You know the drill. Put on your seatbelt and fly through this with me. Many of you are starting to recognize these places...that you, too, will see if you ever come to visit us....
Which dear Philine did this past weekend! She's one of our Shutterchance bloggers with whom we have contact almost every day. That's saying something!
I picked her up at our train station last Friday at noon, just a 10-minute walk away.
Astrid was still at work but was home by 4p for her spinach tart supper!
We even watched "Mamma Mia!" that evening...one of our favorite movies.
We woke up to fog on Saturday morning and decided we didn't care.
We did our citadel walk regardless and saw everything with new eyes.
Philine is such a trooper!
And so adorable!
In spite of the fog, we weren't the only ones out-n-about.
Remember that water surrounds our citadel, so we get to see these delights while walking.
It really was foggy!
A photographer's paradise.
Since Philine is our Shutterchance Wiki brainiac, it's appropriate that she knew the artist,
Jan van Munster, who created the Brainwave sculpture in the canal below (not pictured).
Jan van Munster, who created the Brainwave sculpture in the canal below (not pictured).
It so happend that Sinterklaas entered Gorinchem that morning before we got to the inside harbor.
Seeing the little Black Petes took on new meaning with all the controversy this year.
(sigh! we won't even go there!)
The festivities were over by the time we got there....but that was okay by us.
Everything was calm at the harbor.
And still foggy!
De Hoop windmill is still a symbol of...well...of Hope, no matter what.
The stillness was a balm to the soul.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Once the citadel walk was done, we went to eat lunch at one of our favorite cafés, the Metropole, and then got in the car for a short drive across the Merwede river....
...to our sister city, Woudrichem.
I am such a glutton for any city with harbors, especially on a foggy day!
Here, too, were Black Petes, ready to help Sinterklaas arrive in their harbor at 5p.
(center image by Astrid)
(center image by Astrid)
Because it was getting late and the fog had not lifted...
we decided to high-tail it to Loevestein Castle before it closed at 5.
We could barely see it! Seriously.
But we did get to put Philine in the stocks before leaving.
What a good sport!
That evening we ate ertwensoep for a light supper and then watched "Calendar Girls."
We sure know how to pick the movies, right?! :)
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
The next day, Sunday, was our day to drive out into the polder....
We told Philine she could stop the car on a dime any time she wished.
Besides the sheep, she LOVED the willows.
I was the one who wanted to stop for the doves and the chickens...
...and the white herons that are so rare here in the Netherlands!
These images are not good images but they're from 1200mm out!!! Each time Astrid stopped the car,
they flew away and then landed where they felt "safe" far away from me. HA!
they flew away and then landed where they felt "safe" far away from me. HA!
We stopped in Nieuwpoort long enough for a short walk around the center.
I even "eavesdropped" on two neighborhhood ladies.
(click any collage to enlarge)
(click any collage to enlarge)
And then, yes, of course, we ended up at our favorite pannenkoeken restaurant for lunch!
(image of Philine by Astrid!)
(image of Philine by Astrid!)
...looking out the window on this!
What a way to end a delightful visit with a dear friend...
...before walking her to the train for her trip back to Germany.
And until the next time!
i love fog and exploring/sightseeing on foggy days is the best.
ReplyDeleteIt gave the experience a whole new "short of eyes," Maria. For sure.
DeleteWe loved to have Philine over for the weekend. What a trooper she is. It was fun to show her around. The fog was incredible, but so beautiful for taking pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures show it all. We spend the days at the utmost and now we sit back and enjoy the pictures.
Thank you Philine and until next time.
This visit was different altogether because of the fog...and Philine took it all in stride! We were so lucky.
DeleteWhat special and sweet photos ... another good time had by all!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan, and YES. We'll never forget it. The fog took our city and environs to a whole new dimension. :)
DeleteAnother satisfied visitor!
ReplyDeleteYou're a sweetheart, Chris. Philine will be pleased! :)
DeleteWonderful set of pictures Ginnie. Philine is such a lovely person.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Bill. Philine is indeed a lovely person. We're lucky to have her at SC! I couldn't help noticing how different the fog made things look from when you and Ange were here last June!
DeleteI love this collage - and you captured almost every moment of our lovely togetherness! Each photo is a gem - and you were short of eyes also in your homely land - thank you very much. I didn't photograph as much as you, but now I can click on your blog and indulge in our remembrances of this great , foggy weekend! Gorinchem is more than one visit worth!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this remembrance can be for you, too, Philine. Thank you. And yes, of course, there's so much more to see, so we'll definitely have you back...but not before we return to Münsterland to see you there! :)
DeleteThe fog is just stunningly beautiful as is that simple country road - I adore the harbor shot, especially the middle one, left side of the boat almost at water level and the dock edge on the left … STUNNING! The snapshots of everything are endearing - Philine has the sweetest face and that lunch looks amazing and so beautifully laid out.
ReplyDeleteThe fog transformed everything, Margaret. It was like a new city for us...and Philine took it all in stride. Thank you for always encouraging me and what I do here.
DeleteI can't believe how many things you captured that brought back so many memories of my visit with you two! Thank you!! And one day we'll explore even more! xo
ReplyDeleteI know, Robin. I know. You've only seen the tip of the iceberg!!! Can hardly wait till you DO come back again!
DeleteNo fare! You people on the water get all the good fog! Mostly we only get ours at dawn, and you know what that takes. Lovely pictures, but I want to see more NY. You must have gone somewhere but Bethesda Fountain.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Ted. I know. It's not fair at all...but I do say "thank you" every time I see it. You'll be happy to know I'm working on the Brooklyn Bridge photos as we speak...coming up soon. :)
DeleteWell I continue to believe that you and Astrid are the luckiest people, to live where you live, and to have such wonderful friends. Philine looks like a great person, and so the three of you must have had a great time, it's obvious. Just gorgeous images, and wow the fog. At first I wondered that you would mind going out in it?? Yes a photographer's dream. And a viewer's too. And of course you end with all that fabulous looking food, a foodie's dream. YUM. I'm fascinated by it all, especially the water glass with leaves. What herbs are those?
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait till you and Don can come visit us, Ruth! WHEN???? I want you to see and experience it all!
DeleteThat's fresh mint in the water glass with hot water (Philine asked for tea). We loved what it looked like so much that maybe next time we will get it! :)
It must be my turn to visit soon! Great pics, Philine is so lucky to spend time with you two lovely ladies.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA! Yes, indeed, Sham. We've talked about it long enough!!! Wouldn't that be a blast. Just let us know when you might think about it, since Astrid will have to figure it out with her work schedule. The good news is that when we're home, she now has Saturday - Monday off!
DeleteI just caught up with your posts. Savannah is such a gorgeous city – my daughter was married in the St John the Baptist cathedral with all the Indian community attending – the ladies in brilliant saris. A couple of years ago we went back and to Tybee Island too – it is so peaceful there, not like in Florida beach towns. I took Jim’s picture in the same bench your show on your post (but I have not written a post on it yet.) I also took a photo of the same bridge in Central Park last week – but the trees had changed colors a bit more than when you were there. Our hotel is close to Central Park so we usually walk in it every time we go the NYC – isn’t it a wonderful park? It’s hard to believe it was all man-made.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your photos in the fog – I wish we got more fog around here, as you say “photo opportunities.” Your lunch looked so yummy! But it did look at bit cold that day.
Don't you just love when we see the same places as each other! What a small world after all. Sometimes I'm just amazed that we can post about something and then find out someone we know was also there. Thanks for sharing.
Delete