This little park between the small and large arms of the Dijle was designed by municipal architect Renilde d’Haese. It is part of the island that lies between the Zwartzustersstraat and the Redingenpoort. Here, in the Middle Ages, you could find the greatest concentration of water mills. And at one time, it was the mooring place of the ships that supplied the village of Hove and the various mills. Be sure to notice the sophisticated bridge and the bower when you walk past.*
*From Out and About in Leuven walks leaflet
Tags: Belgium, Dijle, Levuen, River Dijle, Vacation
Strolling along the River Dilje on our way back to Hotel Klooster I noticed the side view of this rather striking statue. The statue caught my eye because it was set off by the neighboring tree trunk which to me presents a similar profile and this intrigued me.
When I moved round to the front of the statue I found the image disturbing but I did not know what it represented. After a bit of research when I returned home I found the following information:
Stone sculpture of a woman with a dying son in her arms, overlooked by a man.
The work is one of the lesser known images of Leuven. The statue commemorates a part of the resistance movement of Leuven during World War II. The initiative came from the National Royalist Movement Leuven (NKB), and it was inaugurated on 4 October 1959. The creator Willem De Backer from Berg. He was a teacher at the Academy of Louvain between 1942 and 1970. Hence, the location of the image.
Now I know the context I think that the monument presents a powerful image. I would be interested to know your thoughts…
Tags: Belgium, Leuven, Resistance, Statue, Vacation, Willem De Backer, WW2, WWII
During the middle ages, jesters had to liven up things. They were often either deformed (e.g. a lump), small of posture, and had a big mouth and ears. Paep Thoon, who lived in Leuven during the 15th century (1430-1487), was such a character. He was an organist at the fraternity of the Holy Sacrament at St. Peter’s church. He was known to blurt out the truth either by means of a joke or a sarcastic remark. He never lost his sense of humor and on his dying bed reportedly asked to be buried in upright position, and beneath a gargoyle – so that he would never be thirsty.
In 1991, a Paep Thoon statue by Peter Vanbekbergen was placed at the Leie where the river Dyle crosses / runs under Brusselsestraat.
Tags: Belgium, History, Leuven, Paep Thoon, Statue, Vacation
On Sunday (yesterday) we took my in-laws out for lunch to Sugnall walled garden. It was a belated fathers day trip due to us traveling home from our holidays on fathers day.
We found that Sugnall walled garden was completely transformed since our previous visit. Everything was in full bloom and the summer marquee was in place. There had been a wedding and celebration in the garden the previous day and as we sat down the lady in charge of catering commented ’sorry about the mess there was a wedding here yesterday and I think they were having ‘to much’ fun…
Lunch was delicious; I chose beetroot and feta quiche which was served with salad from the walled garden. After lunch we took a leisurely stroll around the garden before heading homeward.
On our previous visit as we sat enjoying our afternoon drink we watched the moon rising in the sky. This evening after dinner we were treated to the crescent moon rising and falling in the distance behind our back garden.
Tags: Father's Day, Love, Sugnall Walled Garden, Sugnall Walled Garden & Tea Room
The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
St Augustine
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Croft Castle, Journey, National Trust
This morning I got up earlier than I usually would on a Saturday so that Mr C & I could help my mum order wallpaper from a local retail outlet. When Mr C returned mum to her house we picked up some heavy bench ends that were cluttering up her garden, but that is a story for another day 
When we returned home I noticed (much to my annoyance) that the new tyre that had been causing me a problem was flat as a pancake. After Mr C removed the heavy bench ends from his car he went to look for the electric tyre pump which was nowhere to be seen. He improvised and blew up the tyre with a bicycle floor pump!
I phoned the garage where the tyres had been fitted to explain that I had a problem. Initially the after-sales lady suggested I take in on Monday. I wasn’t too keen on this idea and asked if someone could look at it today. It was agreed that I could take it in to be looked at straight away.
When I arrived at the garage I explained what the problem was and handed over the key. A short while later I was called to look at my tyre. There was a screw embedded in it in such a way that the tyre could not be repaired!!
I expressed my surprise that this could have happened within a few days of the new tyre being fitted. I went back to the waiting area whilst the after-sales lady went to check the price of a new tyre. When the after sales lady came back she advised me that I would only have to pay for the tyre at purchasing cost to them.
Whilst the tyre was being fitted I sat and watched people come and go, buying accessories, picking up a new car and listening to their conversations. It was an interesting hour or so
After the tyre had been fitted I returned back home and persuaded Mr C that I needed to take him out for lunch. I can confirm that the car now feels right (whilst driving) and I am happy with it again after all the recent dramas.
Lunch was delicious and relaxing
Tags: Car, Fabia, Life, Skoda
Sint-Jan-de-Doperkerk (Saint John the Baptist Church) is situated within the Groot Begijnhof.
The construction of the current Early Gothic church was started in 1305 and was completed between 1421 and 1468. The Saint John the Baptist Church is built in the local Rural Gothic style of Leuven but also has several Roman chatacteristics, such as heavy buttresses, small upper windows and a terraced tower. The lack of spires is reminiscent of the mendicant orders and the convents. During recent restorations, numerous frescoes from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries were uncovered.*
As I wandered around the cobbled streets of the Begijnhof I found the sound of the carillon’s bells quite charming and delightful.
*From the Out and About in Leuven walking guide
Tags: Beguinage, Beguinage Church, Belgiun, Leuven, Saint John the Baptist Church, Sint-Jan-de-Doperkerk, Vacation
