Memorial Day, memories and pictures

May 31, 2021

It was a beautiful weekend in Ottawa, sunny and not too warm. I took a break from writing this weekend and enjoyed the time for a lot of reading. For readers of this newsletter in the U.S., it is Memorial Day, which makes this weekend a long weekend. And since it is Memorial Day, I offer a 30-day free trial subscription to The Planet; it is just one click on this button:

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I was born 20 years after the end of the Second World War. Both my parents survived the horrors of war, but their experiences were always present in their lives and have impacted me as well. Without the sacrifices of the allied forces, they most likely would not have survived, and without the liberation, they would never have met. It is a story that I may write about someday.

This summer, I will be in the Netherlands. Since so many of my readers are Americans or Canadians, I will see if I can share some images or stories about the liberation and how those that fought for us are remembered. Here is one picture that I particularly like.

From the information that I could find, I understand that this picture was probably taken on 17 or 18 September 1944. These children were orphans, cared for by Catholic nuns, that had moved with them from Velsen in North Holland to the Castle of Hoensbroek in the southern Dutch province of Limburg. Before the troops had to move on towards Germany (12 miles from Hoensbroek), they joined the celebrations. The kids dressed up in traditional Dutch clothing and performed dances and songs.

A memory

That story brings back a memory. Twenty-five years later, as a young boy in the late 1960s, I lived several years in Velsen, northwest of Amsterdam, the town where the nuns and these orphans had lived until they had to leave to make room for the building of Atlantic Wall fortifications. They returned to Velsen after the war.

One of the stories that my mother told me about that time was that one of the sixties' changes was that nuns would no longer wear their habits but change into normal clothes. My mother, a physiotherapist, was tasked to train these nuns to walk elegantly, a skill they apparently had lost in those all concealing clothing.

On this day

Several weeks ago, I shared photos of what I did on that particular day in previous years. It is already late on Sunday night, but for those interested in either photography, travel, or for some reason in what I did on 30 May in the past seven years, here are some pictures to enjoy.

30 May 2021

This was today, in the early evening, and close to home in Ottawa. I always love this spot. The trees and their shadows always form an intriguing and constantly changing pattern of lines. It is also a pleasure to walk here in winter when a snowpack and different light give this place a different feel.

30 May 2020

A year ago, I still lived in Stockholm. While the world was rapidly changing in the first months of the pandemic, life in Stockholm felt like being in the eye of the storm. No masks, not many measures, the terraces were full of people. I walked in Kungsträdgården, a lovely park in the heart of Stockholm, always lively with cafes, concerts, and in the winter an ice-rink. Originally this was the walled garden of the king until the walls were broken down in the early 19th century.

30 May 2019

Two years ago, I was on the shores of Lake Mälaren in Sweden, visiting Gripsholm Castle and the idyllic small town of Mariefred in Södermanland. Gripsholm is known as Gustav Vasa's castle, as it was he who built the castle here in 1537. It has always belonged to the Swedish Royal Family and was used as one of their residences until the 18th century. It is now a museum, but it is still a palace at the disposal of the King.

30 May 2018

Three years ago, on this day, I was teaching multilateral negotiations at the University of Uppsala. I took this colorful picture on my way back to the railway station.

30 May 2017

Four years ago, on this day, I was in Prague for a meeting of the External Advisory Committee on the SIM4NEXUS project on Water, Energy, Food, and Climate change. After a day of meetings, we walked to the Strahov Monastery, a beautiful spot for dinner where this double rainbow above Prague gave the city a magical view.

30 May 2016

Five years ago, on this day, I was at home in Stockholm. This spot was very close to home. I always love the warm colors of Stockholm.

30 May 2015

Six years ago, on this day, I lived in The Hague. Five months earlier, I had returned from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and I knew that this would for quite a while be my last year in this city where I have spent many years of my life. I took this picture from a terrace in the beautiful city center.

That’s how far I could trace back the 30 May pictures without diving into old computer files. I hope you enjoyed the travel pictures.

Photo contest

For those who missed my recent article about the photography contest, you can find it here.

There are 8 days left, so if you have pictures of wildlife, or your dog or cat, you may want to join the 'Capture the Wild' photo challenge sponsored by Untamed Photographer. It is fun to participate in, and your photo and story could win 2,500 dollars or one of the other prizes.

Wishing you all a beautiful week. Oh, and if you haven’t subscribed yet to these newsletters, I hope that you will. I try to find new connections for you, something that you could learn or discover. Connect, learn, discover by starting your day with The Planet newsletter; subscribing takes just 30 seconds. I promise you that I still smile with every new subscription.

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