On the Way

We found this carved from a tree in the middle of the forest during our cycling trek home.

















We contemplated the ideas together in the middle of the forest. By this time we were getting wet and heading home quickly.......... BUT still time to contemplate.

Homeward Bound.

Evan cycling through the forest on our way home. Before the rain hit. This was just after we crossed the main highway (E40) on our way to Vaalbeek, one of the prettiest towns we have seen, even saw a lovely house as we were cycling up a hill out of the town.

Later we rode through Zoet Water which is a recreational area and on to St Joris-Weert. After this coming our of Sint Agatha-Rode was sore bum hill.

The Sauna

As we were cycling around the lake of the Abdij we saw this intreging sign for a public sauna. We could not however get no matter how hard one of us tried.

Leuven University City

We rode past The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven which was founded in 1425. The most beautiful old building, very highly decorated and gardens to die for. The clock in the centre is working and chimes very beautifully.




Oh look a cyclist has stopped to smell the roses.

The Next Day in Leuven

The next day after a beautiful breakfast at the B&B we set out to explore Leuven. This is a city of students, there are at

least 18 areas for the university. Many are colleges, living establishments, and other learning buildings. The area we came into Leuven was called Campus Arenberg. This is where world famous nanotechnology is being designed.
The old Burgundian university town of Leuven is not far from Brussels and the national airport. Few towns in Flanders appeal tot he imagination than this have for students, where history, culture, architecture, gastronomy and modern science are intermingled to form a compelling cocktail. From its gastronomic tours de force to the dazzling Gothic Town Hall, from a delicious Leuven Pint(home of Stella Artois darling) and the student atmosphere of the Old Market Square to the demure magnificence of Sint-Pieterskerk, Leuven has it all-and more. (Good prose eh!! Straight from the brochure.)

We found Jemima Puddleduck by the lake by the Abdij van Park on our first forey out on the Wednesday morning.

Leuven and Cycling go together!!!!

On Tuesday 23rd August we left Huldenburg at 10.30am on our trusty bikes and rode the bike ways to Leuven. The way was not long but after a few hills, much crop land and pedalling through the forest we came upon the outskirts of Leuven.

The next thing was to find our B&B. We wandered through the town, past many parts of the university and followed our map of the cycle tracks and finally we were looking out over a lake to the Abdij van Park(Park Abbey, photoe on the right). No this was not our B&B but I had seen this on the google map and it was close by. After orientating myself we cycled part way around the lake and up a walkway and found ourselves on the street the B&B was on. It was called 'Park B&B', easy to remember. It was very modern and cosy. We moved ourselves into the "Blue Room' and had a bit of a rest.

We went exploring into the city and found a nice little pub called Reuben Taverna on the corner of the Grote Markt where we had a feed and a beer or two.

Two tired little persons went early to bed after a strenuous day.

Trying to relax!!!

Here Sally is trying to relax and read a book. Frodo( with the pointy ears) and Forrest are trying to stop her and are demanding attention. They are Sue and Mike's Yorkies. Real guard dogs. sitting t the window watching what is going on around their house.

Mum's Ramblings From Rome to Huldenberg

Hi Guys

We are now in Belgium at a little country town called Huldenberg staying with our daughter and son-in-law Sue and Mick. I have found a doctor who will give me another term off, just kidding!!!!! It is really easy to get a certificate for this here. We are sitting in the sun today and having a few wines. It is really odd seeing all the corn ripe and wheat ready for reaping when it's already been done back home a few months ago.

We took a picture of Clifford and Delores with and in the wheat. Its a long way from Greystone to Huldenburg, particularly the way we did it. Mum via Sky City and the International Reading Congress in Auckland and me (the Sadie) following in the CRV and landing at Little Russia after having caught up with Sammo. One of the most beautiful drives across the Desert Road I have ever had. No snow on the road but right down covering all the mountains. A very nostalgic trip for Sadie who climbed all of them (Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu) many times, summer and winter back in the early 1960's. 4 days in Little Russia with Ian and Olga who had much to do to get ready for the trip.

Then it was off for an early morning departure from Auckland to Seoul - a 12 hour flight. A night over in the Seoul Hyatt courtesy of Korean Air and then off to Rome a 9 1/2 hour flight.

Fantastic views of China around Beijing and then coming in over south - western Russia, Austria and Slovenia. Rome was hot and the apartment was small but very comfortable.

Up three flights of stairs (no lift) with some heavy bags. We found a friendly restaurant (outside it was cooler) and started to put mind and body together again.

Sue and Michael's in Huldenberg

The Greystoners, Clifford and Delores parked themselves right at home in Huldenberg together with TinTin and kept an eye on the two yorkie boy doglets but far enough away not to be savaged. A flexible plastic pig that squawked when savaged was their favourite. So much so that it had to be put away - they got so savage with it. So they spent their time digging for moles or dancing around a hedgehog. They may be samll but they are hunting dogs.

How about a wooden elephant or two? There is a truly magnificent Africa Museum in Tevuren, only 12 kms downhill from Mike and Sue's. Uphill home of course! This museum is very big and world class. It deals with Belgian influence in the Belgian Congo leading up to independenace and takes a factual, honest look at Belgium's involvement. Some of the taxidermy needs to be seen to be believed - especially for one slightly aged Kiwi person.

This shot above shows the said person trying to communicate with one of the wooden elephants. You can take him (the Kiwi person) any where once! "He's bound to go a long way!"

This one was reday to move when he was overcome by lethargy. The workmanship is superb.

Sammo found two baby ones who were very friendly - or so she said. Note: We had just dried out from a warm but very wet summer shower - only 300m from the museum, but did we get wet. very warm though and when we finally got back to Huldenberg we were bone dry.

These lads and ladesses are working art in the middle of a roundabout in Tevuren.

On the tram ride into Brussels from tevuren there are many homes for all the ambassadors. Since Brussels is the capital of Europe there are many outward signs of the workings of this capital city.

More later on Brussels and the historic buldings. It is beautifully kept city and so much history. It also has some quirky sides (to Kiwis anyway) an example of which is Mannekin Piss. This is a small statue close to the centre of Brussels of a boy having a piss. It is world famous and a major tourist spot. There are many little statue copies for sale and one sort is in the form a beer bottle opener on the head and a corkscreww in place of the penis. Many European countries have a significantly more tolerant and open attitudes towards what is frowned upon by some other well known countries. One can piss againt a church close by in an open air pissoir (if needed) keeping one back to the pedestrian way with minimal cover.

This is one of the restaurants right alondside the Mannekin Piss where one can enjoy beers and food and aperitifs. All very relaxed and civilised.

And here we have Mannekin Piss with the Greystoners in attendance.

One of the building frontages, '1698' it was built.

Another of the brave lads atop a building celebrating and keeping an eye out for potential enemies.

The intrepid Sammo (the hunter and gatherer and navigateuse extraordinaire) posing by a post suppporting flowers in the main square of Brussels.

And last but not least on this day of riding to Tevuren then tram to Brussels and return the same way, the two yorkie boys were lying in wait for us in a space only just cleared by the inimical Jean-Marc of chainsaw fame. Frodo is on the left and his cuzzybro Forrest on the right. They keep an eye out for 'anything that moves or is thinking of moving!'

Switzerland to Huldenberg in Belgium

Switzerland - Lausanne

Wow what a train ride from Firenze to Lausanne in Switzerland. The views along the way of the lakes, the mountains and the homes all nestled into their environments were simply spectacular. Coupled with this some 2 hours was spent in the restaurant car consuming and imbibing AND looking at the views! Well we got to Lausanne just on 11pm and the next step was to find the hotel, allegedly some 300m from the station. In fact it was but which way to go. Evan's french was as good as a helpful gentlemans english so we ended up going the right way and were safely ensconsed in the Hotel du Boulevard by midnight having dragged our belongings through the streets.

Very comfortable, very small and very efficient. All the communications were by intercom. Apart from a bloke who unblogged a sink the next day we didn't see anyone for the two nights. Even the billing and payment was arranged by phone with an office sonewhere near the hotel.

Well the next day the feets were limbered up and shod and ready to go. As one can see from the following photos.

Classy feet what? and classy photography, what, what, what!

Sammo's feet in Lausanne. At one stage both feet were: "Lost in Lausanne." Only to be found again tramping, tramping down from the Cathedral to the rail station. It's just that things looked different from the other direction.

Climbing the hill from the station up through an olde and fascinating lot of shops.

The Heidi shop got particular investigation from Sammo looking, looking to see what bargains awaited her eager, eagle eyes.

And here she is again, that teacher extraodinaire, posing alongside a stainless steel 'work of art.'

What classy old buildings, this one in the centre of Lausanne with gilded clock which actually works and tells the time - not like public clocks in some countries that we know.

This 'walkway' is inside an 'Eastern' shop and gives an excellent idea of what could be done with suitably treated macrocarpa slices back home in Greystone. The floor itself is a 'work of art' complementing the first class displays inside some 80 sq m.

Evan with friend who spoke perfect Kiwi! She understood every colloquial phrase but in true eastern fashion remained insrutably, insructable (spelling dear spelling!). Inscrutably inscrutable, I think my dear!!

Spotted this sign and thought of our Carlos - so another photograph and straight to the 'pool room' with this one. Famous in Lausanne Carlos!



Some of the skyline of Lausanne from up on one of the higher points of the city. In many ways it looks like Wellington with a lake instead of a harbour and is slightly bigger and older - perhaps more than slightly!!



Can't resist a good flower photo! A great little florist shop right alongside the shop where Sammo bought a bargain shirt for the Evan traveller. Skin tight to show of the Abs and the muscular torso.



And of course what about the Martins - even in Lausanne there be a Street Rueing along!

The Lausanne Cathedral is a magnificant building inside and out! Here is a picture with Sammo climbing up the last rise towards it.

Sammo looking over the lower skyline of Lausanne from the cathedral level with the Swiss flag fluttering in the background.

Beautiful sculptural work alongside the main entrance suitably enhanced by one of the Kiwi travellers. The inside was very informative and historic sculptures abound and of course very serene with the outside world literally a 'world away.'

Here she is again hotel bound with shopping bag in hand right outside a very tempting shop. But she walked right past! What?



Who said hospitality is dead? Sammo was famished, very dry and on enquiring in a cafe with no other clients was provided a glass of water. It only cost 3.50 Swiss Francs!



How about this for a feast, a veritable repast. Back at the hotel, once Sammo the 'hunter and gatherer' 1st classe had foraged we had such a feed - all ready for the morning's amble to the train station for the trip to Zurich and points further away like Brussels.

Here she is, the traveller from Greytown, at Zurich station waiting for the train to speed us toward Vennik Ville.

12.26 was the ETD - only one minute late taking off. Lausanne was an enjoyable break in our journey from Firenze to Brussels.