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Middleburg

Writer's picture: Richard NamikasRichard Namikas



Breakfast on board the Cara was satisfactory, but had yet to provide the high quality baked goods that they had promised in their marketing. We decided that we would Google bakeries near me and see what we could come up with. We were in the middle of an area that prided itself on croissants and flakey pastries. With the help of my iPhone and a paper map from the ship we set off in the direction of baked bliss and thus began our quest.




The old city center had a huge clocktower we could use as a guide as we headed into the city. Passing little flower boxes in windows and over a couple of canals we soon found Bliek master bakers. Don’t say it too quickly. The smell as we entered promised what we were hoping for. Real fresh baked treats. The displays inside continued to up our optimism. After discussing whether to get the chocolate filled croissants, or the cherry turnover we opted for the obvious. Both.

With a coffee from nextdoor we settled into a couple of chairs in the open air to sample our booty. Crisp. Buttery. Delicious. We were not hoping for the impossible. Just the demonstration of the skill of an artist of flour water and butter. We were very much in the moment and place of Middleburg Netherlands.


We wandered past a closed shop with kites and juggling equipment. Through a couple of narrow ancient alleyways. Seeing the clocktower ahead we followed a number of young people ahead of us and we found our way through a portico to a courtyard at the base.



The area was filled with young people engaged in all kinds of activities of balance, music, brain exercises and such. It looked like a science fair mixed with a county fair. We later found that this was and annual fair for children in science in The Netherlands. We had heard nothing about this on the boat.


We moved with the crowd and soon a giant steampunk time machine cycle was slowly motoring towards us with a driver perched atop wearing a top hat and driving goggles. There were lines of parents with their children longer than I had ever seen at a Disney amusement park. It was a beautiful day with near surreal surroundings of ancient housing and happy crowds.


We passed a long time watching and listening to the goings on, but finally worked our way back to the boat for our lunch.


At lunch Miriam mentioned that she had found a fabulous chocolate shop that had handmade that they saw them making right there. We determined that we would need to get back out there and make the walk into the city to find and procure some of the delectable bounty.


With the help of Google Maps I located the Olala Chocola shop a mere twelve minutes from where we were docked. With the sun shining and our bellies full from lunch on the Cara we set out on our chocolate quest. It’s funny how quickly your brain can adjust to new surroundings. The trip into the center seemed much shorter than the first time and we were able to spend a fair bit of time in the shop.




When we arrived the smell of chocolate filled the air and there was a group of people spooning liquid chocolate into moulds for the creation of the filled treats we were looking at in the display. It turned out that they were visitors there for an immersive experience in chocolate making. Sounded like fun, but we had a mission to accomplish. After settling on a quarter kilo of decadence as our target the small box was filled like Noah’s Ark. Two by two of each of the filled creations that struck our fancy. Except the coconut. Dusty was not fond of that one, so we only got a single sample. Our treasure carefully packed into a small white box marked with the maker’s logo and having the decoding key for identifying the flavors later we started back to the ship.


On the way back we were sucked into another flower shop by the smell of the fresh floral perfume and treated to a preview of our garden hopes for Saturday. Along the waterfront we saw, as we had many times in The Netherlands, a series of trees trimmed and wired together such that their trunks were bare and their upper limbs created a flat canopy. I am sure that once they grew their spring growth and flowers the result would be a pergola of stunning beauty.


Back at the boat we sampled one of our little delicacies and found it every bit as special as we hoped it would be. Now to strike a balance between glutton and miser. Part of the balance of everything in life.


At dinner we had two treats. Bob had thought about us while he was out and about. He brought back gifts of chocolate from Zeeuws Ministerie van Chocolade & Culinaire zaken. A small box for Dusty and myself as well as for Shirley and for Jim and Miriam. The other treat was to see a group of sailboats racing near us as we pushed our way up the river to Ghent.


A day well spent and tomorrow would bring us a castle, beer, and more chocolate.

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Eric Namikas
Eric Namikas
07 May 2023

Those are the best sort of experiences while traveling. Who could have planned for steampunk cycles and trained natural pergolas-in-waiting? A little wandering can bring about moments of wonder!

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rumpilstiltskin
rumpilstiltskin
06 May 2023

Those treats & pastries looked so good that Aunt Marilyn and I are going to put on weight right through the computer screen! Continue to have fun and good sailing! Uncle Pete & Aunt Marilyn

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