Ship travelled overnight and through the morning, arriving at Kinderdijk in Holland in time for lunch. Mid morning Lee, the programme director, gave us an interesting presentation on some aspects of Dutch history and culture, including free samples of cheese, and Jenever, a very strong precursor of gin. As the first sip burned it's way down my oesophagus I gasped "that's nice" and took another. The third sip was definitely a mistake, necessitating a return to our cabin for a lie down before lunch! After lunch our local guide walked us round to the multiple-windmill polder-draining system, which is fascinating. It's supplemented these days by diesel powered pumps, but the old windmills still play an active part. The old mechanisms on the windmills are incredibly sophisticated and effective. They consist of wooden beams and ropes and
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