THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO - RECONSTITUTION 2008

Each year in June Waterloo organizes the reconstitution of the battle of Waterloo, which took place on the 18th of June 1815. It always is a big event and tourists from all over the world are coming to watch the battle. The soldiers in their costumes from 1815 perform the battle as real as possible. They are coming from the England, Scotland, Holland, Germany and France. ------------------------------------------------
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As usual they all gather under the Lion who turns his head towards England (the winners) and his backside to France (the losers) -------------------------------------------------
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From the Lion hill you have a nice view over a part of the battle fields
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I was there around 10 am and the first buses arrived. Japanese of course but also Russians and Poles. --------------------------------------------------------
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Soldiers don't come by foot or horse anymore but by bus or car. Sometimes with friends sometimes with the whole family, babies and grandmas included. -------------------------------------------------------
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I suppose this carriage it is for the transport of a celebrity. -------------------------------------------------------
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The café under the Lion is already busy with serving the famous Belgian beer -------------------------------------------------------
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Tourists are taken to the battle fields and famous places in these buses -------------------------------------------------------
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Some French soldiers are waiting for their regiment -------------------------------------------------------
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Some soldiers use the time to visit the souvenir shop, to buy some souvenirs of the battle, before they get "killed" ! -------------------------------------------------------
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or just having a little chat. These were English soldiers -------------------------------------------------------
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This couple posed for the tourists -------------------------------------------------------
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An officer or general with his horse. Behind him you see the "Panorama" which is being renovated. Inside you can see the battle painted in a panorama. -------------------------------------------------------
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Dutchs are getting together -------------------------------------------------------
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and pose with the Japonese tourists -------------------------------------------------------
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They are all happy to see each other again -------------------------------------------------------
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The Dutch soldiers came with their doctor to take care of the wounded. -------------------------------------------------------
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Look what he has at his belt ! An axe for amputations ! -------------------------------------------------------
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I hope he will not have to much to do ! -------------------------------------------------------
French soldiers smiling in my camera -------------------------------------------------------
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and then everybody lined up and went away to join the others on the battle field -------------------------------------------------------
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In my sidebar you will find the reconstitution of 2006 with more details about Waterloo and its battle.

50 years anniversary of the World Exposition in Brussels - THE PAVILLON OF TEMPORARY HAPPINESS

To celebrate the 50 years of the world exposition which took place here in Brussels, quite a lot of activities are being done and expositions and movies are showing a nice choice of important visitors or items from 1958 ! (You can read the whole activity program here and look at the Official blog of the Atomium
 

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Just in front of the Atomium a pavillon had been built with 30.000 beer cases !

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It looks quite impressive. It is called "Pavillon of temporary happiness"
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when you look around
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and up, you feel like being inside a huge yellow Lego building ! At least I did.
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Here you can sit inside and see movies of 1958
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also listen to the music of this year or looking at pictures.
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An exposition shows you items of this time
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I very well remember these swimming caps ! ----------------------------------------------------------------
Outside in a court you can read quotes of famous people on a wall
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and have some good Belgian beer to drink. Everybody who comes to visit this pavillon gets a card to fill in. You only have to write your first name, in which town and country you are living and tell your definition of happiness.
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Then you have to put your card in this huge bottle. All cards will be kept for 50 years so that our descendants can read and learn what was our definition of happiness. I found this a very good idea filled in my card and throw it in the bottle !
The Atomium is also surrounded by a beautiful parc where you can walk around and rest.
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The Atomium is a "left over" of the 1958 World Exhibition you can read more about it here ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
When you are standing just under it and look up, you have this amazing view