FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

1. Often my weeks are very boring, which hasn't been the case at all this week ! 



My friend Claudie came over from the South of France to spent a few days with me.

When I had picked her up at the station we had a Pizza at home and a lot to chat ! The next day, we visited three castles ! It was possible, because the first one was closed for renovation, the second one we only saw from outside



and finally the third one was closed on Mondays ! You can see all the castles and pictures in the post below.

2.



The exposition itself was quiet disappointing and the entrance fee very expensive for what we saw from
Kandinsky's paintings. But the inside of the Royal Art museum is very beautiful.

3.



After the exposition and the visit of the museum, we needed a rest and had a drink inside a part of the Royal Palace in a café with a little garden. It's beautiful to sit there with parts of the palace around and we almost felt like two princesses !

4.


Before we went went to my friend Nicole's birthday party in the afternoon, we had lunch (again) in the little Greek restaurant. This time it was so warm, that we could sit outside !



The party was great ! we had Champagne and little snacks and then the birthday cake with coffee. Ilona was there too sitting besides Claudie in the middle. The weather was wonderful and we could sit on Nicole's terrace. Even Mr. G. made an effort and joined in meeting with an old friend and colleague who was also there with his wife (the one who serves the dogs !) We really had a great time together !

5. My oldest friend, I know her since 1951 (!) wanted to come from Germany just after Claudie left to arrange for her 70th birthday celebration in Brussels. Hotel, restaurant etc. Fortunately for me they called me that they couldn't come ! So I had a relaxing day and only mowed the lawn (Oscar the Robot did) while I was watching TV !

A CHARMING VISIT

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 !