It's a Small World After All

In a minute I'll get to the 'small world' part but first, Happy 2nd Easter Day (2e Paasdag). In Holland, there are two Christmas days, two Easter days and two Pentecost days; i.e. both days are federal holidays. So even though some shops may be open today, officially it's a holiday and Astrid is off work. It's a much-needed long weekend for her.

On the 1st Easter Day (yes, that's what they're called), yesterday, we took a nice walk around our citadel city where I was able to capture some of the first tulips of the year here. It wouldn't be very springlike or Dutch of me to NOT show you some tulips at this time of the year...here in Holland!

Now to the 'small world' part. It's my turn again at Vision & Verb, a few days early from the last post because on Thursday, very early, we fly to England for our 5-day honeymoon. We had planned from the start to meet up with the other Musketeer in Stoke-on-Trent (near Liverpool), who will be our gracious hostess for the week. And then on Saturday we will meet up with the 3 Stooges in Stratford (think Shakespeare!) and others from our SC blogging family.

Please go to Vision & Verb to fill in the blanks of what that's all about. But it really IS a small world, after all!

On Wednesday afternoon, before we leave on vacation, I take a Dutch-language test to place me in a Dutch-learning course at our nearby Da Vinci College. I'm not sure I understand the test since I need to be in a beginner's course, but it's part of the drill, so I'll go. The offer, through the city hall, is that I will be able to take a 4/5-day morning course for 35 weeks at €15/month, instead of the €3-4,000 it would normally cost. Talk about a deal! It would NOT be available to me after I turn 65 in June, so I'm getting in under the wire. Lucky me.

More when we get back from England. In the meantime, enjoy Spring and don't forget to check out why it's a small world after all at Vision & Verb.

Drive-Through Windmills

Actually, make that one...because supposedly there's only ONE drive-through windmill in the world. And it's only 56 km (35 miles) from our apartment here in Holland! And yes, that's Granny Towanda driving through it, thanks to Astrid.

The windmill Rijn en Lek (Rhine and Lek rivers) in Wijk bij Duurstede, Holland.

While Astrid is at work during the week, I start Googling to see what the Gran Towanda (thank you, Red-Ink-Art-Photography Linda, for the nickname!) might want to see next. It was a no-brainer when I just happened to find a drive-through windmill that Astrid herself had never seen. So for our third trip out, this past Saturday was our longest round-trip to date at 154 km (96 miles).

But before I go back to the windmill, Wijk bij Duurstede is also known for it's 2 churches AND its castle. It's like slagroom on the appeltaart (whipcream on the apple pie) when you can get everything in one swell foop!

1. The Grote Kerk (Big Church) on the left has a flat top because the bishop didn't have enough money in 1486 to make the tower higher. It began as a Roman Catholic church but is now Dutch Reformed Protestant.

2. The Sint Johannes de Doper (St. John the Baptist) Roman Catholic church near the Grote Kerk is not as imposing but at least it has a spire!

3. The Kasteel Duurstede (Duurstede Castle), on the right, is a ruin from 1270 and is used as the site for weddings today, among other things. Can you imagine!

Of the 3 above landmarks, the Grote Kerk and the castle were my two favorites, as seen in this collage below.

The Grote Kerk and the Kasteel Duurstede.

But you know I'm going to say this: That windmill stole my heart. How is it that there is only one in the world...and how is it possible that it is almost in my backyard!

We saw other churches and windmills and castles both before and after Wijk bij Duurstede, which you can see here in my photo album. But as Astrid and I were driving home, I said to her that if ever we have family or guests visiting us here in Holland, THIS is the city we will show them. It has it all.

And in case you don't believe me, don't forget the klompen!