Belgium's hot summer

A good friend complained to me yesterday. She expressed her disapproval: “Why are you not posting anymore? Why do I still see that little man?” She was referring to my last entry posted on the occasion of the soccer World Cup? We were enjoying a girls’ luncheon and soon enough another one joined the complaint: “I used to like your photo's. They were cool.” She lives abroad, and I assume that this little touch of whatever Belgium does something for her in one way or other.  A third one suggested that I look at the blog as if it offers an exposition opportunity.

My answer: what's the point?  I do not have that much ‘free’ time on my hands, I do not take pictures like I used to anymore, I never carry my heavy camera around these days. My photographic activity is limited to point and shoot, mostly using my telephone (while driving .. shhh .. I mean, while parked at the red light  or stuck in traffic jams, there are many of those in Brussels). 

Ok, so here we go again ....Here's to Chris, Vera, Myriam! 
I hope the visitors of this blog can live with telephone quality pictures. 

Better still,  send me your photo's or messages or whatever you have that connects you to Belgium, and I will gladly lend this forum to you.

Above, what a summer we had or are having! I am thoroughly enjoying and hope you are too! 

Pensions and traffic

I should have known better than to venture to the center of Brussels but I honestly thought that I would stay ahead of the protesters...unfortunately I misjudged, only by a few minutes, but still.
Regardless of what their claims are and whether they are justified or not.....I was stuck for what seemed forever and  have to admit I felt no sympathy, none whatsoever.

A pleasure?

Only a few days left to see "What did Brussels look like 50 years ago? .... Since 1977 this Brussels publishing house 'Plaizier'  has built up an image library including vintage postcards, prints, calendars and books. Architectural gems and urban transformations are all portrayed, together with items that illustrate the resolute path pursued by the publishing couple Wijnand and Mieke Plaizier. Their love for the Belgian capital is evident from every image".  
Baudelaire, on the other hand,  unequivocally voiced his thoughts about Belgium in a rather unflattering way. More on the Baudelaire exhibition in my next post.
http://www.bozar.be/en/activities/124394-brussels-is-a-plaizier

Europe by night

European Union headquarters
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat Brussels with the 

South station Brussels

How I wish I'd had my camera with me because these two looked so precious and photogenic. 

Gorgeous Brussels houses, they are everywhere

Very frequently, I (have to) stop the car, get my telephone, take a quick shot and think "wow".  Guillaume Macau street near the Ixelles/Elsene ponds. 

More about these jewels: http://www.irismonument.be/fr.Ixelles.Avenue_Guillaume_Macau.4.html

Denis Meyers at the old Solvay building in Brussels

photos by J Spinks

"Denis Meyers takes over the former home of the Solvay company in Brussels by transforming the abandoned complex through painted words, thoughts and memories. Remember Souvenir transcribes Meyers’ work over the years to the empty walls and windows, creating an intimate look into the life of the artist. It is a true testament to Belgium’s ever-growing presence on the street art scene."  theculturetrip.com 

📍Rue du Prince Albert, 44 1050 Ixelles, Belgium

Stepping forward

 Tonight  I was listening to the radio news on the Greek crisis as I drove into Brussels through rue de la Loi/Wetstraat with on the left, the new buildings of the European institutions and Hanneke Beaumont's 'Stepping Forward'.

From Porto to Brussels' Kaaitheater

Talking about Belgium to people abroad and in particular to these ladies in Porto last weekend,  I am often pleasantly surprised because so many rave about Brussels' cultural scene. 

The Kaaitheater for instance, built around 1930 in a style somewhere between art Deco and Modernism, located near Sainctelette,  presents theatre, dance, performance art and concerts

http://www.kaaitheater.be/en/p252/buildings

Unusual or not?

And yes, we are still being treated well, weather-wise  ... people are taking advantage and enjoying the outdoors to the fullest, even in the city.

Sunday morning in Brussels, random shots

This Sunday morning I left the house without my camera because I had to drive downtown to run a quick errand. The weather, quietness and the skies were so attractive that I could not help but use my phone camera: not every day does one see Magrittesque clouds right over the Magritte museum or hear Hare Krishnas  singing right in front of the Monnaie Opera house.

Driving out of the capital

Remember the ride into the capital on that glorious warm and sunny Friday afternoon a few weeks ago?  
Today, I am leaving Brussels on the opposite site, via the European institutions' quarters, seemingly a perpetual construction site.
The footbridge in the second picture connects a building of the Commission with other European buildings,  the statues on both sites are by Jean-Paul Laenen and known as  the "Thread of Ariadne”.
The Cinquentenaire with the arches was commissioned under the governement of Leopold II to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Belgium's independence.
It is  Montgomery himself who is watching over the square with his name while turning his back to drivers as they plunge into the tunnel direction Tervuren.

Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels

This beautiful Art Nouveau building, formerly home to "Old England" shops,  now houses the Musical Instruments Museum. If you have the patience to wait for the elevator or the courage to walk the steps,  you will eventually make it to the 10th floor where a delicious Sunday brunch is served. The buffet is wonderful indeed but the view is spectacular.
Tip: go early! 

Tram museum

To illustrate the previous posting, an example of bilingualism in the streets of Brussels. These trams are for rent: special trips through the city can be arranged for a party, a wedding, a business event... in one, two or several languages. 

http://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museum/78-brussels-tram-museum

In the park, a month and a half later

 
Not every year on November 14  in Brussels do people enjoy sunshine, biking and ice cream in the Bois de la Cambre.  The couple from October 1, who received so many inspirational comments from all of you, was there again... another bench,  same clothes, sunglasses instead of an umbrella.

Guest post by Michelle Damiani - Three days Brussels

                             Pictures: copyright Michelle P Damiani
My guest blogger today is Michelle Pina Damiani.  I am not only happy to have discovered her blog but also, or even more so to have received her permission to share this absolutely fabulous article about Brussels with you! 
It starts like this: "Three days in Brussels is simply not enough. I feel like we barely scratched the surface. We saw enough to enamor, enchant, and enliven, but it was a wrench to leave. The food, the architecture, the pace of the city…we loved it all"    
and it ends like this: "And we haven’t lost sight of wanting to go back. We planned this trip with the intention that for each person’s birthday we’d  take a trip designed for them. Now we’re thinking that for each person’s birthday we’ll go to Brussels".
I know you want to read everything in between: http://www.ilbelcentro.com/2012/10/08/three-days-in-brussels/

Michelle is a freelance writer and food lover currently living in Spello, Italy for a year. A practicing clinical psychologist based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Damiani's short fiction recently was awarded first place by author John Grisham. 

She has been blogging daily since she arrived in Italy on July 27 about her experiences there with her family of five. The blog will be a chronicle to treasure of the special year in the life of her family. 

Michelle lived in Belgium when she was small and visited again for a couple of reasons, see more here:

http://www.ilbelcentro.com/2012/09/16/birthday-abroad/

Simply Brussels

Nothing special today... just Brussels on a dreary Saturday afternoon. For those of you who know the city a bit and have exceptionally good eyes, the last photo has the Atomium in it, right in the middle. For those of you who do not know what the Atomium is, it is the Belgian equivalent of the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty  -;) http://atomium.be/#/History.aspx "The Atomium was the main pavilion and icon of the World Fair of Brussels (1958), commonly called Expo 58. It symbolised the democratic will to maintain peace among all the nations, faith in progress, both technical and scientific and, finally, an optimistic vision of the future of a modern, new, super-technological world for a better life for mankind".