Heat waves and harbour ways

Most of my readers here know that I lived in South Africa for nigh on twenty years and also that I loved the climate there. It might surprise you, then, to read this admission: the heat of a European summer can be hard to endure. The thing is, South Africa, or specifically Johannesburg, had a very stable climate; it was cold, dry and sunny in the winter with practically no rain, and hot, dry and sunny in the summer. Winter was often frosty but rarely snowy, while summer days were generally punctuated by an afternoon thunderstorm around 4 p.m., following which the sun would return and everything dried up leaving a freshness that invigorated us all. And yes, it really was that predictable most of the time. I'm not sure about these days as the climate patterns have undoubtedly changed, but the stability and regularity of the weather is something I remember with fondness. For me, it was the best climate I'd ever experienced.

Here in the Netherlands, things are much less certain. April, typically known for showers, was, this year, cold but dry and bright. May, which I'd mostly regard as being the lead-in to summer, was plain miserable until late in the month, when things changed dramatically. Since then, we've had two very hot, extremely humid spells and, like most of the region, we're experiencing one now. And surprisingly, at 30+ºC it's hotter and considerably more humid here than it generally was in Johannesburg, where the average summer temperature used to be around 26ºC; hence the hard to endure remark.

I love summer weather, but I have to confess I'd rather it stayed outside and didn't make the house or the boat so stifling. Zoe suffers too, which is even more of an issue.

Anyway, what else is new? Well, last Sunday we went to Middelburg, the Zeeland provincial capital to see what their harbour festival had to offer. Middelburg is an enchanting town with beautiful traditional Dutch houses and gorgeous back streets that look like something from a fairytale.

The harbour was busy with boats of all types and ages, but I was slightly disappointed there weren't more historic ships and barges. I think perhaps we'd missed the best of those on the Saturday. All the same, it was fun, lively and a popular event judging by the crowds of people attending. Here's a short video I made of the harbour: 

And here are some other photos I took around the backstreets of Middelburg. It is, I feel, a place where people live very graciously. It's totally unpretentious, but in many ways, the town exudes the confidence of a population sure of its place and history:

Beautiful Dutch town houses all in a row, row, row!

Along a sidearm to the main canal

A wonderful view of the city's church

I love the random way in which plants are 
allowed to simply grow wherever they may.

Bicycles and hollyhocks growing through
the paving.
How Dutch can you get?

Three lovely tjalks in a row, row, row.

Looking down the route from or to Vlissingen

A former neighbour from our own harbour

Lots of lovely old saling fishing boats.

At the end of the festival harbour

Another lovely collection of potted plants
adorning the street

The door of a stunning art nouveau building
hidden in the backstreets of Middelburg

Higher up this lovely Art Nouveau building

No garden? We'll do pots then!

I hope you enjoy these images from our lovely capital, allemaal,  and when the temperature drops a bit, and I have more energy, I'll fill you in with the rest of my doings. For now, enjoy your week and wishing you temperate temperature wherever you are!