Year: 2020
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Seeing out 2020 in Belgium
❤🇧🇪 It may not be an Iguaçu, a Victoria or a Murchison, but the Belgian waterfall is alive and well. And, in a country with virtually no elevation difference, the very existence of waterfalls is something to be taken note of. To be sure, these are not for those who measure waterfalls by cubic metres…
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The polarized views on the Belgian Coast
My first meeting with the Belgian coast was the Zwin. Many years ago, I was bicycling from the Netherlands, and after a long succession of dikes, polders and sea-walls, the broad tidal marsh of the Zwin announced that I had, at last, entered Belgium. Save grumblings about its unfortunate proximity to Knokke; I have not…
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Feudal in the 21st Century
The ‘castle’ is a prominent feature of the Belgian countryside, albeit perhaps more appropriately described as cultural rather than natural. It is a sad thing about democracies that their buildings do so little to lift the human spirit. Intuitive beauty, the sort of beauty that doesn’t need to be explained to be recognised, is more…
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The bluebells of the Halle Forest
In a week of celebrating Belgian nature, it would border on criminal neglect to omit the Belgian forests. I like forests as much as the next person. Notwithstanding, I suffer from an abiding inability to distinguish one forest from another. The ‘real’ Belgian forest lover, on the other hand, suffers no such weakness of the…
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The High Fens of East Belgium
Today, I am directing my attention to the High Fens, in what is, without doubt, one of Belgium’s most beautiful parts: German-speaking Ostbelgien. None of its names, neither in German (Hohes Venn), French (Hautes Fagnes), Dutch (Hoge Venen) or English (High Fens) conjure up images of anything recognizable. The first part—’tall’ or ‘high’—seemed promising enough.…
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Nature near home: Parc Woluwe
🎅 Today, on Christmas Day, I would like to write the praises of my daily retreat in Brussels: Woluwe Park. Growing up in Norway, Christmas Day was usually wildly anti-climactic. We opened presents on Christmas Eve, and by the 25th, the euphoria of the previous night’s bonanza had died. Only the lingering self-righteous disappointment over…
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The ‘mountains’ of Belgium
I have claimed in the past that Belgium doesn’t have any mountains. That is true, objectively speaking, but not necessarily if you ask a Belgian. French-speaking Belgians indiscriminately include ‘mont’ as either prefix or suffix to the name of places that decidedly are flat. The Flemish are equally liberal in their use of ‘daal’ and…
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The meandering Semois River
😀 I owe some appreciation for the country that has been good enough to have me as their guest for the past few years: Belgium. Until this year, Belgium had been more of a ‘base camp’ than a place where I spent my free time. This year changed that. Suddenly unable to travel ‘outside’, it…
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Rain coming in at Bluff Beach
I am one of those people who may be found in the shade of at the back of the beach, complaining to everyone willing to listen about everything that others generally like about beaches. I burn at the slightest hint of sunlight; the accursed sun lotion gets in my eyes and stings like original sin;…
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Near playa Mimitimbi, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Continuing a wee bit further along the rough but barely cyclable track from Bluff Beach we chanced upon this spot where a lonely palm tree begged to be photographed.
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