Friday, January 29, 2021

A January Citadel Walk in Gorinchem


Cold and sunny but without snow or frost, I should add.

By now many of you will recognize most of what I show-n-tell from these citadel walks, here where we live.  Forgive me if you tire of them but for me it's still like I'm "meeting them again" for the first time.

Where I start just meters from our backdoor, I'm always struck by the trees.
In wintertime I fall in LOVE with their naked bodies.

They 're free.  Alive.  Without a care in the world!

[Not like the ghosts from Christmas past!]

Look at how they, the trees, guard that which perpetually guards us.

Maybe this time I better see how important they are to our landscapes.

One of the reasons why we enjoy traveling in winter and early spring, 
by the way, is because you can see more through the trees.  But you knew that.
This is our outer harbor from the Merwede river, on which Gorinchem sits.

Our inner harbor, a few meters, later is closed off by an operated lock.
Dutch towns and cities take pride in their year-'round communal flowers.

Of the 4 original citadel ports, only the Dalem Port remains,
with the water tower in the background (now apartments) and our salmon fisherman.

Behind that salmon fisherman in the before collage is De Hoop windmill,
 one of our two citadel mills, always giving hope.

The "munchins" by artist Erik Buijs, hidden along the walk, delight me.
To be honest, I'm intrigued by all the city's art, in whatever form.

But I'm especially delighted when I can actually see the wall ahead,
reminding me that I really am on a citadel walk/wall.

See what I mean about the trees?  
Far  or near, nothing would be the same without them.

By the time we're almost back home, the Nooit Volmaakt windmill greets us.
Behind her in this viewpoint is our backdoor, from where we started.

A winter's day in Gorinchem with nothing better to do than to enjoy what we have!

 

9 comments:

  1. I'm grateful you live in a beautiful place, and that you still wonder at it.

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    Replies
    1. I am, too, Ruth! I especially like knowing you have been here to have seen it for yourself (though you may have been too tired to remember it?).

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  2. This is a winter I would love, Ginnie. Just gorgeous!

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    Replies
    1. It's a winter I love, too, Marie, though I must admit that I'll never be too old to appreciate and love some snow!

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  3. Wat een geweldige mooie collages heb je hier.op.je log gepost.
    Je krijgt echt zin om deze mooie rondwandeling om Gorchem te máken.
    Echt uitnodigend om zelf ook naar buiten te gaan en te genieten van wat je om ons heen ziet.
    Fijn weekend

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    Replies
    1. In the same way we would adore seeing where you live, Marjolein, you would adore where we live here. The Netherlands is so full of these treasures!

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  4. And this is all at our fingertips, Ginnie. We are so lucky and your pictures show more stories than we can tell. You picked the right day with tat beautiful light. I never get tired of being on the citadel walk. IHVJ

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  5. Lovely, and just what I needed on a sunny day when the temp has finally climbed to 11° F., and I will forego my daily hike. I was just beginning to wonder when I would hear from your next and needing to know that you are both still well.

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    Replies
    1. Bless you, Ted. We are both still well but have no clue when we'll receive our vaccine shots...April maybe? The Netherlands is behind our neighboring countries, I'm afraid. We postponed our Croatia trip, yet again, to April of next year, hoping by then all will be finally "clear!" Thanks for checking in on us. Hopefully you and Jane are also staying healthy!

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