 Aerial View of Willemstad. Notice the 7-Pointed Star Fortifications |
We waved farewell to Peter and Miriam as they left the marina, and I headed into town to get provisions. I located the small supermarket, and did the necessary before heading back. The sky was menacing, so I parked myself into a restaurant in front of the old harbour and enjoyed a fresh mint tea. The skies opened, and soon many more souls poured into the restaurant like drowned rats. However, this compulsory break gave me the opportunity to catch up on my notes.
When the storm had passed over, I headed back to discover Rex had washed the boat down, and he had reserved two berths, one for Paul and Miriam and the other for John and Sue, who were joining us in Willemstad, and were expected to arrive around 3pm.
I struck up a conversation with a Belgian couple further down the pontoon. The wife had a deckchair on the pontoon and was reading a book. I asked her why her husband was not bringing a cocktail packed with ice. She laughed as if to say, "Not an earthly, mate." Her husband piped up that he can't be doing that. The couple kept their boat in Willemstad, and would drive across from Flanders to use it. The water recreational facilities in Belgium were not a patch on what Holland has to offer. We discussed how the current energy crisis is affecting Belgium, and it appeared the fuel bills have trebled similar to ours. Belgium had five nuclear power stations, but they were all in a state of being decommissioned before the energy crisis. The country is now trying to extend the life of two of them by another ten years. They were also starting to convert gas-fired power stations back into coal-fired stations. "I can't see they don't make more use of tidal power," he added. Then his phone went off, complete with a James Bond ringtone. "Work," he said, so I left him to his work and her to her book.
 Old Fortifications |
 D' Orangemolen |
 Koepelkerk |
 Neat Brickwork |
 Wall Plaque in Voorstraat |
 Holyhocks |
The two couples, Paul and Miriam plus John and Sue, were friends who also kept their boats at Tollesbury. They had travelled together from the UK, entering the European Union in Belgium, and had made their way up to Willemstad. Paul and Miriam intended to take Amelie up to Dordrecht, and leave her there for a while while they caught a ferry back to UK in order to carry out work commitments. They would then return at a later date to continue their holiday. John and Sue intended to potter about in Willemstad for a few days, hiring bikes, and then gradually make their way back to the UK.
Rex and I went into town early and managed to secure a table for six outside at the Bellevue Hotel. This was a wise move since it was going to get pretty busy on a Friday evening.
Paul and Miriam eventually found us, and a short while later John and Sue joined us. I was impressed by Paul drinking a pint of La Chouffe at 8% to start with.
Thunder rumbled away, and a cool breeze got up; rain was on its way. We got the staff to erect the large parasol just before the first shower hit the town.
Time for the food order. I had a joke with the waiter by ordering "gebakken kakkerlakken op toast" for Rex, which he found amusing. Rex was not amused when I disclosed that I was trying to order him "baked cockroaches on toast."
The food, drink and conversation flowed freely, a most enjoyable time, and we wound up the evening with drinks on Amalie, Paul and Miriam's boat.