Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Z is for...


Zeven Provinciën (Seven Provinces)

This photo was taken at the Batavia Wharf several years ago. I was there with a friend of mine who is really interested in anything you can build. Since my parents had free tickets to enter the museum/wharf we decided that it would be a great visit.

The first ship to be built at the wharf was the Batavia (hence the name of the wharf). Several years of volunteers, people learning a trade or craft and unemployed people later and a beautiful ship emerged. It was sent to Sydney, Australia for the Olympic Games (the original had perished on her maiden voyage off the coast of Australia). After they had succesfully built that ship, they decided it would be a shame to let that great wharf do nothing anymore. So, plans were drawn up for the next ship: the Zeven Provinciën.

Again it was a ship that came without any plans, since apparently they didn't use them in the olden days. Which has caused quite a bit of problems already. Everything you see in the photograph had to be taken down again, because the measurements were off! So, when I was back on the wharf last year, it didn't look as if much more had been done. However, once it will be finished, I guess it will look as fantastic as the Batavia.

For more Z words from around the world, please check out ABC Wednesday and join in the fun!

18 comments:

  1. Very interesting post for the Z day! I'm fascinated by boats anyway! Have a good week!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  2. I thought these one is the Noah's ark ^)^. I watched on tv how to build like this one it is not easy. Thanks for sharing!

    Zucchini

    ReplyDelete
  3. There's something almost religious about the structure of a ship - maybe it's just the Noah's Ark thing but I don't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very original and interesting Mara. Always a pleasure coming here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well, not a very weighty comment. Just to say that I enjoyed all your information. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like Noahs Ark. Very interesting Z:-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks like Noahs Ark. Very interesting Z:-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. When you do things in a big way, it usually pays to do them "by the book" :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. How interesting! I wonder if that boat will ever get built? People used to do it, so it must be possible .. but maybe our minds are too cluttered with 'plans' these days to allow ourselves to think that freely?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Interesting post for Z !
    I like your brave cat walking in the snow, in your header lol !

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is really interesting. I can't believe they do that without a plan to follow.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How interesting! No plans? That sounds like something I would do. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  13. that is a very interesting place to visit!

    thank you so much for the visit! until next Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh dear. Hope they get it right next time round

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great Z post Mara and a great picture!

    ReplyDelete
  16. That is a big boat - the size of person featured gives us the scale. Hope it manages to sail one day.

    ReplyDelete

Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!