Dear Jasper and Kestrel,
Walking through Leiden, we kept coming across wonderful quirks that reminded me of Portland. First, there were these little mosaics, each the size of one paving brick, in places around the city.
There were enough that I stopped taking pictures of them, yet never so close together as to be boring.
There was also a lot of public art, mostly in the form of bronze statues; a series of young men selling things, like flowers, fish, and fabric. I suppose this was a celebration of Leiden’s history as a market town.
Some of the statues are also draped with string, and one had a key placed at his feet! I wonder what the hidden message was, and for whom.
Some things, we may never know.
Another bronze statue, near the main entrance to the University, was designed to encourage public voices of dissent. This podium, with a little riser behind it, has “Protest” and other words carved on the front. Student challenges to the status quo is celebrated. Hooray for young ideas!
Finally, we happened to be in town for the annual Parade of Boats. It was described by our waitress as a yearly party where “drunk people in boats make a show for drunk people on land.”
A few dozen groups like dance classes, choirs, clubs, or just groups of friends, rode through the city’s canals in decorated boats, playing music and entertaining the crowd. It was clear that many of the paraders, as well as many of the audience, had had a few drinks. But, as far as I could tell, no harm done.
Our hotel room on the second floor gave us a front row seat.
And it was a magnificent party!
Well, that’s all I’m going to tell you about Leiden for now. Tomorrow is our flight to Billund!
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 