We are seeing more sunshine again which is so great. We "sailed" (no sails, ha-ha) during the night and arrived in Enkhuizen around 8 am.
At 9:40 am the blue group met outside for a walking tour of Enkhuizen. We had docked next to 2 other ships similar to ours (one of them a Viking) and had to go up and down zig-zag to go through them and out. Interesting, yes it was. Well, we are all really partial to our travel company. When we were on the dock we learned that our ship got permission to relocate and are now directly at the dock.
Randy explains that we were really on a gigantic lake. When we were sailing it had looked as if we were on the ocean. The green on the map is all claimed land and Randy explained that. Incredible.
Not far from the docked ship was a restaurant. Outside Randy explained about the fishing industry and especially herring ... and how you eat it. When you order it, they freshly prepare it for you. Randy looked for a volunteer since he was sure not many would like it.
He found his volunteer and this is how you eat it.
For the rest of us the restaurant (or fast food place?) owner brought fish (like in fish and chips) bids. Of course those were very good.
The walk through Enkhuizen was lovely. A lot of history / stories but I really can't write all down.
And beautiful views everywhere.
This has something to do with a war (first or second?). Anchored ships were about to be bombed but to be fast the ships cut the anchors instead of pulling them up and saved the town. To remember the anchors were hang up here.
This is a "ships in bottles" museum but we didn't go in.
We strolled along lovely canals and when we met people outside there houses Randy would talk to them. Everybody was so friendly (except one clockmaker) and it was enjoyable.
Most houses had these little benches in front of their door called "gossip bench". I wonder why, ha-ha.
This is called the leaning tower. No, I didn't take this photo crooked.
A protestant church ... so it was closed.
Then we came to a cheese shop.
This was the new owner (who told us that he had worked with the previous owner for 3 years).
This is the owner's mother who helped with the tasting. Right was the younger gouda and left the more aged. It was very interesting and I actually learned something.
Then we had free time. We had received directions to a ATM but stopped at this lovely garden.
The raised flower beds had actually vegetables in them also. Do you see the brusselsprouts?
We found our way back to the ship for lunch and refreshment. At 1:30 pm we set off for another walking activity. All 4 groups at the same time went to the Ferry to visit Zuiderzee Open Air Museum. We would call it "a living history museum". A whole little city assembled with houses, a church, city hall and some shops etc. Most doors were open with explanations outside who had lived in the house etc.
One of the first houses we went in to see. The picture on the wall really disturbed me. I tried to find out from the people who work there what it was about but nobody knew.
Of course the "city" was surrounded by dijk and this was on the other side to see. Beautiful.
From the dijk we also had a nice view towards the "town". Of course there was a mill.
And there was somebody who smoked fish. It used to be mostly eel but they are somewhat diminished because of overfishing and are not sold here any longer (he explained when I asked).
The place in the middle of the town near the church. There were lots of interesting wooden games there.
It was a protestant church but we could get in to see. I don't think it was consecrated.
We found our way back to the ferry to go back to the ship.
Were we landed/got off we could not believe our eyes. Three men were high up there working on the sailes. The ship itself was not to see because it was behind the dijk.
The evening entertainment after the Inner Circle Party, Port Talk and dinner was "Folklore Group Wijdenes". Two accordeons and one Violin made the music and the others (4 couples) danced. The leader also gave us a background about the group (started 1940 and still going) and information about traditions and the costumes.
Afterwards of course I talked to this lady anbd her lace. She said the lace was probably a 100 years old but somehow I could not see whether it was really handmade or machine made. Sorry. No matter what, it was very pretty. She gave me more info which I have to look up when back home.
Oud West-Friese Dansgroep Wijdenes
Alltogether another very lovely day.
Oh yes, the step count: 12,529 - quite happy with that!
