Ostend at anchor
Each year a sailing ship festival called "Ostend At Anchor" takes place in Ostend's port just in front of the station. There are around 150 sailing ships anchored, which you are allowed to visit. Last year there were two hundred thousand visitors who came to watch boats between 65, (213ft )135, (443ft) and 6.5 (21 ft)meters.
I took the train from Brussels to Ostend and walked around the habour.
The first sailing ship I saw was the famous replica of the "Bounty" which was built in 1960 for the MGM Studios for the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty" with Marlon Brando and later also used of course for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" with Jonny Depp. But I will write a special post about this ship.
sailing boats from all countries and all sizes
You can see the Ostend Station in the background
Besides the Bounty which had the most visitors of course, there were other big sailing ships
The Mercedes
Sailor's family enjoying a drink with their two "Dackels" (Dachshound)
There was really a wood of masts !
along the port where these white stalls in which paintings, artcrafts, clothes, etc were sold
a view on the station again
There were quiet a few boats coming from England too, like here from London
Captains from different ships had a drink together here
Sailor's songs filled the air, there were even bands from Ireland
I
On my way back to the station I was close to the Bounty's "nose"
Lots of stalls sold food from Hamburgers to smoked fish, and even fish & chips !
Musicians on the boat and three men singing old sailor's songs
There were more and more people arriving
Here I could see how fish was smoked. I almost got smoked too. It was very interesting to see.
and at the end of my walk along the haven and the boats I stopped in a tent where women showed how to spin yarn, and make baskets.
After a portion of seafood salad, a coffee and a crêpe (thin Belgian pancake) I took my train back, happy that I had spent such a nice and interesting day.
more participants here
Brussels Time
