Terschelling, August '14

Looking back at our few days on the Isle Terschelling.

A lot of rain in the rest of Holland... wer were very lucky with the weather (and everything else really).

Ahhmmm a looonsome runner..

Buoys in perspective

A typical Wadden scene'

Autumn at Castle St. Gerlach

A few days at St. Gerlach Castle, during a beautiful, sunny autumn.

THE SEASON'S ORGANIC VEG. PATCH.

This is where we were staying! I love the extra window, painted on the wall  (behind it was our (very spacious) bathroom)).

Maastricht

One of the reasons we like visting The International European Art Fair is that we combine it with a stroll through the city of Maastricht.
This time we went to see the amazing book store inside the (at least 700 years old) Dominican Church.

Also a beautiful place to have a light lunch

However, we particularly like the area called Wyck, on the East side of the river Maas, which is where we've stayed the last two times. It's absolutely charming with many, specialised shops and restaurants of high standard which offer quality (bespoke) products. Jo Cortenraedt (below) agrees.

During Tefaf, many shop windows are, artistically, decorated.
This is the local Butcher.

Impressive Delta Works of Holland

On the way back from Domburg we stopped at 'Neeltje Jans Delta Park' to visit the Delta Works of Holland, where one can actually go into the belly of one of the huge pylons of this Dam. If I were to even try writing about this amazing construction, I would not do it justice. Instead, all I want to say is that I was very, very impressed by this feat of Dutch Engineering, built after the devastating floods of 1953 which cost almost 2000 lives. It's the Oosterschelde Dam, which impresses me most of all because, after loud protests of many 'nature-lovin' Dutchies and despite huge extra costs, the dam was built in such a way that a balance was found between nature and mankind. Salt water was still able to come in and go out with the tides. Nature was kept intact and the fishing-, mussels- and oyster industry flourished.
If anyone of you ever pass (anywhere near) this place, pleeeeeeaaaaaaassssseeee VISIT!
To get an idea, click on the following site:DELTA WORKS.
Left: the bottom red line marks the level of water, when 'doors' will close. The top line shows the level water reached, during the floods of 1953.

Tour boat with spare pylon in backround

On our way to belly of working pylon

Dazzling Domburg

Above, Badpaviljoen Domburg which houses a fantastic restaurant and exquisite apartments.

Tuna and soft shell crab

Bouillabaisse

This weekend we treated ourselves to a weekend in Domburg, Zeeland. Because I spent most of my life abroad, I really missed out on getting to know this country properly. I so enjoy our 'recces' of Holland and never realised how beautiful it really is.
I was surprised by the evidence of great wealth (huge villas and castles with beautiful gardens) in and around Domburg (an area I expected to be rather barren and surviving on ever diminishing fishing industry) but discovered that this dates back to around the year 1535, when a canal was dug to Middelburg. There, huge warehouses were built for storing all the goods that would be brought in by ships of the VOC ( the Dutch East India Company). The many people who'd become very rich from this trade would then have their 'pied à terre' and summer homes built in Domburg. For Wikipedia information on this era, click on:HISTORY.
Different times now, but Domburg still has a lot to offer, incl. some great restaurants and shops, and many of the Dutch elite still have their 2nd homes there. Definitely worth a visit!

Although it was a grey day, we really enjoyed our walk on the beach where fishermen were 'line-catching' some Plaice and we ended up having some Bockbier (seasonal, dark, malty beer) at bar/restaurant 'Oase' on the beach, with its very own webcam, click on OASE.

My Favorite picture 

Olive grove at location 2

Our second 'home' was very different from the first one but great. We'd booked a room at Al Crepuscolo, Montefiore, which was an interesting mix of hotel/holiday let, located on the grounds of a large Olive grove. It's a family run business, with grandpa pruning trees, grandma making sure the rabbits are fattening up, aunty in charge of the mill, etc. We chose to eat at the restaurant most evenings, where Sonia and cousin Elisabetta prepared delicious local food for us (at  breakfast, fresh eggs from the 'galline'). What struck us most was, the gentle and kind nature of this family.
Their olive oil is well known (also abroad). They make soap, hand cream etc. from the oil too, which is pressed at their own, old, mill, under the brand Gabrielloni.
Because it was late in te season, we had the entire top floor, incl. lounge and little kitchen, to ourselves and, most days, the two of us were able to admire the view (land and sea), from the garden, by ourselves (well, plus G+T, of course). See: Al Crepuscolo

One of our afternoons was spent at the nearby village Recanati, where the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi was born, see: G. Leopardi.
They like their castles and towers here, so we decided to end up having a yummy meal at restaurant 'il Borgo Antico', with VERY large wine list, in the cellar of a tower. see: Borgo Antico.
All these places are soooo worth a visit.

Home cookin' at location 1

Last year we went on a cullinary tour, which meant a lot of travelling/packing to different places, where we were wined and dined on. This year we chose to stay at two 'agriturismo' locations and, most days, we'd cook for ourselves.
First there would be a long run of approx. 25 km. (not by me), then a cool dip in the large pool with fantastic view, followed by a little snooze, reading of good book/daydreaming, followed by  G+T plus nibbles

after which we would move ourselves into the, well stocked, round kitchen..

for some fiiiiiiine, home cookin'...

LOVELY!

Here today. Gone tomorrow!

Beautiful Italy, I missed it and am so glad to be back, just over a year later.

Here we are, in our very own tower (with modern, glass lift, and everything one's heart could desire), surrounded by the renowned vineyards of Marotti Campi. For information/site click on MAROTTI CAMPI

It so happens to be the 'harvest season' and two days ago we were in the thick of it. One day there were large bunches of grapes everywhere and the next, they were all gone (sob).... but we like the end product!

Before

After

Them pickers, doin' what they do so well