Parking Six Feet Under Ground (Cover)…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Before leaving the small German town of Isselburg-Anholt in the summer of 2016, Himself and I made one last discovery that I found worth stopping and taking photographs of.

As per the usual theme of this blog it’s something very normal and everyday, just a bog-standard car parking building.

But since I also like quirky things, this is a car park with a twist.

First, there are the ivy covered outside walls, ivy can be both a blessing and a curse, especially if you have to remove it from brickwork, but it’s a great way to “green” vertical spaces.

This twist here is the roof, which is also green, there are what appears to be grasses and wild flowers like  lavender carpeting the roof and providing an excellent spot for insects and bees as well as adding more plant life into the town.

If that is lavender, then it must smell wonderful whenever you are close to it as well.

I’d love to see more plants added to cities and towns like this, it’s a fabulous idea!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Who Needs Glass and Steel When You Can Have Structures Like These?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Regular readers will know that Himself and I have one trait very much in common: we appear to have been born with no sense of direction whatsoever.

Our navigation skills are legendary, in a manner that usually involves laugher and disbelief (and sometimes a few face palms) rather than any echos of awe.

During the summer of 2016 we needed to drop Little Mr off to an event on the German Dutch border and instead of keeping within the Netherlands, we accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up in the German town of  Isselburg-Anholt.

We had been searching for somewhere to have lunch, so after realising our mistake we figured that lunch in Germany would be as good as lunch in the Netherlands, stayed and several side streets later found a restaurant.

After we had eaten we headed back to the car and attempted to leave town. This involved more wrong turns and a messy reverse out of a narrow street that Our Lady of The Tom Tom assured us was a two way street, but that the signs on the lampposts assured us wasn’t. Luckily my instruction of “take the next left” was quickly met with Himself’s “Can’t“, and since the street was little more than an alleyway, and deserted, no danger was involved.

Our biggest issue was that several years ago we swapped our tiny Peugeot 206 for a seven seater vehicle and one thing that longer cars are not good at, is reversing out of narrow European alleyways where the layout is as crooked and pieced together as the dwellings built over the centuries around it.

There was no pavement to speak of, doorsteps were right on the street,  vehicles parked as close to the buildings as they could physically manage and still allow exit of the occupants.  Cars vied for position, their drivers expert in squeezing into the smallest space possible, everyone folding in their wing mirrors on the street side so a single vehicle may inch past. The line of the buildings was not straight, nor therefore was the road.

Himself executed a three point turn, which was actually a six or seven or maybe nine point turn, the sensors at the front at rear of the car peeping alarmingly rapidly as we inched back, then forwards to complete the manoeuver.

A small group of German locals watched our progress from a little distance, glances in our mirrors told us that they were taking an interest but they quickly looked away when I looked directly at them. Our tight U-turn completed, we drive past them and aim for the main street. More “One Way” signs greet us even though Our Lady is telling us otherwise.  Another side street looks like a short-cut to our desired direction, we take it and as it dog-legs around to the right we suddenly find ourselves driving in a circle with no side roads to offer any escape.

When I met the gaze of the group of locals as we passed them a second time, this time they were all grinning, and waved.  They pointed to the place where we first tried to exit and then to the left instead the right that we had taken the first time. With a thumbs up and a grin reply, I signal our Thanks and against the wishes of Our Lady of The Tom Tom we headed in the opposite direction of where she wanted is to go.

After half a kilometer a re-set got us back on track. Because of this we needed to back-track a little and turn around on a larger road. Himself opted instead to turn right into a small lane where there was no traffic and we could turn around more easily. At that moment I spied this rickety old structure, filled with wood, charming, age unknown but full of character.I love buildings like this… rustic in the extreme, it half looked like the wood being stored inside was holding the pla ce up. I snapped off a few photographs of it and a brick building next to it that is definitely older than it first looks for my archive files.  Who needs glass and steel when you can have structures like these?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

But…. We Have To Go Home!

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Isselburg-Anholt, close to the German / Dutch border has a few beautiful buildings in it’s centre.

After a very enjoyable lunch in one of them, the restaurant “Il Caminetto” (of yesterday’s post) we get in the car to head the two kilometres or so back across the border into the Netherlands and then back home to The Hague.

As usual when were are out and about, I am busy scanning our surroundings and looking for interesting things to photograph.

When Himself and I found ourselves in the German border town of  Isselburg-Anholt during the summer of 2016, my habit was ingrained and naturally this statue caught my eye.

I love how the artist has captured the spontaneity of the moment, the clear relationship between the woman and the box.

If you removed the basket of apples and the hoop, their movement is one that has seen in every busy shopping street in any place of any size at one time or another.

The child resists going where the mother wants, it could be any parent trying to prise their offspring away from the local playground, away from something seen in a shop window, or even a dirty discarded sweet on the footpath that the child is certain would taste good.

It’s a universal moment, but here there is only the spontaneity, no anger or remonstrating from the parent, so far just a look, and who knows, maybe a little word of persuasion to get the child to go to where-ever they are meant to be next.

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Il Caminetto, A Beautiful Setting for Both A Meal And A Learning Experience…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Having been lucky enough to score a spot in the central restaurant in Isselburg-Anholt, a German town almost on the German/ Dutch border, exactly on the day that they were celebrating the hunting season with a grand and formal meal.

As part of a series of events it was clear that a lot of preparation had been put into this special day.

From the young people taking part in their formal attire, traditional sashes, hats and costume for the young men, the formal group meal with speeches and, the horses and carriages that arrived to carry the party off to the next stage of the celebrations, we had stumbled on something special and were excited to learn something new to us.

The restaurant called “il Caminetto” and is located in a very beautiful, equally old building.

The staff were very friendly, helpful and informative, even though most of the time they were very busy with the larger hunting party event group. Our main course was lovely, the dessert delectable and the atmosphere of the building added what ended up being a well enjoyed lunch. We didn’t have a horse drawn carriage waiting for us when we left, but we left well fed and happy, so we got the fairy tale ending anyway.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Il Caminetto – Ratskeller Anholt
Markt 14-16
46419 Isselburg-Anholt
Italienisches Restaurant im historischen Rathaus Anholt
Germany /  Isselburg-Anholt / Restaurant il Caminetto

Isselburg-Anholt: The Accidental Manhole Cover…

Isselburg-Anholt in Germany is a sweet little town just a stone’s throw from the Dutch border, close to Breedenbroek and Dinxperlo. Regular readers will be well aware that I love silly mundane things like ornate street drain grates and manhole covers. Having accidentally stepped over the border in our quest for lunch, I take the opportunity to catch a snap and add this one to my collection.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

This Fountain Is For Playing On…

In yesterday’s post we got a glimpse of a wonderful fountain. It is located in a tiny town square in the centre of the German town of Isselburg-Anholt, located about two kilometres (or less) over the Dutch border.  It was difficult to get photographs of this one, many of the angles may look a little strange, part of the reaon is that I was attempting to crop out a constant stream of children who were playing on it for half the time I was trying to get photographs. It’s a fountain that is modern in some aspects and old in others, and it fits perfectly with the surrounding architecture.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We Assumed This Was A Type Of Prom Party, We Were So Wrong…

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

Last summer Himself and I found ourselves accidentally in Germany after dropping Little Mr off in a tiny Dutch village on the border.

Our wrong turn turned out to be fortunate because we discovered some new places and events by chance.

We parked in a tiny square in the middle of  Isselburg-Anholt and found ourselves observing what we first thought must have been a German version of a Prom party, or end of school ball.

There were young adults in formal wear, the guys in white trousers and dark jackets with either blue and white or red and white sashes, the girls were mostly in long gowns, and also sported the same style sashes as the guys.

The guys were wearing hats, everyone was taking photographs of each other and there appeared to be many of their family members there too, also taking photographs of the groups and the entire gathering.

Himself and I make sure that we are not in the way and ask in the restaurant that they are in front of, if there is  any spare table where we might be able to have a meal.

They tell us that the young people outside are booked for a large event in the restaurant, but they will be all in another room, and there is space for us in a small room to the side.

It turns out that we are not the only guests in this room, what appears to be a few family members of the event guests are here too so we make ourselves comfortable and take a private view of the proceedings.

Some of the ladies in gowns come into our room and take photographs with people at the other tables, some of the young men come and chat to these people too, then leave when it becomes apparent that speeches are starting in the room that they will be dining in.

During a pause we manage to ask if this is an end of school or graduation ceremony perhaps.

Himself and I were both surprised to find out that it’s actually nothing of the sort, but rather an annual event to celebrate the hunting season in the area and that the red and white flags everywhere around town are a symbol of this. I don’t have more information than that, but clearly it’s a very formal affair with many ceremonial parts, there were even horses with carriages drawing up outside our window, later as Himself and I ate dessert, to take the guests to the next stop of their party.

By the time we finished our meal the staff were clearing away much of the chairs, tables and other party accoutrements… this was an event that was new to both Himself and I, so we really felt like we learnt something.

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

(photograph © Kiwidutch )

One Wrong Turn And We End Up In Germany…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

During the summer of 2016, Himself and I took Little Mr to an outdoor event, also providing transport for several other kids.

The location was in the east of the Netherlands almost on the German border.

The village of Breedenbroek is so close in fact that the border is a line of trees in the distance, and our taxi duty fulfilled, Himself and I decided to look for somewhere nice for lunch.

Borders in Europe are not nice straight lines, and the Kiwdutch’s reputation for navigation (or rather lack of it) is legendary, so failing to find anywhere in Breedenbroek, we tried to drive to nearby Dinxperlo.

One wrong fork in a tiny country road later, we found ourselves looking at signs that informed us that we were about to enter  Isselburg-Anholt instead.

We had only travelled between two and three kilometers (approx one mile) but had accidently crossed the border into Germany.

Hungry and thinking that Isselburg would be as good a place to have lunch as any, we continued into town.

There were lots of flags flying, seemingly sporting the emblems of the town and it’s province, plus another one, the function of which only became obvious later on. It’s a nice enough little town, the prettier buildings are clustered in it’s heart and there are several pedestrian shopping streets nearby. Time to take a look around.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Dramatic Grey To Bright White Puffy Cotton-Wool…

Returning home from our summer holiday in the Landal Wirfttal holiday park  in 2015, we say goodbye to the German countryside. From the architecture to the landscape, I love how different it is to The Netherlands. The winner in today’s series of photographs though are the beautiful cloud formations we encountered during the trip home. From lines that mirror some of the plowed fields below on the ground to dramatic dark grey to bright white puffy cotton-wool like balls, they reinforce my belief that no matter how intelligent and powerful people think they have become, we are all mere dots of insignificance compared with the mighty wonder and power of Mother Nature.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

Does Hanging Around Mean You End Up In The Pot?

The next unusual thing that we see on our way home from our German holiday last year was this building.  The word “hexenketel” means, I think,  ” witches cauldron” but what exactly they are trying to advertise here is beyond me. So if you are a witch looking for your lost cauldron, it’s possible that we may have just found the place it ended up, or where you may need to go to replace it. This place even had our kids wondering what on earth they had just seen.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)