I lied. Before I start the New York City part of our recent trip to America, let's squeeze in a quickie trip to the headquarters of the Damen Shipyards, based here in our Dutch city, Gorinchem.
It just so happens they had an open-house day this past Saturday and we went.
It was a sunshiny, windy, gorgeous day.
And as often happens, it's not just the destination that allures!
It's the journey.
It's the journey.
We set off on foot because we knew it would be an easy walk from our apartment.
See that big warehouse-type building? That's where Astrid thought Damen Shipyards was,
until she suddenly realized it was the Mercon steel factory. HA!
But...it, too, was alluring. A good photo op in the right direction.
See what I mean?
It meant walking another half hour...totalling about an hour altogether.
Just what the doctor ordered, with the Merwede Bridge thrown in for good measure.
"Damen simply builds better boats."
In 1927 Damen was established by two brothers. Now, Damen Shipyards has a leading position in shipbuilding with more than 6,000 employees and a presence in 35 countries. Damen is a multinational company that has never lost its family values or its deep respect for its maritime heritage.
Can you imagine a business like this with headquarters in your city!
(Kinda like Coca Cola for those of us from Atlanta.)
As we walked into the complex, cars were lined up to find parking spots.
We were so glad we walked.
Balloons were everywhere, making it a welcome to old and young alike...
...with plenty of excitement to keep everyone entertained.
And enough boats in construction to sink a ship!
To actually climb on-board to see the construction work in progress was a huge thrill.
No need to mention that Astrid and I love boats of all kinds and sizes.
How about a catamaran that size!
Or a boat this big for Abu Dhabi.
Want to talk about propellers? You're definitely at the right place!
There were plenty of workers around to answer any of your questions.
And talk about ship-shape. Everything was in its place.
Even the carpentry shop was slick as a whistle..a dream spot for Astrid.
See what I mean?
What a perfect day for an open house...especially outside.
It was a boat lover's day, for sure.
We could have seen a lot more but...we didn't.
Which is NOT to say when you've seen one boat you've seen them all.
We were just ready to head back into town to eat lunch, having worked up an appetite.
Our leaning church tower was our guiding compass, getting us back to our starting point.
As if you've forgotten, we love where we live!
