The "Mercator"

One of Ostend's famous landmarks is the barkentine "Mercator", a former training ship of the Belgian merchant fleet.

It was designed by the Belgian antartic explorer Adrien de Gerlache and named after the famous Flemish cartographer Gheeraert Mercator, and built in Scotland in 1932.

The ship served as a schoolship until 1960 and is since 1961 a museum.

Apart from being a training ship it was also used for scientific expeditions, and it's most famous trip was in 1936, to Molokai, to bring back home the earthly remains of father Damian.

Nowadays it proudly dominates the marina of Ostend and is certainly worth a visit.

The Mercator website

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!