A Trip to Tropical Marken

Last Sunday, sensing our hangovers, Cal insisted that we get up insanely early and go on an adventure to Marken. This is partly true. Cal woke up at his regular ungodly hour, but was unusually fussy and we knew that leaving the house was inevitable. It was my idea to go to Marken. During the last hot spell I had seen a picture on Facebook of a long stretch of white sand with shimmering blue waters and the title, 'Amsterdam's best beach.' WHERE?? I shouted to Facebook, thinking of all the swampy rivers and lakes I had crept into in the past 8 years looking for a decent summer swim. Oh that's Marken, came the response from several friends, like it was common knowledge that there was a tropical-bloody-paradise somewhere in Amsterdam. So on Sunday morning, with the temperature already nudging the high 20s, we grabbed a couple of sun hats, a towel and a sling and set off 'for a quick swim' before home again for lunch and naps.

Let the record state that Marken is only 30kms from Amsterdam, but for some reason it takes over half an hour to drive there (which feels like an hour when you've only had 5 hours sleep). And once you're there, you have to walk for another 30 minutes (through swarms of bugs) along the peninsula to the light house, where the little beach is. And once there, there is no shade, no food or drink and the water is Cold. It is crazy-pretty though, and if I hadn't had a grade 3 hangover and a wiggly, complainy little worm who wanted to be carried, not slung, I may have enjoyed it more. 

I can only assume that Marken's residents wash this photogenically for tourists' benefit.

David and Cal on the path to Marken Lighthouse 

A hot and wiggly little adventurer

Marken Beach and Lighthouse

Putting on a brave face, in the face of adversity

Can you believe that this is in Holland?

Tropical Marken, The Netherlands...