The tram ride to Delft

 Up and at ‘em this morning with a  great breakfast that was included with our room (bacon and eggs) which have not been had by this person for over 2 months.  We had gotten the all day transportation pass and were on our way to Delft first.  At the tram stop, there was some confusion which way went to Delft because the end station was different than what was on our

 map.  A little old lady helped us and stated that she was going to Delft to get fish and we should follow her.  We first had to guess her age which we guessed in the 80’s, but she was 91!!!  She was very proud of that and the fact that she could still go to Delft to shop.  She said that her father was a secretary for Delft in the 1930’s and there was a panel of stained glass with his name 

 in the New Church in Delft and we should look for it.  She sat by me on the tram and talked nonstop all the way to Delft.  This was not a problem at first because I like hearing from people who have been in the culture for a while and she had seen a lot in her 91 years.   She was telling us about when she came to America, how bad it was in the Netherlands during WWII, 

working after the war and all of this was interesting, but then it got weird.  Faberge eggs were mentioned and since I had heard of them, she said how Czar Nicholas and his whole family made it out of Russia when they were believed to have been murdered and she was able to meet Alexei in New York at one point.  She states that the war was started mainly because of the Rothschild’s and Rockefeller’s wanting money and causing 

 problems.  At this point, it was time for us to try to extricate ourselves from this sweet little woman and we were arriving in Delft where it was pouring.  I mentioned that we needed to get an umbrella in order to have a place to go without her. But the tram stop was right at the Old Church which was a stop we planned on, so said that we enjoyed meeting her and that we would check out the places that she pointed out and ducked into the 

church even though she protested and wanted us to come with her to the bakery.  In the Old Church we got to see Vermeer’s tomb and watch a choir practicing which made me think of Voca Lyrica (singing group in the Big Rapids area) traveling to great places to give concerts.  Next time, they’ll

Vermeer's View of Delft (not the same is it)

have to come to the Netherlands or something.  As we were about to leave the church, there SHE is and I turn around to John to say to go back in the church and hide, but she has seen us and has bought us an umbrella.  She almost knocked over all the Delft china in the gift shop of the church waving it around, but it was very nice of her and I almost felt bad about thinking she was a crazy old lady, but not enough to continue to spend time with her.  The umbrella was much needed though and John shoving money at her was like a talisman that made her hurry away, so we ended up on our own…