It's easy to forget that there's an outdoors in Holland. There are no hills to speak of . There's no rock either. What there is, however, is sky. Get away from the traffic and the concrete and the sky takes over. Dominating the scene and drawing the eye way into the distance. It can be breathtaking. Mountains have a way of making me feel small. Insignificant. Humble. In a strange way the polder does that for me too but it's the horizontal rather than the vertical length scale that works the illusion.
The dune landscape is very special. For me it's the bit of Holland that realy stands out. Appart from being the least touched by mans hand it's the only bit where the ground fights back. Where the ground comes up to meet the sky and plays more than a bit part. I like it. I like to walk through it. And when I see Emily in it I get a real sense that she's experiencing something of the feeling I get in the mountains. That when you're two the dunes are one great big adventure.
Very well written, the mountains are only part of the wonder of the outdoors. I agree about the dunes, I love how they change, how the plants take hold and then grow (or lose the fight with the shifting sands). Night time skies away from the city lights are very special.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Roger, I don't doubt that you walk through very similar landscapes in Denmark.I've always had a fascination with the coast and the dunes in particular. I grew up close to the coast and the Formby dunes is where I learn't to use a map and compass. Those shifting sands you mention where a real challenge!
ReplyDeleteThe Polders are a unique environment with a beauty of their own. Big skies and diverse, sensitive ecosystems make a fine contrast to those more vertical landscapes. The mountains will always be there to visit tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteRight enough. They've been around a while and I guess will be for a while still. Being away from the UK has taught me to appraciate it more. When I could see the peaks out of my window I took them somewhat foregranted. Still here we have the coast and plenty of water and there's plenty of outside to be had if you know where to look.
ReplyDeleteGreeat read thank you
ReplyDelete