In the middle of my 3rd week of self-isolation and solitary walks in Utrecht. I walk in the middle of the afternoon in Oog in Al. The cold wind and crystal skies of the last few days has given way to ‘typische hollandse weer’ - alternating clouds and sun, occasional showers.
All the blooming trees are in bloom - magnolia, cherry, plum, peach, apple. The birches are covered with full catkins, giving us all allergies. Sneezing echoes around the neighborhood through the mornings. The cypresses have their tender red buds. This is a neighborhood of rowhouses with voortuins - front gardens - so lovely with variety. Behind those gardens, large windows, and behind those, occasional glimpses of people and families.
Children are in playgrounds and parks, but many fewer than previous weeks. Same with runners and exercisers. The streets are emptier. The weekend was busy around us with exercisers, but not as busy as previous weekends. Monday pause and weather?
On the other hand, never before has sidewalk chalk been so prevalent.
Rounding a corner on Wagnerlaan, the water on my right roils in the wake of an empty rivercruise ship from Basel. On my left, a nook of houses with small voortuins facing afternoon sun, and I spot two young women in the first - er no, actually there are several young people sitting in a polite circle. I briefly make eye contact but it’s deflected. Someone is holding a glass of wine. No one is smiling, and little is being said, in subdued voices. As I pass I notice the two with their backs to me, sitting close under an umbrella, wearing black.
A couple of houses later, a peony is already in bloom, two months early.
By another park nestled at the convergence of three streets, with limbed-up trees and a low brick wall, children of around 5 years’ old are clustered under a cypress in serious discussion of the rules of a new game - “corona". Then they split apart shrieking joyfully, running like crazy in all directions, being chased by one with a red umbrella pointed like a lance.
A portly young man in shower sandals comes out of his gate to rescue a small turtle from the sidewalk.
Returning home, I pass through Oog in Al Park. A woman in a long orange puffer coat steps onto the open grass and runs to the other side, arms stretched behind her, slicing space in two.