Machines For Doing

Contraptions: Europe is full of ‘em. 

I suppose America has its share of Rube Goldberg devices but the distances between them are so vast that it takes longer to run across one.  Either that or the United States has become so homogenized with chain stores on each corner that we have no room for thing-a-ma-bobs that do the job.  But there is still space for them in Europe and there seems to be a goofy gadget every other kilometer.

Take the marina we are in for starters.  The only way to get into town is to crank yourself across a narrow canal aboard a self operated ferry.   The idea of it is captivating when you first get to the marina but winding up a heavy chain each time the dog needs a walk gets old fast.

Then there are the ubiquitous windmills.  One in every town and the ultimate in contraptions.  For centuries, the ever blowing wind here in Holland has been used to power the grinding stones that allowed the Dutch to have flour for their beloved pannekoeken (pancakes to you and I).  By installing an Archimedes screw within a windmill, the clever Dutch were able to drain their flooded plains.

Have a dairy on one of those plains?  Then you are going to need all the contraptional equipment used to make cheese.

I can’t think of a better way to spend some time than searching out all the widgets, gadgets and gizmos that flavor a particular country.