Dimitri in Canada

My good friend Dimitri proudly wearing the flag on his trip through Canada. 

Jan Decleir

Jan Decleir has such a 'présence' that I would spot him a mile away.. and that is what happened today while I was walking in Antwerp, obviously for this occasion on the wrong side of the road. 
Jan Decleir is one of today's greatest, if not the greatest,  Belgian actors. It is impossible to do him justice in a few sentences. I for instance vividly remember his absolutely brilliant lead role in  the movie Daens. Read Decleirs biography here:
http://toneelhuis.be/backend/en/artist/jan-decleir?interface_language=fr

" He starred in Academy Award winning movies as Karakter and Antonia and the Oscar-nominated social drama Daens. 

In 2003 he had the starring role in the critically acclaimed thriller The Memory of a Killer (The Alzheimer Case) of which the leading American critic Roger Ebert wrote in his review: "Jan Decleir never goes for the easy effect, never pushes too hard, is a rock-solid occupant of his character. Everything he has to say is embodied, not expressed. Talks are under way for a Hollywood remake, but this performance will not be easily equaled. Gene Hackman, maybe. Morgan Freeman. Robert Mitchum, if he were alive. Decleir is the real thing."

For his role in The Barons, he received the Magritte Award for Best Supporting Actor".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Decleir

http://www.cafematicantwerpen.be

Summer! Finally!

Happy first day of school! 
I knew it, I knew it, here come the sun ......summer has 21 more days to it. Enjoy!

Fun (at the market) or not?

Sunday markets are thriving. However, some shoppers do not seem to practice what they preach, which is understandable given the length of the lines. In your opinion, which one seems to be having more fun? 

Belgian beer talk

with chocolate in the background... what could be more appropriate to illustrate the Belgian way of life?

Rain, no matter where you are headed

Does one ever get used to rain? Continuous rainfall the last few weeks has left me craving for sun. It looks today as if there is hope at the horizon. 
Since I took up photography, I am less annoyed with the long red lights in Brussels and enjoy the opportunity to get my camera phone out, even when the results are blurry rainshots.

Marie-Antoinette in Westerlo

de Merode castle in Westerlo, located in the province of Antwerp, formed the magical decor for the historical musical "Marie-Antoinette,"  wife of Louis XVI. The costumes, the 3D projection, the cast, the stage set on the water.. glorious and spectacular. 
Graham decided to give a private, spontaneous - not part of the play- performance during intermission (last picture).
http://www.flanderstoday.eu/innovation/westerlo-castle-and-3d-tech-star-musical