Getting Away: Hoenderloo & Ghent

I'm planning two little trips before the new term is upon me (5 February). I'm going to visit my old Dutch boyfriend, Theo, who lives with his wife and daughter in the midst of the national park and forest, called the High Veluwe. It's due east, south of Apeldoorn and north of Arnhem.

I met Theo in 1973, I think. He was studying political science at Harvard on a fellowship, and I was studying Dutch on Mondays with a graduate of Leiden University, my original Dutch teacher. Otherwise, I was running part of a music store in Harvard Square and singing a *lot* of baroque music. Theo and his wife are foster parents to children with temporary housing and tranquility needs. They have their own 12 year-old daughter, Anna, who is bright and plays the cello. He and his wife write and publish remembrance books, which here are called anniversary and jubileum books. Corporations, historical societies, families and individuals order these books, which entail extensive historical research and gathering of all relevant documentation and photos. I've only seen the website, and look forward to seeing the finished products. They love living in a more peaceful and beautiful area than they had when they lived in Rotterdam. For me, it will be a completely new part of the country to see.

Then, sometime between now and second semester, I'm going to get on the train and go see the van Eyck altarpiece in Ghent, in Belgium, and whatever other great art they have there. It's a very beautiful ancient little city and while I visited my second Dutch teacher there in the '70s, I have no memory of it, other than her excellent mussels, fresh French fries and champagne! I've found a tiny hotel, which used to be a monastery. It should be fascinating, not least hearing a 'southern' accent again, in Dutch. To my ears, Belgian Dutch or Flemish sounds very odd. They will understand me better than I them. Flanders was such a rich area, through the ages. It produced superb composers and art. I'll report back.