Not in a bad way, but in the sense that being with Kyle, waking up next to him, going about my day with him in the next room, or across the table, or holding my hand as we walk down the street, just feels so natural that sometimes I forget there is a legal and spiritual arrangement under which we have identified and ratified our bond. When I really take a moment to think about it, I am all at once tickled and astonished and ecstatic and bewildered and immeasurably happy. I cannot believe an entire year has gone by since our breathtaking wedding day and yet, at the same time, I'm incredulous that it has only been a year; I could swear I've belonged to this man and he to me for a thousand years.
Here's to a thousand more.
Confession: I spend a lot of time on Pinterest.
But it has been a great resource and platform for organizing all of our trips this year, and I have to admit that without it, I wouldn't have known that a place called Giethoorn even existed.
and frankly, that would have been very sad.
"Like stepping back in time" and "wandering into a fairytale" are two perfectly legitimate travel-brochure cliches that one might use to describe Giethoorn. The village itself has no roads and is only navigable by boat, bike, or strolling, to which I would like to credit its incredibly relaxed and romantic quality. The roof of nearly every cottage was thatched and framed by dreamy gardens, nodding flowers, a network of canals, and row upon row of bridges. Most of the dwellings themselves were situated on their own little islands of greenery and featured curious little shacks for their boats (which we called "boat-garages"). One cottage-island kept a pony, another had a flock of sheep, a number had chickens roosting in the fruit trees, ducks of course were ubiquitous as well as storks, which I'd never seen before!
Our initial plan was to explore the village and the surrounding Weerribben-Wieden National Park by boat (all the little motor boats in Giethoorn are solar-powered!), but unfortunately the weather turned out to be quite rainy on the full day we were there, and a soggy boat ride isn't ideal. Instead we visited the local museum and were guided around by a very sweet old man who volunteers there and who treated us to some local history....
The name "Giethoorn" actually comes from a word that initially meant "goat horn" which was what the first inhabitants of the settlement, supposedly Mediterranean fugitives, called it after the hundreds of goat horns they discovered in the marshland, remnants of a 10th-century flood. Peat, which was an essential source of fuel, and marshland reed, from which thatched roofs are made, became the main natural resources of the little village. The settlers managed to take back the boggy marshland and form it into the canals and ditches by which they could transport their peat, reeds, and even their cows from field to field - which you can still see farmers doing today. We were told that the cows are very cooperative and very quiet when getting on the boats because they learned to associate them with the fresh grass awaiting them in their new field.
We also managed to explore the village on foot in between the rain showers. Otherwise we were cozied up in our hotel room reading, napping, and snacking on chocolate, fruit, and bread as we are wont. After our anniversary dinner of vegan-friendly pizzas and beer (classy, we know) the weather cleared up and we ambled around the village some more, exploring any areas we had missed. The worst part was seeing the cottages that had a "Te Koop" sign... Kyle had to suffer many a tugs at his sleeve and wistful looks from his wife.
Our trip was entirely lovely and provided a much needed opportunity to relax, spend some quality time together, and celebrate our marriage! Hopefully we will be able to keep up a tradition of taking a trip every year on our anniversary. That is the plan anyways!
We would highly suggest a visit to Giethoorn if you ever find yourself in the Netherlands!
-M
