My blog is a little late this week, late as in slow in arriving but maybe that's fitting this time because it had to wait for a venerable old lady to get going. No, I'm not talking about myself in this case, although I confess that by the time I manage to get going every day, I feel I'm becoming quite old myself, if not actually venerable.
The old lady in this case is the Vereeniging. She has lain dormant for several years now, victim of a viral bug that it took far too long to diagnose. Still, treatment has been applied and at 120 years old this year, she has recovered to fare another day and fare well too.
Today, because one of my neighbours is leaving this weekend for his annual sail around Zeeland in the Bietentocht (see my blog about it
here), I had to move the Vereeniging from her position in the harbour to a few metres the other way. Well, this seemed too good an opportunity to miss for a spuddle of a momentous kind. After the nursing and nurturing we'd done on bringing the old
dameschip back to life, a gentle
rondvaart of the harbour areas seemed just the thing. Which is what we did. With great grins and purposeful pride.
It was a magic to be steering out of the harbour. The weather was sublime...
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| Scheepmakershaven |
We puttered gently along the Scheepmakershaven and round the Leuvenhaven before returning back along the Wijnhaven to base.
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| Scheepakershaven |
Rotterdam from the water is Rotterdam at its best...
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| Approaching the Leuvenhaven |
And there are barges as far as the eye can see and the soul can wish for...
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| the Leuvenhaven |
The vibrancy and the colour of the inner city harbours are a sight for sore eyes... so we feasted them, as I hope these photos show ....
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| Bierhaven |
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| the Leuvenhaven |
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| the Leuvenhaven |
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| Turning into the Wijnhaven |
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| Back home, but a few metres to the left or the north or.... |
Had I not had commitments of the paying kind to attend to, we would have gone on with great pleasure. But this was a start; we broke the spell of immobility; the Vereeniging has fared again.... and she didn't miss a beat. The dream of going to Utrecht is looking considerably brighter.
Enjoy the rest of your week
allemaal.
One of our happiest experiences this year.
ReplyDeleteI feel proud for you both!
DeleteThank you, Colin!
DeleteFab.u.lous! Xx
ReplyDeleteIt was, Jude!
DeleteHurrah for the Vereeniging, she is back in the business. What an attractive harbour and excursion for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia! That’s a lovely hurrah!
DeleteAll fine for faring in the fair Vereeniging. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed, Christina. We are so pleased :)
DeleteSo glad the Vereeniging is faring again, Val. Thanks so much for giving us such a wonderfully descriptive account of your trip.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth...it was a red letter day for sure, although I’ve never known what a red letter was :)
DeleteOh, Val! I'm so happy for you and Koos! What a beautiful moment, and what lovely memory. Sorry you had to break the trip short for your paying job...but what a lovely break. (Steph)
ReplyDeleteHi Val - I'm so pleased the old lady gave you both so much pleasure ... what a wonderful gentle foray out along the waterways ... lovely to see - cheers and now enjoy the weekend - Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hilary. It was the most wonderful day.
DeleteYay, Val!
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely photos, and they help me to truly understand the draw these urban waterways have for you and Koos.
Great to see Vereeniging is back! xx
Oh me too, Dale. It was just marvellous to be out there on her again. Thank you, dear xx
DeleteGood to see her doing what she was made for. Well done!
ReplyDeleteAnne Mackle
Thank you, Anne! It was magical! I hope you are well now?
DeleteHow wonderful to have the old lady on the move again, I am sure she enjoyed it as much as you did. The photos show a beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteRotterdam is at its best from the water. I’ve always loved it. Thank you!
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