Roy hat eine Erkältung und Neira hinkt. Die beiden beschliessen deshalb, sich heute auszuruhen.
I've caught a bit of a cold and Neira has a slight limp so we two stayed home, with just a short mid-afternoon outing.
Pippo und ich hingegen setzen uns in den Bus nach Marken. Dort wollen wir einige Souvenirs kaufen für den bevorstehenden Besuch in der Schweiz.
Meanwhile, Aila and Pippo took the bus to Marken in search of souvenirs to take to Switzerland in late November. At first Aila was at the window but Pippo's inexhaustible curiosity soon displaced her.
Wieder einmal staune ich, wie abrupt die Landschaft wechselt. Einige Minuten nach der Amsterdamer Stadtgrenze ist man im Grünen.
Once again Aila was amazed at how quickly the landscape changes in the Netherlands. This green vista is just minutes from Amsterdam.
Der Damm verbindet die ehemalige Insel Marken heute mit dem Festland.
En route to Marken: roadway on the left, cycle lane on the right, this long dike links the former island to the mainland.
Ganz knapp entgehen wir einer Kotattacke dieser Gänseschar.
Doo-doo drones: This gaggle of geese nearly dropped their load on our two intrepid adventurers. Whoever said bird shit signifies good luck was never bombed, we say.
In der Zwischenzeit trifft Neira im Park neue Freunde.
Meanwhile, without Pippo's sometimes over-vigilant protection, Neira makes some new acquaintances in the small park near the harbor.
Sonntag auf Marken ist Touristentag. Hier werden frische Poffertjes verkauft, die ich natürlich sofort probieren muss.
We are amazed that this modest set-up caught Aila's eye. It advertises homemade Poffertjes, mini pancakes dusted with powdered sugar that are just another Dutch excuse for unhealthy (but irresistible) snacking. No wonder these people are happy.
Das sind kleine Pfannküchlein, die mit Puderzucker und Butter gegessen werden und herrlich schmecken.
Marken, as we noted earlier, was an intact traditional society until that convenient land route was built in the 1950s. They still like to wear trad stuff while dishing out the goodies.
Dann wird geshoppt; freut euch auf die Mitbringsel, Freunde!
Hunger subdued, Aila moved on to the business of the day, shopping. We'll see what she found in due course, in Zürich.
