Is this December?

We started today the first of our Christmas shopping expeditions. Amazingly enough it was so sunny and warm that we got the summer snapshot feeling. Doña B was glad she could leave winter dresses home.

 

autumn!!!

The countryside around the castle of Wynendaele is very popular with cyclists and strollers. The landscape may not be very impressive, nor are the farms old and medieval, but the cornfields and  meadows on the hillslopes, the copses here and there, and the ancient avenues bordered with knotted willow and linden trees are a real pleasure for the eyes. Before entering the silence of the Wynendaele forest I saw a farmer and his wife harvesting cauliflower. What can be a better treat after an autumn walk then a good cup of cauliflower soup!

The Old Cemetery

I always thought Torhout was a rather dull place. Being nearly completely destroyed during WWI only a few remainders of old "Thourhout" are left.

Beside a beautiful 17th century hospital there is that awesome old cemetery.

Bicycle Baby

Yesterday we went to Bruges to do some serious window shopping. As Saterday is market day in Bruges there was a nice opportunity to take some colorful pictures. This mama and her daughter made a great photo!

Manneken Pis!

A happy tourist in Brussels!

   

The Belgian Coast

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Have a seat...

Old children chairs for sale at an antiques shop. Marolles, Brussels.

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Escaping in Brussels

Morning paper and morning cigarette, this man's way to escape

stressing city life for a moment!

 


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Ballooning Brussels

The Marollen (Marolles) is an old neighbourhood in Brussels, just nearby the palace of Justice. Known for its lovely antiques shops and cosy pubs, it's also a vivid place where young people can make a lot of fun. Walking a balloon or a giant is a good start to get in the mood.

The Marollen/Marolles

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Brussels, with a water tap or two....

Brussels must have been a small place in early medieval times, as its name is derived from "Broekzele", which means something like "Farm -in- the- Moors". Doña B. and I love to visit Brussels during a summer weekend. Apart from the touristic Grand Place and its surroundings, the town is empty, because most of the Brusselians spend their weekend at the coast. The perfect moment to explore this very interesting city.
One of loveliest places is the Leopold park, just behind the European Parliament Mall. We crossed it on our way to find some decent breakfast, and when passing the Mall itself we noticed a water tap on a very prominent place at the entrance of the building.

European Parliament with a tap

Before going back home, we decided to see Manneken Pis -for some reason we always pay him a visit before leaving Brussels- , mostly because watching the crowd of tourist around him is great fun. The "Manneken" himself is nada.
As he was disguised as a kind of fantasy warrior, complete with mask and all, and only his most famous anatomical part visible to the public, we saw a bunch of very disappointed Russian ladies and one Spanish tourist who got acquainted with a better version of the little fellow.
I couldn't help noticing Manneken Pis and the European Parliament do have something in common. They are both the proud owners of a decent water tap!

Happy Spanish tourist

Disappointed Russians

Naturaleza muerta galega.

There are many magnificent old buildings in Galicia, and I'm always happy when I see highly skilled anicetos restoring and renovating those jewels of the past. Even in times of crisis there seems to be money to preserve Spain's architectural heritage.

However, many houses and monuments are still waiting to find back their former splendor. We can only hope that they will not be replaced by characterless concrete.

anicetos: The anicetos of Galicia