Stories

Friday was our last day in the City. Hot again, amazing temperatures for this time of year. I had to, yes had to, buy two new T-shirts, since the clothes I brought were too warm. We, Hubby and I, walked uptown. We lit a few candles in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for all those loved ones who are not longer with us, and then we made our way to Central Park.  There we saw so many activities united in one place: live music, people sunbathing, getting married, jogging, eating or you name it. The whole time I was in New York, it was so difficult not to take photos of everything or everyone. I love taking pictures of people, but that is hard sometimes. Enjoy a few ones I took that day:
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Wednesday was our first morning in New York, and we were up really early. I hoped to be awake as early again on Thursday but the real darkness was gone already. Too late for my plan to get some night street views with my camera and tripod. I still tried but it was hard finding a perfect spot in the morning rush of people on the sidewalks.

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It feels so great to be writing from New York. I got the great opportunity to travel with Hubby, who needs to be here for his job. I will stay longer and visit my friends.

This city keeps amazing me. It keeps on changing. I feel so alive here.

The first time we visited Manhattan was in 1998. Hubby and I came over to see if we would want to live here for three years. It was the first time we traveled so far and so long without kids. I had to stop breastfeeding Youngest back then–he was five months old and weighed eight kilos already. And he’s 1m95 tall now. So I guess it was enough.

We said yes to hubby’s job opportunity, and finally ended up in Summit, New Jersey. Manhattan was far too expensive for a family of five. Continue Reading

Hi there,

Still half in Puglia with my head but I don’t mind. This will be my last post on when I was Puglia, but not so much on Puglia though.

The Thursday I am going to write about was such a perfect day. Almost cloudless sky, in great company with my friend Leen, and visiting an exhibition of a man I really admire – there aren’t many of them, besides Hubby of course, and the Great Writer 😉

You know I love photography. But this man wasn’t merely a photographer, but also an artist and a visionary. He combined so many disciplines of art. Do you believe in coincidence? I don’t. I mentioned this artist in one of my older posts already. And then, as we were walking in Ostuni I noticed this poster of the exhibition, in Puglia, of all places. I was thrilled! Continue Reading

Going back into history again. To World War II, a slight change from last week’s subject.

War is such a shocking word, and an even crueler circumstance. I have never been in one, luckily. But many people now, in the past, and very likely in the future, will be confronted with one.

This was the case for all those people – mostly Germans – lying underneath the endless rows of crosses in my hometown of Lommel. Two young men for one cross. In total about 39,108 war casualties. A few war criminals, but for the most part just victims, resting in peace (a cruel and ironic way of stating it).

I have been here many times, showing friends this physical embodiment of the absurdity of war. As a mother of two boys I cannot help but feel a deep grief when I see the dates on some graves: °13/06/1927  to 23/09/1944.

Close to this immense cemetery there are the buildings of the “House Across Borders.” This association organizes projects and activities for both youths and adults concerning peace and remembrance education. They also inform and help relatives or researchers regarding fallen German soldiers buried here. Continue Reading