Crimson Coast (Reflections)
Apr. 30th, 2019 07:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitIt was a fascinating tour - I learnt such a lot. Not as emotional as last time, although there were times, like the Last Post ceremony. It was more quiet reflection, and seeing what went on behind the lines, so vital and yet recalled far less often. One of the tour party was able to find his grandfather's grave and lay his poppy there, which was really good.
The above is a piece of modern sculpture, called the Three Wise Noses, which is on De Panne beach. One head looks towards England, one towards France, and one inland in Belgium.
Belgium and the area of nearby France has a lot of history, and I'd like to know more. I'm currently trying to find a suitable book (in English) which doesn't cost an arm and a leg, or was written fifty years ago. The two photos below show where Marshal Ney had his headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars.
We were in the Flemish speaking area of Belgium, and at one museum all the exhibits were listed only in Flemish. Also, a couple of the museum bookshops only have Flemish books which was a little frustrating, and, to me, rather surprising.
We did have one funny incident. We were in a cake shop in Nieuwpoort, and TD asked for two cakes in French. The reply came back in German, so I finished the conversation in German.
And speaking of cake (from Poperinge):
Despite being tiring it was an excellent trip, and I'm so glad we went.
The above is a piece of modern sculpture, called the Three Wise Noses, which is on De Panne beach. One head looks towards England, one towards France, and one inland in Belgium.
Belgium and the area of nearby France has a lot of history, and I'd like to know more. I'm currently trying to find a suitable book (in English) which doesn't cost an arm and a leg, or was written fifty years ago. The two photos below show where Marshal Ney had his headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars.
We were in the Flemish speaking area of Belgium, and at one museum all the exhibits were listed only in Flemish. Also, a couple of the museum bookshops only have Flemish books which was a little frustrating, and, to me, rather surprising.
We did have one funny incident. We were in a cake shop in Nieuwpoort, and TD asked for two cakes in French. The reply came back in German, so I finished the conversation in German.
And speaking of cake (from Poperinge):
Despite being tiring it was an excellent trip, and I'm so glad we went.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-06 02:00 pm (UTC)Way, way back, on our honeymoon, (it's our golden wedding this year) we were driving through Belgium and nobody would respond to either French or German but everybody accepted English. I now have a Belgian friend who tells me it's almost impossible for a non-Belgian to second-guess which language to use and English is both the safest option and widely understood. After all, nobody learns Flemish... It seems very short-sighted to stock only books in Flemish in what is a popular 'tourist' area for people with an interest in history.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-06 02:18 pm (UTC)We'd probably have been okay in English, although I prefer to at least attempt to speak 'foreign'. The day we were in France we needed to speak French, and even in Ostend our waiter wasn't confident in English. If anything I'd say there was a hint of Flemish nationalism around, which might tie in with some of the general European mood.