THE FLOWER CARPET 2012 IN BRUSSELS

Two years ago I missed the Brussels flower carpet, because the weather was too bad to take good pictures. This year I had the opportunity to show it to my guests Claudie and Pierre from Southern France ! The sun was shining and the weather perfect to admire this beautiful work ! 

The first flower carpet on the Grand'Place in Brussels was created in 1971  and since the Grand'Place hosts this event every two years.

The succes of the Brussels Flower carpet is mainly due to the beauty and diversity of the Begonia.  The begonia gives a rich range of colours to a floral ensemble.

For this year, the theme was Africa and the design drew inspiration from the tribes of Ethiopia, Congo, Nigeria, Botswana, and Cameroon. To compliment the begonias, and help create the African motif, the designers included barks, sands, soils and pigments in the design.

Nearly one million of begonia flowers were used in this display. It is meticulously designed and all the flowers are brought in on the same day.

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photo "borrowed forever" somewhere on Internet 

The whole carpet takes only four hours to ‘build’ with a dedicated team of gardeners working like furies to complete it in as little time as possible.



We arrived at the entrance and I saw the freshly in gold painted facades of the beautiful buildings. All Restaurants and cafes were full !



an overlook on all sides



These blue things in the back are for the sound and music show, taking place as soon as it becomes dark.



The flowers were already 3 days old but looked amazingly still fresh









as you can see there were lots of people !


When we had a drink in a café, I had to go to the toilet which was located on the second floor. Of course I tried to find a window to take pictures of the whole carpet from above


and I found a window ! It just looked breath taking !

If you wish, here is a link to the Flower carpets year by year

MINI EUROPE PARK IN BRUSSELS

As usual when you have guests from abroad you want to show the most interesting things of your city. Amongst other Tourist attractions I showed them MINI EUROPE (you can read more about  here ) It is the only park where you can have a tour around Europe in a few short hours. A truly unique voyage amongst  the most beautiful towns of the Old Continent.

You see 300 models of about 80 cities and sites in a quite unequalled craftmanship.





and off we went to "jump" through Europe !



Each country had a sign explaining since when they became part of the European Union, the number of inhabitants and the currency. Mostly Euros of course except Danmark, UK and Sweden.





It's nice to sit besides Big Ben



It really looks as if it was true, and not a miniature !



Here we are in Dover



Then the connection from Europe to the UK



There are always something to paint or repair







Unfortunately I can' t remember the names of all these buildings



But here we arrived in Germany



The ancient captital Bonn





and Berlin from both sides west and east

















The city hall of Leuven (Belgium)





Amsterdam



and then we arrived in Paris





Monmartre



Spain was freshly repainted and I thought it would be a good idea to go on some holidays to Mallorca.



The tower of Pisa in Italy



Venice



Austria



and Greece.

After 1 1/2 h we had visited Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,  Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK !

How nice would it be if I could see all these countries and cities on a cruise ! I should contact med cruises information and prices.



Mini Europe Video

or Mini Europe film

ST. THOMAS THE MARTYR CHURCH - WINCHELSEA

We would have liked to see a little more of Winchelsea, but there was a sailing competition going on and the little town was full ! No way to find a parking. But then we discovered a very interesting looking church, or more half of a church !

The Church of St Thomas the Martyr,  had  once the size of a small cathedral, but only the chancel remains. The first recorded mention of the church was in 1215. The older buildings were damaged during the 14th century by French and Spanish troops.



Arriving at Winchelsea a small village in East Sussex, UK.



Looking for the entrance we first had to go through a very old graveyard which reminded me of Inspector Barnaby and his Midsomer murders TV series.



Doug of course had first to say "hello" to this little dog, while I read the inscriptions on the gravestones and discovered quiet surprised that the graveyard is still in use !



Some stones just bent in all directions !



and there was the church with its ruins !  I am sure I wouldn't go there at night, it looked a little eerie !







The entrance had a beautiful wooden very old looking door



Apparently the organ didn't work anymore, because there was this piano.



The organ





the church had beautiful stained glass windows





and very nice sculptures and carvings



This statue was made in Sussex marble







at the exit hang this tapestry.



a last view on this amazing church