Op de Zee in een Zeef

"Op de zee in een zeef!" That's Dutch (more or less) for "Going to sea in a sieve!" You've got to love a language that makes such happy uses of z's.

So, lucky me to have an October visit to Holland . . . and other European hot spots. (Cool spots? Note the rain jacket, purchased deliberately in a garish apple green so as not to be run over while riding a bicycle.)

I'm in the sweet little Dutch city of Nijmegen. Pronounced "Niy-may-(clear your throat)-en." It's almost on the border of Germany -- so close in fact, that the place where I'm staying still has schrapnel holes from World War II:

But back to the rain jackets and bicycles . . . I have rented a bike for a week for the great sum of 50 euros (about $63) and am trundling around the polders with Maurice. We brave heavy winds, hide from sudden downpours and try to ignore a broken baby toe (mine). Other than that, piece of cake. Here is Maurice, beside the pony that he is about to pat, and then later touch his face, thereby getting an allergic reaction that will make his eyelids swell up like raspberries. But being tough adventure travellers, we laugh at such hazards. Broken toes, pony allergies -- pah!

Sometimes when you are riding a bike in this part of Holland, you are suddenly in Germany and don't even know it. Here, for example, are some German ponies. At a casual glance, they look quite Dutch.

Sheep and cows also in abundance. Never a dull moment. Stay tuned . . .