Bricks: our courtyard

Old bricks II

Old bricks

 Bricks are used since the Roman conquest of our country. They got a bit forgotten during early medieval times but regained their popularity again when towns were growing in size and prosperity. Timber was replaced by brick, and elegant buildings were created  by those highly skilled Gothic bricklayers whose work we can still admire today.

Best known of all medieval  bricks is de "moef". Well fired in the kiln they are everlasting.

 Spanish in origin, they were hand-formed and their subtle shades of yellow and salmon-pink

are a pleasure to see.

www.flandes.net

Autumn shopping

Graffiti in Ghent

Ghent is a very lively town with a large student community. 

Some are more creative than others, but even the most modest

streetcorner becomes a canvas to express themselves.

Later in life they will be lawyers and scientists. 

Pilgrim spotting

When we are in Santiago doña B. and I love to watch pilgrims arriving. Our favourites are the very traditional ones with their donkeys. Not many pilgrims still want to choose for those gentle but often stubborn animals to transport their travel gear through the Pyrenees Mountains and northen Spain. It must be a great experience for pilgrim and donkey alike. They rent them in Puy-en-Velay, get a short Do's and Don't's training and off they go.
A pilgrim's staff too is needed and choosing one that suits you is an art. Avoid those on sale in souvenir shops and look for a specialist staff carver in the Pyrenees. They study with a keen eye the lenght of your limbs, motoric capabilities and even body mass index if needed, to provide you with the ideal walking stick.
But a modern pilgrim goes to his local outdoor shop, that's less complicated. 
www.ot-lepuyenvelay.fr

trekking bike and cell phone instead
of donkey and staff.

www.csj.org.uk

Bruges by bicycle

Bicycles are very popular in Bruges. They are the most common mean of transport for schoolchildren, housewives doing shopping and elderly citizens on their way to their favorite tea room. But policemen too use them to patrol the streets, and many tourists consider a good bicycle as ideal to explore the town.
To rent one, if you didn't brought your own pushbike, is no problem.  There is a good shop in the Hallestraat  www.adventure-bike-renting.be. More addresses can be found here: staatopdekaart.be/total/brugge/5 . The Tourist Office can provide you  with special route maps and all necessary documentation 
As most streets are laid in cobblestones some experience is needed. Driving a bicycle in Bruges is far from dangerous, there are good bicycle paths outside the center and good indications everywhere. It may look a bit scary to drive a cycle in the center, but traffic is slow and the locals are used to share the streets with many cyclists. Anyway be careful and remember that traffic rules may differ from those in your own country. One-way streets are very common in Bruges but exceptions are often made for cyclists, they are indicated by traffic signs. 
If cycling is rather tiresome, then try to rent one of the many carriages and let you drive around in grand style.

Two police bicycles and a complex traffic situation

www.flandes.net

The good life

Invite or be invited and have a seat in the street. Drinks and some snacks will cost you little money but the good time you will have is priceless. Watch the passers-by, exchange gossips with friends or simply enjoy a glass of wine.

It's the best place to socialise with the locals. In half an hour you will learn more about the regio where you stay than by reading a travel guide.

A lively street or square is wonderful entertainment. Do try to be a part of it.

Galician laundry

In Mediterranean countries people are less reluctant to hide their laundry from public view.

Laundry can feastly decorate a balcony or is kept more discreet behind windows.

Armistice Day

Yesterday was Armistice day.

11.11.11

Every village in West-Flanders has

its monument to commemorate those who

lived and died in the mud of the Great War.

Autumn in Bruges III

A Coruña

Galicia is divided in four provinces and A Coruña is one of them. The provincial capital has the same name and is one of

the most populated of the whole area. One of its landmarks is the famous Torre de Hèrcules, a lighthouse with Roman

origins and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Probably built under the principate of Trajanus it was in use ever since.

 An old dedication stone at the base of the tower attributes its design to Gaius Sevius Lupus, an architect from 

Lusitania ( Portugal ).

The exterior of the tower got a complete makeover in the late 18th century, by engineer Giannini. He also gave the tower its fourth storey. 

The present appearance of the lighthouse probably differs very much from the aspect it had during

its early Roman period. Anyway, one can still admire the beautiful Roman masonry at the interior of the tower.

www.torredeherculesacoruna.com

fiesta at Caranza

The mixed population of Caranza loves to party. A foam cannon is

all one needs to start a fiesta.

Frieten, patatas fritas, chips, frites...or french fries?

Yesterday we went to the local cinema to watch " Tintin ". I realised that Tintin, Hercule Poirot and the Smurfs are
the best known Belgians in history, according to most of the world's population. It also seems that the same people think
we live on a diet of fries and chocolates.
Indeed, fries may be considered as our national dish. Preparing them is an art that starts with choosing the right kind of
potato. A potato like "Bintje" is rich in starch and commonly used. They have to be stored in a proper way, not too
cold,  and be firmly washed with cold water. All this to prevent the potato to contain too much sugar, which would spoil
the colour during the frying process.
Cut the potatoes in fries with a thickness of one centimeter and leave them for a few minutes in cold water, they will be
more crispy when fried.
Fry them the first time at 160° for 5 - 8 minutes. Shake them from time to time, so they won't stick together.
Pour the fries on a bit of kitchen paper, and let them dry and cool  for some time ( 20 to 30 minutes ).
Fry them a second time at 180° for just a few minutes, until you see they are golden brown.
Pour a bit of salt on your fries and serve them with a good portion of home made mayonnaise.
Or better; skip the whole process and rush to the most nearby "friterie" or "frituur", and enjoy Belgian fast food.
www.belgianfries.com
www.frietmuseum.be

Autumn in Bruges II

Sint Anna ter Muiden

The landscape around Sluis, with the old church tower of Sint Anna ter Muiden in the background.

Damp meadows and willow trees are a common sight in the polders.

Belgian waffles

We love to visit Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Once a part
of the county of Flanders, it's now "abroad" and
Zeelandic Flanders belongs to the Netherlands. But
being separated from the rest of the Netherlands by
the river Scheldt, and sharing a long border with
Belgium, its character is very similar to Belgian Flanders.
Same landscape, same dialects... one never has the 
feeling that there is a border.
A popular place is Sluis. This modest market town
is crowded with Belgian Flemings during weekends
and holidays. They populate every tea room terrace
and spend the afternoon  window shopping.
Some will have an exclusive meal in "Oud Sluis".
Sergio Herman's restaurant is in the S. Pellegrino
world's fifty best restaurants list and has an
outstanding reputation.
Doña B. and I nearly always end our stroll in the
"Petrus & Paulus" tea room to feast on waffles.
The place is very popular for some reason. 
Indeed the best Belgian waffles ever can be found
in the Netherlands!
www.sluisonline.nl
www.oudsluis.nl

Bruges, windows

www.brugge.be/internet/en/index.htm

Autumn in Bruges