Once a girl, always a girl......on way to sales?

Mostly ladies on the tram that afternoon..

Wonder whether they were heading downtown for the sales... It is that time of the year.

Unique pieces

It is only the same name that makes me want to show these pictures,  the first one of a second hand clothes store in Brussels, the second of an art gallery in Paris.

Dotspot

Not far from Gallery Botier (previous posting) is Dotspot. It was not until after I got home and looked at the pictures on the computer that I noticed that the atoms of the Atomium were Brussels sprouts.
The Atomium  symbolizes an elementary crystal. It was the main pavilion and icon of the World Fair of Brussels (1958), known as Expo 58. 
http://atomium.be/
http://www.dotspot.be/


Dotspot
rue de la Madeleine 31
Brussels

Bortier Gallery

The Galerie Bortier in the center of Brussels is a covered shopping arcade constructed in 1847 - 1848 by the architect J.P. Cluysenaer. Initially it was part of a larger complex including the Madeleine market,  which today no longer exists. The gallery remains a beautiful example of the simultaneous use of cast iron and glass.  The narrow passageway built on two levels has a mainly Neo-Rennaissance style.  The gallery's entrance is located at Rue de la Madeleine and its facade incorporates part of an old town house, the former Van Gend transport company. 

Today the gallery mostly houses bookshops and art galleries.
From a comment by Frans, a blogger and expert on cameras and photography (http://thecameracollector.skynetblogs.be/), I just learned that this gallery also houses the antiquarian shop of Tristan Schwilden, a renowned Belgian author on XIX Century photography. Schwilden is the co-author of "The First Daguerreian Studios in Brussels," a survey of the development of photography in Brussels, beginning with the opening of the first studios in 1842, and including biographical details of the photographers concerned. 

Judy's blog: Life... Minute by Minute

Judy really surprised me today!

This is Belgium appeared on her blog.

Pretty cool... so, below is a copy/paste piece of Judy's posting.

quote

"Compare Not

Have you ever compared yourself to someone and thought, "man, why can't I do that" or "their life is so perfect."?   I used to.  All the time.   Until I realized that there IS no comparison.    

When I first started blogging I was so intimidated because everyone - and I mean everyone - seemed to have so much more to say, and they all said it so eloquently and it seemed with such ease.  I imagined that everybody else just sat at the keyboard and their fingers just flew, as ideas whirled around in their minds.  Me, on the other hand - I get up every morning, scratch my head, and realize I have nothing to write about.   So, I sometimes say a little prayer that something would come to my mind.   Don't get me wrong . . . my posts are not necessarily answers to my prayers!    But I think I have learned not to compare myself with other bloggers.   We are all so different and I think it shows in our posts.  And that's what makes reading your blogs so much fun for me!  We all have something different to offer, or at least offering the same thing in a different way. 

For instance, if you want to want to travel the world, or at least to NYC or Belgium, check out the beautiful photos in Through My Eyes  and This is Belgium.  These blogs will take you away to another place  (unless, of course, you live in NYC or Belgium).  Or readMark's Work.  He'll take you to another world, too, although you may not understand some of his words!  Which, by the way, is a good way to broaden your vocabulary!    Read what Jewels has to say at Frazzled and Frumpy.  She will crack you up!    We seem to live parallel lives.   So many more . . . just check out my "I Love These" over there on the right . . . and you will find a gold mine of wonderful people who share their lives through their blogs.  No two alike.   Promise. 

And that's the point, I guess.  We are all different.  We all have something to offer.   No comparisons allowed!"

unquote

Trendy hair salon

When I saw this window from the distance I thought I was looking at a computer store or internet café. The second picture takes all doubt away.
Salon de coiffure, Place St-Catherine, Brussels

Resolution one for 2012

I was sorry that I only had my phone with me to capture this colorful group celebrating the beginning of a new year. One man wore the Belgian colors and a representative of Wallonia was dressed as a Walloon rooster.  
Resolution for the new year: never leave home without a camera.