monday

Brilliant sunny morning so walked across Leiden to the Hortus Botanicus.

Here is a tiny frog in the tropical house.

Then spent another couple of hours after an excellent breakfast here much better and cheaper than the hotel.

Finally found a sho selling toothbrushes.

Very old tree from Iraq.

Did a watercolour in the garden then walked back across town via a huge church called Pieterkerk which was full of workmen getting ready for st Matthew passion . I'll miss that. 

A very old door and a plaque to the pilgrim fathers.

Spent an hour on a canal trip but too much talk. Leiden has about 17 miles of canals. Lots of fish and itust be peaceful to live here as few cars. There is a new medical industrial site on the outskirts and a large important university. 

Should just mention the dreadful events in Russia where over 140 people mainly young at a music concert were shot or burned in the arson attack on the hall.

4 arrested perhaps ISIS. Putin blaming Ukraine.

The main Rembrandt museum CLOSED ON A MONDAY.