Huy, a town in the Walloon Region, Belgium

 I love these small towns on the banks of the River La Meuse, in the French-speaking region of Belgium (Wallonia).

This end of April was a bit cloudy. But the town of Huy has plenty of small and unique shops which are a delight for window-shopping, and to buy local high-quality produce, including handicrafts you can only find in these less urban areas. To have a beer brewed in the region in the main square is a delight as well.

The visit to the town cathedral is a must. It has huge and beautiful stained glass windows.

We had lunch at La Tartine au Beurre. TripAdvisor has a good number of positive comments about this restaurant. But we were not impressed. The house lady was not a model of smiling. Just functional. The steak was big but overcooked, and the fish plate had nothing special to write home about. The 3-course menu comes at Euro 27,00 plus a bottle of Syrah wine at € 28,00 (recommended). The positives are the proximity to the Cathedral, the quietness of the dining-room and the easy parking.

 

New geese in Josaphat Park

This couple of Canadian geese live in the Josaphat Park in Schaerbeek, a Brussels commune. There are only three couples of this same breed in the park.

Today, I met their eight new chicks. They were just out. They are the first of all chicks this year in the park. My picture captures their first steps.

And I was so happy to see that the parents managed well. It is not easy to have so many chicks in a park where the foxes roam during the night and the dogs run during the day. I can only hope they will be able to survive all the challenges they face in a park like Josaphat, where the laws of nature rule.

Central Portugal

Portugal has become a major tourist destination. In the central region of the country, not far from the well-known university city of Coimbra, the visitor has a beautiful choice, right in the middle of the mountains. There 27 villages out there, known as "Aldeias do Xisto" (The Schist Villages) where most of the houses are made of schist rocks. These rocks are formed by large crystals that reflect the sunlight making them varied and shiny.

May is a good time to visit the region, as there is plenty of day light and the wild flowers are in full bloom. But if one wants to combine nature and local people, it is better to tour the region in July or August. That's the time for local celebrations and village fairs. Moreover, it is much easier then to find a good choice of eating places.

I took some pictures that I share here with all of you.

Josaphat Park in Brussels

I just have to walk one hundred meters from my Brussels house and I am in Parc Josaphat.

The park's size is equivalent to twenty football fields plus three large ponds. It has a good team of gardeners and keepers, it is a pleasant and safe place for a walk or a family outing. Children love its playground. The park has attracted a lot of younger families to this district of town. That has had a positive impact on the housing market and the purchasing power around the area.

My daily routine, when I am in Brussels, is to walk for about 70 minutes in the park. And after so many walks, I know all those who walk the same schedule I do, including a small number of very nice  retired manual workers that came to Belgium from Morocco some fifty years ago. They love to spend their mornings wandering the pathways. Actually, the park is a melting pot of languages and ethnicity.

The following pictures were taken today, Two of them show the kind of activities the communal authorities organise in the park to keep the children busy and their younger parents happy.

Le Public and its great plays

For those who love theatrical performances, "Théâtre Le Public" is a must in Brussels.

Located in an older section of town, right in the middle of a poor immigrants' area, Le Public has transformed a grand old brewery factory into three theatre halls, that run three different plays every night. The place also operates a bar-restaurant that is well appreciated by the theatre-goers. It is elegant to have dinner before the show.

The halls are always full. People come from the affluent communes of Brussels and the richer suburbs to the South of the city, the French-speaking towns and villages where the younger professionals prefer to live. These people have nothing in common with the neighbours of the Le Public. They can even be surprised by what they see in the vicinity of the theatre, daily scenes that are closer to street scenes in Turkey or Africa than to the capital of Europe. But all is peaceful. Parallel lives do not really meet. They co-exist in separate circles.

I have been a regular for many years. Seven times each season.

And I never miss an opportunity to recommend the shows and the place to all those who live in Brussels and work in the EU institutions. Actually, the European district is not far from the this theatre hall. It is indeed next door, but people who work in the EU and the related lobby organisations  seem to turn around another solar system. They know very little about the daily life of the common mortals of Brussels.

More about Baku

Baku, the capital of Azerbaïjan, is not far from the Iranian border. People in both countries have the same religious background, the shi'a branch of Islam. But they live in different planets. I took these pictures in Baku. The young lady on the phone is dressed like someone in Paris or Berlin. And the  shop window could be in Milan. None of them would be possible in Iran. 

Baku is a good destination for a short hop from the EU. It is a door to Central Asia but easier to navigate. And it is a great place for those who love modern architecture. 

Food at Genval village

South of Brussels, in the beautiful countryside of Genval village, next to La Hulpe and its beautiful castle, sits "Pierre et Leloup". It takes about 30 minutes to drive there from the European district in Brussels. I like to go there for lunch. It is a nice family restaurant. Pierre cooks and his wife Laetitia attends to the guests. She is a pleasant presence around the busy tables.

It is always full at lunch time, so it is better to book a few days in advance. The cuisine is refined and for a little over EUR 20,50 one can enjoy the lunch menu. Three courses, my friend. That's a very good price for the quality and the freshness of the food. And the house wine is recommended. I always go for it. No need to order expensive bottles.

This blog is about my travels. I have been to many corners. The blog comes a bit late. But there are still some travels and food places in the plans. I will look back and forward as well.

I took this natural gas fire picture near Baku, Azerbaïdjan

I recommend Baku for a visit.