Journal

Laundry Day - Nieuw Zuid, 5 Sep 2009

2009-09-06T10:07:17Z

Laundry Day was 2009 GREAT. I was, and am still, a bit sceptical about the new location; I much prefer the old location at the other end of the Kaaien. There is also the element of hyperinflation that they need to deal with. At EUR 20 it was twice the price of last year which was twice the price of the year before…and the year before that (if my memory serves me right) was free! Previous washes here.

That, said, the ambiance was great and the weather was about perfect....the last rain fell 6 minutes before it started and the whole afternoon was mostly sunny and even pleasantly warm (certainly not hot)....cooled off in the evening but it was only around 21:30 that I had to put on my fleece jacket! Tiesto was OK...I think I am getting too old for this stuff..and if I understand correctly, he is the reason it was so expensive this year. Still, it was the first year that I have stayed till midnight...and have pictures to prove it.

Next wash, same place 4 Sep 2010. The first cut pictures from 2009 are here.

Antwerp by bike - recommended!

2009-08-15T09:23:54Z

Found this one by accident via Flickr (and then went along to try it out), and it is great way to spend a weekend summer afternoon. Antwerp by Bike is an enthusiastic of city-guides-in-the-making. They are all students who are also studying to be city guides. They are so enthusisatic about our great city that they are offering their weekend afternoons over the summer to introduce you to the place by bike.

Interesting route and explanation stops at 't Steen, Schelde, 't Eilandtje, Park Spoor Noord (my favourite), Rivierenhof, Cogels Osylei, Centraalstation and Conscienceplein...among others!

See the pics from the afternoon here.

Rotterdam, where else?

2009-07-28T19:51:16Z

So last year, with V working in Asia, I got to spend my birthday in Bangkok and we had a fantastic week. This year V is in Sao Paolo, Brazil and I have to say the attractions of going down there to the winter are not so obvious! So, I politely delined the invitation and headed instead for a day out in Rotterdam! A few faves from the day already below.

See the full selection here.

Pillow fight - kussengevecht - at Antwerp Central Station

2009-07-18T12:35:16Z

So - quite a nice greeting in the Central Station this morning. Hot on the heels of the Sound of Music the Central Station is taken over this morning by a big pillow fight. I often find that the best shots at events like this are taken early on before the event really gets going and today was no exception. I think V will be writing about this in her own style shortly, so I'll not say more here.

See and get prints of the pics here.

Midsummer's eve at the Sinksenfoor

2009-06-21T12:15:18Z

What better way to spend midsummer's eve than at the Sinksenfoor? It was just the right temperature and it was not raining for once. Not the best night of the year to get the long-exposure shots that I had taken my tripod for...but I am pleased with the catch and everyone seemed in a good mood with quite a few people asking me to take their picture. Happy to oblige!

Check for more pics here on Flickr

Finally summer for a long weekend!

2009-05-29T20:15:56Z

So, finally we have a bit of nice weather for a long weekend. Really happy to be here in Antwerp on a weekend like this...there is lots going on and great pictures to follow!

This dear girl was very happy to pose for me as were the boyz below...everyone is in a summer mood already! This is down at Park Spoor Noord...a recommended spot for everyone this weekend.

See the evolving set here on Flickr

One photo per day - one week in!

2009-04-25T05:50:57Z

So - already one week into this little project. It was an easy start last weekend, having the camera with me on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday was much more difficult with a busy day and an evening of chaos on the E19...but I have managed to keep posting each day...although I know that I will not always have fresh pictures from the day. Still - this is a valuable exercise in creativity!

See the evolving set here on Flickr

Kaaiwandeling today, Sunday

2009-04-19T19:28:21Z

Today we had nice weather to start and then it got cool and cloudy before turning back to sunny and pleasant again. Of course, during the cool, cloudy bit I had tickets for the the "Kaaiwandeling" in the "Oud Centrum". Since V is in Mexico I had some tickets over but I managed to team up with Gebba1, a fellow Flickrer, to use one of the tickets!

Dodge at the schelde

2009-04-18T17:28:32Z

After a pretty crap start in the morning, the weather improved around lunchtime and I'm glad I went for walk with the camera in the afternoon!

This is already day 2/365 and I got **LOTS** of good pictures this afternoon...will be posting more in due course.

Keep watching for more and see my 365 here.

Breakfast in Zaventem

2009-04-17T16:55:00Z

V is off again to Mexico and Brazil for a bit. I do not get to go this time but we did get to go to the airport together....very early start. She did buy me breakfast in Starbucks....though I think the service and ambiance there leaves plenty to be desired!

Since I now have a new phone (not an iPhone, wish it was) and it has a camera and since I have been inspired by Chase Jarvis, I'm going to see how far I get with daily shots. When I have my real camera, I'll use it and on other days, I'll see what I can do with the Treo/iPod Touch combination. Keep watching for more and see my 365 here.