The Lady Pamela and The Building Man travel to Family on occasion and in the course of their travels visit some very different places on the face this earth of ours.
We thought that this series was so special that it was worthy of a gallery of its own.
Here is Pamelas travellers tale to go along with it.
But wait there is more. The years fall away, Nico worked at Paal 3 ten, fifteen years ago, looks up Paal on the net and finds Rusticana and Pamelas tale and talks to us. What magic we weave. See Image
https://pbase.com/galleria_rusticana/image/86215165
Up dated October 8th 2009


"Paal 3" a cafe on the island of Schiermonnikoog.

The island of Schiermonnikoog lies just off the north coast of the Netherlands.
Low and sandy, traversed by bicycle paths, it is predominately nature reserve.
Its main vast crescent shaped beach faces the North Sea.
In places the walk across this beach, from the sand dunes to where the waves break, is a fair hike. But there, in the middle of this swampy plain, between the light house and the sea, like an abandoned Fellini film set, you find a solitary cafe, "Paal 3".
The tables and chairs are set out on the wet sand behind a wind-break, that does not look as if it is going to protect them from much.
To one side is a huge timber platform, on top of which the cafe once sat, until swept away in a storm on 1st November 2006.
To the other side are two modest caravans, connected by a line full of family washing. This is the home of Luit Balk, who has lived here for 22 years. Nico, his co-worker made us coffee while telling of the plans to re-build the cafe.
We sat, sipping coffee and watched as the sun set slowly into the sea. It was well after 10pm. before it finally disappeared. We stayed longer for a spectacular after glow and long twilight.
On a magical night like this it was easy to see why Luit and his family love living in this crazy place.

Camera Ricoh Caplio R3