‘A new spring and a new sound’: there they are again, the innumerable of-quoted opening lines of the epic May by Herman Gorter from 1889. It is only February and everything is still gray and drab, but in In my own country from Columbus Travel, the sun is happily breaking through and nature is already waking up from hibernation.
Time for a trip in our own country, is the underlying idea. With no fewer than 101 tips for a ‘nice spring’ that will undoubtedly lead to ‘enjoyable moments’ (a yellow card for the editors fits here), the magazine covers all parts of the own country. The price, 4.99 euros, is downright sympathetic.
Off to the unknown Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, then, for a skilfully described ‘road trip’. Technical malheur threatens to throw a spanner in the works: the electric car is already breaking down near Roosendaal. Once in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, there is plenty to enjoy. That’s part and parcel of travel journalism. It is very rare that a writing traveler ends up in a place where there is no ball and the local population reacts cranky or downright hostile to the arrival of the tourist. That’s a shame actually.
Also in In my own country in many cases the author is the protagonist. Sometimes that turns out wrong, and sometimes right. In his report on Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Roman Helinski – we are still recovering from that hassle with the electric car – notes this sentence: ‘A spider is crawling over my notebook.’
More dunes, sea and beach (and the occasional seal) are discussed in the opening of three pieces on more familiar terrain, the North Sea coast. It gets even more personal. The writer of the play, Amanda de Nijs, has adopted a seal in Renesse. You can, for 500 euros. 810 is called the beast, but she calls him Honey. With a ‘good luck, Honey’ the report ends.
In other parts of the country people walk and cycle. Point in favor of In my own country: the articles are considerably longer (and better written) than in most other magazines that try to attract travelers, city trippers and holidaymakers.
In a ‘mini guide’ people eat and drink a lot. After all, ‘a new spring also brings a new flavour’. The description of the Groningen egg ball arouses the most appetite, not least because mention is made of an egg ball festival and a Dutch egg ball championship.