Saturday 14 April 2007

The Rhine Delta

I arrived in Schipol and with subtle efficiency was on my way to the sleepy trains. The haze of Amsterdam offering cover for our conversations which lead on to the tasteful modernism of Rotterdam.

The Netherlands and the Rhine-Maas delta are synonymous. Every where there is water - dividing fields into slim strips; creating fresh peaceful areas throughout suburban housing; industrial estates which refuse to sink; creeping across the faces of the tall thin appartments that are predominant in this unique environment.

The water is the wealth of the Netherlands providing an abundance of food, transport links and recreation. It is also the waters of the North Sea, which provide a trade links as far as Java, and the Rhine, which is the major trade route between Northern and Southern Europe, which has provided the commerce and echange of culture over hundreds of years which has made the Dutch a happy and healthy stock of people.

1 comment:

Anne said...

Kate and Karen here Happy Birthday Have just read your blog- wonderful when are you publishing thoroughly enjoyed the travel guide and caustic humour - we will have to follow this route. Karen and I eororailed around there. our blog would have been about food and the people we met Would we have mentioned the architecture maybe defeinitely the art. We are having a good time catching up-eating-and walking -take care love kate and karen