BELGIUM AND WATERLOO CELEBRATED THE NATIONAL DAY

We also have a national day, like the americans the 4th July, or the frenchs on July 14, or the germans The day of German Unity on October 3, that commemorates the anniversary of the german reunification in 1990.In Belgium we celebrate the arrival of the first King. He swore allegiance to the constitution in the Royal Palace in Brussels on July 21 1831. This day became the Belgian national holiday.

Before that, Belgium didn't exist and depended from Holland.But this is enough history. The first king was quite a handsome man, (as you can see) and his love life was consequently. (Interesting to read about him for those who love an agitated love life)
So of course we celebrated that all over the country and in Waterloo. On the place in front of the City hall tents were built up there with a lot to eat and to drink, (that especially) and the famous belgian beers, had no time to warm up in the glasses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------












City Hall

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Ready for the celebration, a little beer and also trying out the micro


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Waiting for the opening, everthing is ready  

The red cross helpers are waiting for their first victim
I went there to take some pictures early in the morning because it was so hot (35°C in the 90 °F) That's quite unusual over here, because normally every year, since the creation of Belgium that special day it rains. That's tradition. And people are calling this "The national Rainstorm". But this year the poor people and horses in the parade, suffered from the heat and had heads like tomatoes (except the horses of course) King and Queen and the whole family sat on the tribune and sweated too, although they should always look cool.

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a little chat in the shade with little doggy

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But nice places in our park invites people to look for some coolness

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The children enjoyed already the park

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Not to forget the doggies. All had been cleaned for the festivities !

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Chinese tourists walking in the souvenir shop  
 
In Waterloo, the poor tourists were surprised that all shops were closed and besides the place where everybody had a lot of fun, the town looked like a goast town.

So of course they all escaped to the Waterloo Lion Hill and bravely climbed up the 256 steps to the top. Of course they came down in a pittyfull state and ran over to the old bar to have something cool to drink.

Or they went in the airconditioned Souvenir shop, where you can by everything with Napoleon's head on, from thimbles till chamber pots (or almost). Of poor Wellington who winned the battle, you have to look carefully, sometimes you find something, but it's like finding a needle in a haystack.

This year the chinese discovered Napoleon. I first thought it were japonese (sorry if I am so stupid) but I were told better. That's the first time I saw chinese tourists !

So everybody enjoyed the party, laughing, drinking, dancing but only few people knew, why they celebrated just on this day ! But that doesn't matter, I personally like to party everything, even if there would be a "Devil's day", the most important thing for me is having fun !

The day ended with a marvolous firework, enjoying all the people, but frightened cats and dogs to death.

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Tourist "train" unloading a group of tourists, ready to climb on the hill
















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all you can buy

















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Books, postures etc

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if you want a uniform for going out tonight ?


















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Coronation of his wife Josephine

















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Don't need a canon for your garden ?

WATERLOO & The reconstitution of the battle

Waterloo is a very special place, where Napoleon lost the battle against the Englishs, Scotts, Germans, and Dutchs. And finally this was the beginning of the end of Napoleon's area. But I don't want to give a history lesson here, that you can look up in any book.

But many people don't know why they are saying "He met his Waterloo" when somebody lost everything. That's of course because of this battle. When I went to the UK I was surprised that a lot of people thought, when I was talking about Waterloo, that I meant the "Waterloo" station in London ! Nobody seemed to know that Wellington winned and that's why the station was called "Waterloo".

When we moved to Waterloo in 1975, it was a small little country town, about 15 km from Brussels. We moved there because we wanted to get out of the city. Our garden was open on a huge cornfield and besides that cows were grazing and sleeping peacefully (but once one looked at me through the living window and scared me to death)

The center of the city was small with a few shops and a supermarket. And that was it. Waterloo didn't do very much for attracting Tourists to this historical place and the Lion of Waterloo looked sadly on the remaining buildings of the battle field.

The only attraction was the "Panorama" where you could see the whole bloody battle (and bloody it was) with some explanations about the battle. Climbing up the 256 steps (sorry if I added or missed a few steps) was free, you just had to give some francs to the guard.

The Lion hill was built in memory to the thousands of killed soldiers, by women carrying the earth in baskets and a rumor says that the hill was built with the bones of the killed soldiers. I don't know if that is true, (I haven't digged), but thrilling stories are always good for attracting people.

The headquater of Wellington in the city center had become a Museum where you could see Wellington's bed and other stuff belonging to him and his staff. It was a neglected Museum, with not many explanation and you could go in there for a very small fee. One Waterloo citizen told me that the kids used to play in that house and laying down in Wellington's bed which has the size of a kid's bed today.

Since then everything has changed in Waterloo ! It has become a very modern city, with all the important shops a lot of supermarkets, galleries, banks and an industrial park. The city center has been modernized but is still small, while around it a lot of houses were built and the city expanded tremendously. You don't have to go to Brussels any more for shopping, you can find everything in Waterloo.

And the Lion has changed too ! Now there is a tourist center, you can't get any more free on the Lion, it's surrounded by a fence. New restaurants moved in the old buildings which had been restored and the Panorama was repainted and looks beautifull now.

During the whole year a lot of tourists are visiting the Lion hill armed with cameras and videos and full packed busses are coming during spring and summer. There is always a lot to see.

When my husband and I want to have some holiday feelings we would go there, having a drink and watching the tourists. That gives you the feeling to be a tourist too. A lot of Waterloo citizen do that. Yes, Waterloo has become an international city. There are lots of English, American, Swedish and German people living here. English has almost become the second language due to the St. John's English speaking school. And of course if you tell somebody in Belgium that you live in Waterloo, you are immediately a rich to very rich person. Which is nonsense, all social classes are represented.

Every year Waterloo celebrates the reconstitution of the Waterloo battle. Which is always a big event and even more when it's a round birthday like 25, 50 etc. All countries who participated in the battle are represented by people who "play" soldiers. The town is crowded of Germans, English, Scotts, Frenchs and Dutchs. And then they fight at the same places their ancestors did.

I talked to an Englishman who told me that he is busy almost every weekend, because he follows all the Wellington battles.

There are a lot of "Waterloo's" all over the world. Especially in the USA. Around 53. Probably named by homesick emigrants.



The church of Waterloo 1900 and something



old City Hall



City hall today



The old Wellington museum was Wellington's headquarter.



old picture of the Lion's place



Preparing for the battle





Cude little couple

It starts, the uniforms are so colorfull, I don't know who is who.



Is that Napoleon ? If yes, then he is much taller than the original !



The english



You must be in good healt to climb up 256 steps, leading to the Lion on the top of the hill !



Without any doubt, these are the scotts !



A drummer



Presentation



And now a good fresh beer



Two german girls asking for an ice cream



It's finished, now they go home or celebrate in Waterloo's city center