FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

1. The Waterloo city had organized a trip to Antwerp for its seniors. When my friend Christiane and I arrived far too early on the parking, there were two completely boozed men in their 30th who made a lot of noise and poured beer out of  cans over their heads. I thought it's better to wait in the car, as we were alone on the parking and I feared they would come to say "hello". But they decided to bother a truck driver and as he didn't move, they tried to unscrew the petrol tank. I already had my mobile in hand to call the police, when suddenly a police car arrived. The truck driver probably had called them.



First their was one police car, but one of the guys didn't want to get in the car (the other had disappeared) then suddenly 3 other police cars arrived for help ! (now I know were our taxes go, 4 police cars with in total 6 policemen for one drunken guy) It took some time until they managed to get him in the car. One kicked him in the knees and another pulled him by the hairs and then 3 of them pushed him into the car, where the guy rampaged and shouted. Then they drove all away. I wonder if the policemen survived the beer smell !

2. Finally people were arriving and then came the bus and without any further events we drove to Antwerp.

When we arrived we were taken on a visit to two museums.



The "MAS" which was very disappointing because besides photos from WW I and which decorated the walls, I can't remember that I have seen anything else. As we three had all the same impression, we quickly went up 3 elevators to the panorama roof.



There we saw Antwerp from above.



And the "Red Line" Museum, the building from which between 1873 and 1935 the Red Star Line shipping company transported almost three million people from Antwerp to America and Canada. There too we were disappointed, besides a few old suitcases, trunks, and some documents, we saw nothing. We decided not to listen to the explanations given per computer, but instead went outside and had a coffee.

3.



After lunch on a cruise ship (see post below) we walked through Antwerp and ended the day with pouring rain. Our raincoats we had left in the coach of course. Nicole and Christane protected themselves with their purses and the map of Antwerp.

4. In my painting course I didn't paint, I took pictures ! I was asked to compose a poster with the paintings my classmates had done for the 25th anniversary of the retirement home.



I had taken my little travel computer with me and they were all surprised what you can do with photos ! Of course this is only a trial. The screen on my little computer is too small to see properly.

5. Poor Brussels had suffered for two days with the G7 and even more with Obama. Again 3000 policemen watched and snipers were on the roofs when "The Beast" with his enormous escorts went to visit our King and then the next day to the meeting. I think the working population loves Obama, but only on TV.

Our son had asked Mr. G. to come with him and Grandson Toby to Italy for a week. For once he will travel to see his sister meanwhile 82. The whole afternoon he was lost in front of his suitcase and I had to help. People should have watched this "comedia all'italana" ! Now I am exhausted but then I have 10 days to rest ! My DIL and I prefer to stay home she in Amsterdam and I in Waterloo !

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

WEEKLY WINNERS - Antwerp

More participants here at Sarcastic Mom Weekly winners

When I visited Jientje for the first time in Antwerp, she showed me a lot of places, usually not visited by tourists.




The beautiful station










Madonnas everywhere on houses, I have never seen so many Madonnas in a city !











This was a dancing hall and had been transformed now into a shopping center



more about my visit, see post below.

MEETING A BLOGFRIEND FOR THE FIRST TIME

On thursday when I woke up I thought, wow, today is a special day I will finally meet my blogfriend Jientje who lives just around the corner I would say, compared to others who live on the other side of the world. It is only around 60 km (37 miles) to Antwerp where she lives.

I jumped out of my bed and did a few yoga excercises when suddenly my hand touched something fury and soft. Without my glasses I couldn't see what it was, but then I saw it was a big dead mouse ! Outside it was pouring cats and dogs so one cat must have dropped it in my room. The day started well !

I catched my train armed with an ombrella and thought it is such a pity that it rains just today where Jientje wanted to show me a special Antwerp not the one that I knew as a tourist.
The train passed by the North station and I had a nice view on all the prostitutes who were sitting in their red lighted windows, some of them real beautiful girls. It was only short after nine and there were already customers walking in the street.

When I arrived in Antwerp I admired the beautiful old station



and wondered if Jientje would recognize me, from her I had only seen one eye and one photo last week. I took some other pictures and just when I turned around she stand there with a big smile on her face and we greated each other as if we had known each other our whole life !

She took my arm and off we went with our ombrellas in the rain, deploring both that it didn't stop raining. She took me in a beautiful little café where we could sit and chat and know each other a little better in real life. I had experienced and heard that sometimes meetings between bloggers didn't go that well because some people are just very different in real life then in their virtual life. We didn't have this problem at all ! We ordered coffee and chatted and chatted and chatted.





Then I asked the waiter to take a picture of both of us as a proof that we really met ! It's not so good because he took it against the light but still you can see both of us and even people with an ombrella outside.

Finally it was time to show me around a little and it had stopped raining there was even a blue spot in the sky !



and then Jientje showed me beautiful little places and streets in Antwerp



Look at this little old house sitting amongst more modern once. Of course besides our ombrellas we also had our cameras with us. Both of us agreed that we couldn't live without and going out without a camera is just impossible for us.

Then it was already lunch time and Jientje took me to a nice little restaurant where we had a selection of Tapas.





and here she is at work, taking pictures of an old Jukebox ! Useless to say that we didn't run out of subjects to talk about. Time flew by. I thought to take the train around 4 pm but at that time we still were talking and sitting in another Café having another cup of coffee.

Finally at 6 pm I really had to leave and take my train back, and on the way to the station she showed me this beautiful shopping mall which had been a dancing hall before and she told me that her husband used to dance here. The floor was still from origin.



We then arrived at the station, where I had a train immediately and Jientje came with me and put me in the train. We said good bye and it was clear to us that we will see each other again and more often, and next time she will come to Brussels.

It had been a wonderful day despite the bad weather but Jientje was a good weather witch ! Each time we were somewhere inside it rained and when we came out the sun came out too ! I never had to use my ombrella again !

You can read more about our adventure and see other pictures on Jientjes blog here

Tomorrow for Weekly Winners I will show the rest of the photos I have taken in Antwerp.