Nijmagen and Gambling Our Children's Inheritance

Today in Nijmegan (Nee-mah-gen), meaning "New Market", was as much about the non-historical as it was the historical in that it was Cheryl's 70th. birthday.  We arrived here about 11:30 a.m. and Cheryl and I promptly disembarked and headed for the shopping district.  She was looking for warm shoes and socks and I was looking for a warm coat.  The weather has been seasonably spring-like, often cold with brief glimpses of sunshine.

The first place we found for each were fancy, schmancy places that catered to the young.  The shoes she liked were 500 Euro (about $700) so they were quickly ruled out.  But, just down the expansive shopping area we both struck pay dirt and got exactly what we needed for a heck of a lot less.  She got two pair of shoes for her Imelda Marcos collection and I got a really nice gray leather jacket for a pittance.

About 2 p.m. we started on the walking tour and got about 10 minutes into it but decided to bug out because it was just too darned cold and windy.  So, back to the boat and a quick nap before dinner which was, as usual, wonderful.  

Just prior to dinner we had a wonderful, engaging talk from a Dutch historian who focused on what it was like for the Dutch people during the Nazi occupation and the eventual liberation by the Americans.  Even though their young may gloss over it, the middle-age and older get it, and are ever so grateful to us, the British, and the Canadians for liberating them from starvation.  It was truly moving and made me want to go home and look harder at my Dad's war records to see if he passed through here (which he very likely did en route from Belgium to Germany).


We had dinner with the two sisters we met a couple of nights ago - one from Oregon (Farrell) and one from Louisville (Lizzie), and joined by another couple from Napa Valley.  I had pre-arranged for Cheryl to get her birthday recognition and, at the conclusion of dinner, she was surrounded by the wait staff who brought her a "Happy Birthday" cake and gave a robust even if off key version of the song Happy Birthday.  It was their enthusiasm and smiles that counted, not their musical talents.

From there, we went across the street to the Holland Casino where we stayed about a whopping 15 minutes.  Everything was in Dutch but we managed to win about 150% of what we wagered in video blackjack so we were happy.  Home to bed and adieu to a wonderful 70th. birthday for Cheryl.


Tomorrow onto Wesel (Ves-sel), Germany.  More to come after that experience.  Happy 70th. birthday to Cheryl.

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