18 Apr 2013

A CHARMING VISIT

Jenny Matlock
more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday


The dictionary explains that a visit is to go to and stay with (a person or family) or at (a place) for a short time for reasons of sociability, politeness, business, curiosity, or to stay with as a guest.


In my case the reason was just a visit of a good friend. I have met Claudie living in the South of France at the Côte d'Azur, through blogging in 2006. She came for the third time to the North, fortunately not into a too cold weather to  change a bit her daily routine, what I do too when I visit her.

Having such a nice visit are also holidays for me !



We started having a Doner in a little Greek restaurant in Waterloo, which was very good as you can see !

After a nice coffee with my friend Ilona, we started to visit the three castles not far from Ilona's home.



First we went to the Castle of Beersel an old medieval castle dated from 1300. Unfortunately we couldn't go inside because it was just being renovated.



A little farer was the castle "The Gravenhof" now a restaurant. We had a quick look inside and Claudie took some pictures. It's a very beautiful place and often used for wedding receptions.



The weather cleared up, sunshine came out and we could visit the the castle of Gaasbeek dating from 1240. Some historical explanations were written on this mirror horse and we had quiet some fun with taking pictures !



It is a very impressive building and has a huge beautiful park.



Here too we didn't have a chance to visit the castle from inside because it was Monday and closed !



After a long walk through the park, a little tired we had a drink in the restaurant just opposite the castle. It's wonderful sitting outside, there is a little zoo and Claudie petted the donkey which immediately arrived to say hello (probably expecting some food !)

The next day we visited my favorite shop, the Indian one where you just feel to be in an Indian home.



Claudie was delighted to see all these beautiful things and the ladies (all volunteers) offered her an Indian tea which she loved ! All things you buy here is for street children in India and for a village.

In the afternoon, we went to Brussels to see the exposition of the painterKandinsky.



We were quiet disappointed because there were lots of other Russian painters too and we had expected only to see Kandinsky's paintings. We felt a little cheated. After the exposition we had a drink inside a part of the royal Palace with a nice beautiful little square where we could sit and had a very much needed drink !

Quiet tired of all these visits we returned home !

Visits from friends are wonderful !

17 comments:

  1. Three castles in one day! how lucky you are. What a great time you are having with Claudie and IIona, and such wonderful food.

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  2. What a grand time you had. But I feel a bit tired after reading about your adventures.

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  3. That's what I like about blogging:meeting other bloggers!
    You certainly had a very great time! The castle is very impressive and looks like a castle from a fairy tale.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Wil, ABCW Team.

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  4. Your friend is adorable! Glad that you enjoy this wonderful day together, even if it was cold but nothing compares to a day with friends! :)
    These pictures are great and you both looks charming!I also love that picture reflections of you!
    hugs
    Léia

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  5. It must be lovely to have a good friend to do such things with.

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  6. It looks like the two of you had great time just being together.

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  7. It's amazing what a lift a visit from a good friend can be!

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  8. pierre loves the two pictures with reflexion. The one in the cstle park with the horse and the woman and the one in the indian shop with you reflexion at the top of the godness in the little glass!!!!! Thank you very much, Ingrid, for those marvelous days by you! Now I am in form and very happy!!!!

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  9. What a lovely visit! and what fun things you did and places you explored!
    I first liked Kandinsky in college. It would be great to see an exposition.
    Indian tea is so yummy!

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  10. Your friend is lucky to have such a good guide -- but as you say, hosting her and showing her around makes it a vacation for you as well! Great. I enjoyed seeing the castles -- so many of them, wow!

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  11. what fun to go and visit castles! That mirror horse is so unusual - I've never seen anything like that out in the open. And the donkey is so cute! Hope you had fun. {:-Deb

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  12. Oh what a fun day trip! I would love to visit a castle and you were able to share three in one day! Amazing photos! A lovely day with a wonderful friend! You can't get much better than that! Have a great weekend!

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  13. a day filled with castles, a little Kandinsky and a good friend is wonderful.

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  14. You two are lovely and looks like having so much fun! Love the photos, too.

    Have a lovely weekend.
    Scudds

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  15. Can't decide which I like more -- the sweet story of friendship or the charming photos of interesting places.

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  16. This was a very nice visit, indeed. Thanks for sharing it!

    =)

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  17. I love the Vivid images shared here for the letter V...

    A Visit from a good friend is something I Value a lot...

    Very good post!

    A+

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