The most impressive piece of sculpture--most memorable--stands in downtown Rotterdam, a looming human figure who is missing his heart somehow, just as Rotterdam itself missed its heart after being leveled by the Nazis in a move to end the war that lasted not much more than a day longer than they thought it would--a frantic human figure with a hole in his heart.
Physics 101--how to cure a country of tragedy by water. Build a series of canals, monsters--add some gates, some sluises, maybe a lock or two--create an island from which to work (after all this is under sea water), then reinforce like mad, and live in relative comfort. The name of the project, circa 1953, is the Delta works, a project some wise engineer deemed the seventh wonder of the modern world.
A helpful lecture.
A fine guide through the guts of the operation.
Heringvliet flood control.
I don't remember what this was :).
It's hard to believe that just about every soul on our trip had at least one relative, often more, who left the Netherlands from this very spot, the pier on the Holland-American line in the harbor at Rotterdam. Really, it's impossible to imagine what all those people--all those families--thought the moment they stepped on the ship.
A larger-than-life sculpture out at the end of the pier brought the reality a little bit closer.
And, finally, again today, perfect weather. Couldn't have designed a finer afternoon to spend on a beach. It was simply wonderful. Scheveningen, to my mind, will always be Diet Eman's first prison. But there was nothing but recreation there today, loads of people of all ages, surf and sun, and joy.
Pannakoeken and ice cream, all of it calorie-less.
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