January Impressions

We welcomed the New Year in the land of windmills, cheese and wooden shoes, and got a mixed bag of weather with fairly mild temperatures given the time of the year.

Our four-legged companion had a lot of fun in the sand and by the water and it was hilarious to watch the elderly lady (10 dog years = 60+ human years) being so playful.

The ocean was calm one day, and wild on another, as if something had angered it. We liked it both ways.

Another visit of Veere, a medieval fishing village.

Back home we got a wee bit of snow, while the rest of Germany was and partly still is buried under the white stuff.

Hilda  doesn't mind snow on the ground but she does not appreciate getting it on her fur.

Mid January we still got mulled wine and eggnog to go at the beach bar at the river.

There were some light hikes in the books to rebuild fitness after a not so funny bronchitis.

And for the first time in a long time we preplanned our vacation time. There will be local trips as well as some sojourns in France, Spain and Austria. We are looking forward to enjoying all these dog-friendly venues.

A village reborn

The Dutch coast is an all season playground from sunbathing to storm watching, from paddling to kite surfing, there is plenty of things to see and to do. We spent a day in Westkapelle, a charming seaside village on the western tip of Walcheren, in Zeeland. Known for its huge sandy beaches, majestic sea dike, and iconic lighthouse, it’s a favourite destination for those seeking peace, nature, and sea air.

But there is a dark side to it. In 1944, Westkapelle was struck by tragedy when the dike was bombed during the Battle of the Scheldt, flooding the land to liberate it from occupation. However, the resilient community rebuilt their village brick by brick, and today, that spirit of strength still defines Westkapelle.

After this sobering experience we needed some distraction in form of food and drinks.

Our final day promised to be a stormy one. The wind had picked up at midnight and we woke up to unruly waters. Chairs from the restaurant on the ground floor were strewn across the patio. Deck covers from sailing boats were ripped apart as were the flags in the harbour.

So we went to see how the North Sea is coping. I love watching the waves crashing against the shore. 

We had the best of times.

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