurious surroundings, swim in a 20 metre pool and have full use of hot whirlpool, sauna and steam room, aerobic exercise and ‘mind and body' classes as well as a very large gym.  I did hesitate, not just at the expense or because I am a bit of gym-phobic, but because of the house-rules.  Swimwear is compulsory in the pool, but not anywhere else, and in fact is a definite no-no in the sauna and steam room. I know it’s just the way I’ve been brought up, but this might take some getting used to. In addition, there are certain parts of my body that really are best kept from public view. I’ve ordered a wrap for the steam room, but the whirlpool is the shady gray area where you can keep your swimmers on, or let it all hang out. As anyone who has ever sat on a European beach will know, it’s always those who should keep covered up, who are the first to bare all! Oh well, as they say, when in the Netherlands....

From the body beautiful (or not as the case maybe) back to the beautiful outdoors...