First post COVID trip abroad (part 5)

 

The above image is anything but rare around here but I guess you're not surprised - Netherlands can't get any more flat than it already is. One can safely say it's the perfect opposite of Hellas. In more than one ways but that's another story. The current one has to do with my walk around the castle of Heeze.

I didn't enter it as it was closed but that's nothing to regret about as the surrounding forest offers great walks in the woods and part of its beauty is visible from the outside anyway. Speaking of woods, I'm already sure I'll be back to explore those tracks but next time on a bicycle:

Some of them end at the castle's fence:

Effortlessly pleasant summer walks around as the tall trees keep you always in the shade:

Not that I need that much of shade anyway, it was 10 Celsius when I woke up this morning and just around 20 during those pictures. At this point I can't skip commenting on the weather's craziness: A week ago they had 40s here and now it feels like mild Hellenic winter. All 4 seasons in the middle of the summer in the same week. Weird if nothing else. And scary. Unless you voted for Trump.

Let's go back to the woods. You know I have a feeling for old ones if you are among the privileged ones who follow me. Far from surprised I see that this place has its share:

Some trees are (even) more gracious than others:

I find the following sign on my way but can't manage to get what it's about:

The QR code leads to a broken link, translation makes me think it means "the forest of the castle" or something like that. Sorry, my Dutch are actually non existent except a few words that are similar to German and my German are close to zero in the first place...This sign is in front of this thing:

Castles used to use water trenches for defence and this is no exception:

As I walk leaving the woods behind I see the following building:

Right behind it you can see the castle:

Wonderful isn't it? Especially if you consider that (as it seems) it's a residential house with its own street number and mailbox.

That old bridge is how they get in there:

As far as I can tell it's a classic old retractable bridge:

There's more to this unique property but I didn't want to spoil the residents's good time while having their coffee outdoors. Here's a few more:

Of course the real gem is the castle next to it:

It's impressive enough to make the flat green around look almost indifferent:

View to the cobblestone from the entrance:

Trench:

I take the way back through the cobblestone and take a few pictures on the way:

Close to the exit I find this building now (or back then as well?) acts as a pigeon house:

Once more I enjoy the beauty of Heeze with its cute houses as I walk back to my place:

And as soon as I arrive I pet my diabetic new friend under the sun:

Here's a video from clips I shot around the castle:

See you on the next one 😉

First post COVID trip abroad (part 4)

 

Living with such a garden at your reach is priceless. The above is the first cherry tomato I picked here.

I can't say no to a fresh zucchini either:

Fancy some strawberries?

Or maybe some green apples?

But the stars of the garden are the fresh eggs I get on a daily basis from these lovely ladies:

Have a look how I pick their "gifts":

Here's the simple way to enjoy them:

The above is the most fresh I ever had in my life. It's the one I picked in the video and went straight for boiling. However, with such fresh organic stuff around my lunch couldn't be far from promising so I turned this:

Into this:

I criminally forgot to put fresh basil from the garden but still it was absolutely totally fucking epic.

(Με άλλα λόγια ζωή και κότα κυριολεκτικά)

My diabetic friend whose life is in my hands as I inject him twice a day seems to have a good life as well:

Often sunbathing on his throne:

He seems to like TV much more than I do:

But likes my hands as well:

It's priceless to hear him purr while I pet him.

Have a look how he enjoys it:

As you can see things are not too bad in this slice of heaven.

And I still haven't explored the area around - stay tuned!

First post COVID trip abroad (part 3)

The above image is a result of being introduced to a local activity here at Heeze that takes place annually. A closer look might give you an idea,

but you'd better watch any video using "Brabantse dag" as keywords to see what it's all about. Here's a random one from 2018:

When I first saw what they're doing my jaw drop dead on the table. How come a think that looks impressive as Venice's carnival stays under the radar like this one? Here's their site in case you wanna browse it.

I came to help the team that the house I'm staying at participates and they have a whole workshop under a large spacious tent (if you watched the video you can understand why they need lots of space). Places like these for a handy man like me are an absolute playground:

I cut some wood for the guys, all of them warm and nice boys and girls of (almost) all ages.

As much as I love tools I do love horses as well so I stepped towards the fence to see two of them happily having their lunch under the hot Dutch sun:

Impressed by the local mentality already I have my first walk around as I search for the nearest supermarket. I must admit this village is hands down among the cutest I've ever been. I have to try hard to be discrete and not picture every single house around as all of them cause drooling.

Pictures don't tell the whole story but you can get an idea - here's my first view right out of the door:

Kinda cute way to warn for speed bumps:

If only I could have any of the following ones:

What a nice touch from the municipality:

The local school:

That guy on the bicycle felt the need to say "hi" to a total stranger (me) though I had my back at him - what a cool neighbourhood:

Even on the other side of the village where I went to withdraw some cash (only country so far my cash card doesn't work in supermarkets) things are far from ugly:

Lovely all the way. What can go wrong? Probably nothing 😎

More Dutch beauties coming soon!