Our guide, an enthusiastic, weathered shipman who's knowledge of the dike was inexhaustible.
Marks of the sea on the movable wall.
Today we went to see the monstrous movable dike near Rotterdam. This structure is immense, the size of the Eiffel Tower lying down, built to protect the mainland from storm surges. We all wondered at the Dutch people's unwavering faith in their government to protect them; when Jamuna asked what would happen if there was as storm in which the water exceeded the height of the dike, our guide responded as if that could not happen, at least not in the next 15 years for which the dike was planned. We also walked out to the dunes, a stark contrast to the industry that stretches as far as the eye can see along the port across the canal. I always love to see the ocean, it has such a pull.
We have one more full day here, this past week has flown by. Off to Rotterdam again tomorrow to see more of the docks, a final farewell dinner, and the challenge of re-packing. I am getting excited for Italy.
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