NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY!

Here is the newest member of the Rotermund household!   Bought it for 400 Euro from an expat from Great Britain.  His kids have moved out of the house and he just didn't use it much.  Really nice guy.  

REVISITING THE ABBEY

When I first posted photographs of the ancient abbey I had visited it with just Brian.  Randy has been wanting to see it for himself so last weekend we had nice weather so we took a drive.  It's actually only about 20 minutes from here.   They must have had a big concert the day before so you'll see in some of the pix the remnants of the stage, concessions, etc.  

I THINK THE MONKS WOULD HAVE LIKED ALL THOSE BEER KEGS!

LOVE THIS SHOT WITH THE JET 

EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

The first to wake up today (as usual).  Thought the mist rising up in the valley looked so peaceful.  This was taken at 7:45.  We are located about 10 degrees north in latitude from Massachusetts so our days really do get quite a bit shorter in winter.  For instance in January the sun rises at approximately 8:45 a.m. and sets around 4:50.  So our winter days will definitely have a different feel to them.  The good news is that we do have milder winters.  So a little darker in the morning vs. shoveling 18" of snow off my car....I'll take the dark mornings!  

A WALK TO LASNE

Bonjour!

Today is Sunday.  In Belgium nearly everything is closed on Sunday.  That doesn't mean things open up after 12:00; that means they are CLOSED the entire day!  Personally, I like it.  It forces you to make Sunday a true day to relax, visit friends and family, sleep late or go to church, hike, bike or just chill in front of the computer.  The only down side to the "closed on Sunday" is that EVERYONE has to get to the grocery stores and other stores on Saturday.  So they can be really crazy on Saturday.  But I think it's a fair price to pay.  

Today we are having someone from Randy's office to the house with his wife and their 5 year old girl.  But earlier I took a walk into Lasne Center to pick up a dessert that I ordered from our local bakery.  I have bought bread here but not a dessert.  I have a feeling I won't be disappointed.  

Here are pictures I captured on my walk on Sunday morning.  

STARTING OUT FOR A WALK INTO TOWN

THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY.  WE SHARE THE DRIVEWAY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, THE VAN DER HEYDENS;  GUY IS IN FINANCE, HIS SON IS GOING FOR HIS MASTERS (NOT SURE IN WHAT) AND HIS DAUGHTER IS DOING A YEAR ABROAD NEAR DELHI, INDIA STUDYING 3D ANIMATION

A VIEW FROM A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THESE SENTIERS (TRAILS) ARE ALL OVER OUR TOWN.  I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A BELGIUM THING OR IF IT'S JUST IN MY AREA.   BUT THEY CUT BETWEEN PROPERTIES ALL OVER TOWN.  THEY ARE ALWAYS NUMBERED, SOMETIMES NAMED AS WELL.  IT FEELS A LITTLE STRANGE AT FIRST WALKING SO CLOSE TO PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT OF FUN DISCOVERING NEW PATHS AND SEEING WHERE THEY COME OUT.  

ONE OF MANY PATHS THROUGHOUT LASNE. 

SHARING THE PATH WITH A BICYCLIST;  THEY HAD A BIKE RACE IN TOWN YESTERDAY AND I GUESS IT HAS INSPIRED MANY BIKERS - I SAW A LOT ON MY WALK TODAY.

SO IN THE STATES THEY SAY "KNEE HIGH BY THE FORTH OF JULY"....WHAT DO THEY SAY IN BELGIUM?..."KNEE HIGH BY BASTILLE DAY"?   JUST DOESN'T WORK AS WELL DOES IT??

LOCAL DRY CLEANER

BUS STOP FOR A LOCAL BUS TO WATERLOO.   ABOUT A 10 MINUTE BUS RIDE AND ABOUT 2.50 EURO;   I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS TAKE THE REGULAR BUSES TO THEIR SCHOOL.  NO YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES HERE!

NOTICE SPEED INDICATOR - IT TELLS YOU "TROP VITE" WHEN YOU DRIVE "TOO FAST" AND  "MERCI" WHEN YOU ARE A GOOD DRIVER WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT.  OF COURSE I ALWAYS SEE THE LATTER!!

ST. GERTRUDES; CATHOLIC CHURCH

OUR LOCAL POST OFFICE;  THE CARRIERS ALSO USE SCOOTERS TO DELIVER THE MAIL

LOOKING NORTH FROM THE CENTER

MY BANK

AN ALLEY THAT TAKES YOU FROM THE BANK TO THE MAIN STREET

LASNE CENTER

THE POLOGIE PATISSIERIE IN LASNE CENTER.  DELICIOUS!!

CANDY AT THE BAKERY

FRUIT TARTS AND PIES IN THE WINDOW

A CAFE IN TOWN.  I HAVE YET TO TRY OUT THE SANDWICHES HERE.  THE STORES ALL CLOSE MID-DAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS.  I THINK ALL THE SHOP OWNERS GO TO THE RESTAURANTS IN TOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

THE RED-BRICK PART OF THE BUILDING IS A PET SHOP.  THEN TO THE LEFT IS A FISH MONGER AND THEN A BUTCHER.  I HAVE BEEN TO THE FISH MONGER - NO ENGLISH SPOKEN THERE BUT IT'S EASY TO GET WHAT YOU NEED.  I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE BUTCHER - HE KEEPS STRANGE HOURS AND I JUST NEVER SEEM TO BE DRIVING BY WHEN HE'S OPEN.

POLITICAL SIGNS - BELGIUM STYLE.   SMALLER SIGNS ARE ALSO ON PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.

CENTER OF TOWN

SO WE LIVE IN THE "OHAIN" SECTION OF THE TOWN OF LASNE BUT WE ARE LOCATED TOWARD THE RIGHT - CLOSER TO "RIXENHART".

I GUESS THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR LEFTOVER BREAD!

THIS IS A REALLY UGLY UNFINISHED HOUSE THAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE BACK OF OUR PROPERTY.   WONDER WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE OWNERS.

PATH TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

BACK TO OUR STREET