Cairene Vignettes

On a day day trip to Brugge, I spent the day riding around the city on these great city bikes. Do you remember the noise that bicycles make on cobbled streets? The echo of shifting gears against beautifully clad houses and silent laneways? The way that a warm scarf and a peacoat sits as you cycle in the fall weather, with sun streaming into your eyes through sunglasses? All of that came flooding back to me almost violently and vividly, but in the most welcome sort of way.

When asked why, he simply replied, “Ça m'aide a travailler.”

Brugge, je t’aime fort.

More fantastic street art at sundown in Gent. I just love this colour palette.

The canals in Gent reminded me so strongly of Amsterdam. Nostalgia.

Werregarenstraat in Gent is constantly changing - the walls are open for street artists to ply their trade.

Hanging plants in front of a music school in Gent.

Long shadows in the Parc du Cinquantenaire.

Parc du Cinquantenaire Offers a curious respite from the city, even though a major highway runs under part of the park!

The outside of the European Parliament.

Obligatory European Parliament photo. My favourite part was the set of translation booths for every language of the Union.

The fantastic Living Room cafe near the European Parliament in Brussels. The best part? All of the furnishing is available for purchase.

The magnificent Antwerp Central Station, four floors of trains, plus the tram links.

The local skate park in national colours.

Why there was a soccer net in the lake of the city park in Antwerp, I’ll never know.

The MAS in Antwerp, possibly one of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to, four floors culminating in a city-wide panorama from the top deck.

The detailed roofs of the old fish port storage, now a set of parking garages.