We live in a world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. – Jawaharlal Nehru
Don’t even ask about sunrise this morning. For once, David and I are sleeping in. At 9 AM, I get a from Americano from the Crow’s Nest.
In the Crow’s Nest, I’m looking out at Zeebruge, the second largest seaport in Belgium. The outstanding feature is the number of wind turbines around the port and fading off into the foggy distance. Yes, it is foggy. It is also cold. I take my Americano back to bed and drink it where it’s warm and comfy.
Much later, we have finished breakfast and take the shuttle into the seaside holiday town of Blankenberge.
The houses we pass on the way tell us we’ve left England behind. And of course there are windmills, or wind turbines. These are probably ones I saw from the Crow’s Nest.
The trees we pass are just a little bit behind the ones in in Dover. There are planters full of fresh earth along the boulevard, but there are no flowers in them yet. As we move north, spring will probably keep stepping back a bit.
Our drop off is beside Saint Anthony’s Church. From the ship and sailor artwork inside and out, it seems to be dedicated to those at sea.
Near the church are planters like the ones I saw earlier, but these are filled with tulips and hyacinths in shades of pink. The perfume of the hyacinths fills the air – an olfactory tribute to the coming of spring. The church lawn has beds of Marguerite daisies, which make me think of my mother.
Across the other corner, the mood changes. There is the Blankenberge sign, big bold letters standing on the pavement. Beyond it is an amusement park, the beginning of a pedestrian promenade leading to the beach a few blocks away. The amusement park and its good stands are closed, awaiting warmer weather.
Beyond them though, the shops along the way are open and welcoming the tourists. We are in port with a Princess ship, so there are lots of people here. There are also a lot of bicycles. I noticed on the drive here that this is a popular mode of transportation.
I’m hoping to find some Belgian Chocolate. From the proliferation of confectionary shops, I didn’t need to worry. We browse a number of shops. We buy chocolate at one, both to eat on board and to take home. In a fashion accessory shop I find a scarf that will be perfect for tomorrow’s Gala night.
Then we come to the stairs up to the beach. That sounds strange but trust me on this. The beach access is up from the surrounding streets.
There is a pair of carved lions at the foot of the stairs. It is a broad stairway, with a railing up the middle. The passing of time and tourists has worn a path in the most used part of the stone steps. Beneath the railings in the middle and on the sides, the stone treads are thicker and less worn.
At the top of the stairs, a cold wind hits us. The street below is protected by the broad berm between the city and the sea. Across the promenade is a wide beach of fine, soft sand.
There are stairs going down to the beach. The near strip of shore is taken up with clamshell shelters and white wooden changing houses. A few wooden beach cafes sit among them. Below that is the actual open beach.
Across the promenade, the lower floor of the buildings are restaurants and shops devoted to beach wear and activities. The shelters on shore and the shops above them are empty and closed. This is not the weather that attracts beach goers. One brave shop owner is open, advertising souvenirs and swimming accessories. He has clearly overestimated the hardiness of the visiting cruise ship passengers!
After following the promenade for a while, I head down to the beach while David waits on a bench above. The sand is fine and soft. There are many small, black clam shells. I walk along the beach, collecting shells and a sample of sand. The only thing marring this are the tire tracks. Like Washington State in the US, vehicles are permitted to drive on the beach. While no vehicles are here now, the proliferation of tracks chewing up the beach detracts from it a bit.
I head back up to David on the promenade. We find our way back to the same stairs we came up. I could swear the stairs down to the street are longer than the ones down to the beach.
Back on the pedestrian avenue we stop at another chocolate shop to stock up on more Belgian Chocolate. Farther along David stops and picks up local beer for his buddies. By the time we get to St. Anthony’s and the shuttle, we have quite a load!
The shuttle takes us back past the houses and windmills and bridges that lift to let ships pass. At the port we get off the bus to go through security. We get on a new bus on the other side for the ride to the Zuiderdam.
The ship is still loading decorations and special supplies for tomorrow. We will be in Amsterdam for the 150th anniversary of Holland America. Big celebrations are planned. The Lido pool is closed off for secret preparations. You can hear drilling and sawing, so something big is afoot.
Before sail away, I go out on the upper deck for a last good look. From where I stand, I can see at least 32 windmills, most in lines that lead away and disappear into the mist. From the strength of the cold wind where I’m standing, wind power makes a lot of sense here. I watch a boat go through the lifted bridge before the cold wind drives me back inside.
Tomorrow is the first of two days in Amsterdam. The day will begin with a trip to a tulip festival, and end with a formal dinner and party to celebrate the 150th anniversary.
The menu looks good, and there’s an open bar at the party! Wear something fancy, and I’ll save you a seat at our table!
Senses of Belgium:
The sight of lines of windmills stretching off into the distant mist. The sound of bicycle tires swooshing by on the avenue. The feel of the fine, soft sand of the beach. The smell of hyacinths in the planters by the church. The taste of the Belgian Chocolate praline seashells – you’ve never had them fresh until you’ve had them in Belgium!
Today’s Tip:
Remember a hat! Sun, rain, cold wind – hats make your day!
A Passport in my Parasol 