In the center left of the photo above, you’ll see a bit straw sitting on the water, and a coot swimming slightly to the right. That’s a coot nest, of one of two in the mini lake – canal thing that wraps around my building here in A’dam (yep, the tall on reflected in the water there) that I’ve enjoyed watching this season. All the various shots in this post are from the past few months on the interconnecting canals and lakes in my neighborhood.
Sunset on June 20, left; sunrise about seven hours later on June 21, right. Were we up in the arctic circle on these days, the sun would journey all the way around, continously above the horizon. Maybe next year I’ll get up there again and photograph that! The joy of summer solistice is followed by the pain of ever-shorter days as the sun migrates further south again from this annual high point. Ah, well, c’est la vie.
Admit it: “that’s the Netherlands!” is not the first phrase that springs to mind when you look at the image above? Yet indeed it is; more in this post from remarkable Vlieland and its lovely lighthouse from both below and up top.
The coasts, wetlands and tidal canals of Vlieland were teaming with migratory waterbirds nesting or raising their hatchlings during our long walk around the coast and interior two Fridays ago.
This is the lovely little city of Harlingen, whence depart the ferries to and from the Frisian islands of Vlieland and Ameland. During Sam’s recent visit, we managed a short and very rewarding visit to Vlieland. Here we’ll share the lovely canal loaded with tall ships in Harlingen as we explored the town during the hour or so between arrival of our train and departure of our ferry, two Thursdays ago.
Harlingen harbor, whence the ferries to the Frisian islands of Vlieland and Terschelling depart. My blog pause will continue, just dropping an occasional reminder to keep you close, dear readers :-).
I didn’t do a very good job of capturing the vast crowds of happy orange-clad folks out enjoying Kings Day here in NL, last Saturday. I was too immersed in enjoying the mix of weather and energy in the crowd. Note that the main thing folks in A’dam do on Kingsday is wear orange, party and drink. Still, given that it’s the official celebration of the actual King’s actual birthday, it’s clearly Ah, Royalty qualified :-). This’ll be my last post for a while. I’ll take a break now and enjoy spring in Amsterdam, a couple of visitors, and the celebration in two days of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day here in NL.
Above, the footbridge / steps up and over the highway wedged between the lake and the mountains in Bissone. Below, left to right: foot and bike paths next to a big bridge across the Ij during my bike ride out to Muidersloot last May; bridge in Parc de Bercy last October; and a foot bridge at Ålesund in January.
I probably share too many of these wonderful views of my local lake and park, but when the simple act of looking out one’s windows, or taking a stroll around the block, can give one such lovely views…it’d be wrong to not enjoy and share, eh? 🙂
(so much world, so little time....) 