The Most Memorable Memorial Day EVER

When we arrived in Cambrai it was time for our first guests.  Tom and I walked to the train station and checked the arrivals board.  There was no train expected at the time our friends had said they would arrive!  This was a problem.  Not only did we no longer have any idea as to when to expect them, but also I had invited other people to join us for cocktails in a short time.  We decided that Tom would wait for the next train and I would find my way back to Rabelo to prepare the appetizers.  Tom was relieved to see them on the next train and I was happy to have everyone here together in time for the little party I had arranged.  Cambrai was the town we came to three years ago for barge school.  Our teachers Tam and Di were still here and it was great catching up with them.

We wanted to show Bruce and Tess the area so we rented a car for the day.  We promised the car rental agency we would have the car back no later than 5:55pm because they close at 6:00.  First we went to see the site of the Armistice, which was very sobering.  On November 11, 1918 and again on June 22, 1940 an armistice was signed on this exact same site.  Knowing we were walking on the same ground where Hitler walked is creepy.  From there, needing something happier we went to see my favorite Chateau de Pierrefonds that we had visited 12 years ago.  We rushed through the Chateau because we needed to return the car.  Bruce did his best driving but traffic held us up.  We arrived to return the car at 6:05!  So much for our early start the next day.

Following the Canal de Saint-Quentin we went to Le Champ Luseaux.  It was election day and a national holiday. We met a darling farmer who was very proud of his garden.  I thought his garden was amazing (and very large).  He had many of his seedlings in what looked like plastic water bottles with the bottoms cut off (I assume).  We saw how the French vote, and we met the mayor. 

It was Memorial Day as well as Election Day.  Unfortunately we didn’t find out in time about the ceremony being held at the cemetery.  It was too far to walk to anyway.  We did get to attend the party in the village after the ceremony.  The most important dignitaries returned to Paris, but we were able to meet a few people.  I found it very emotional to discover that the French celebrate OUR Memorial Day, and how much they appreciate what the United States did for France.  The French remember that America saved them!

Bruce and Tess arrive!

Our gardener friend Mr Blavis.  Check out his suspenders.

Mr. Blavis' amazing garden!

Some people have interesting ideas as to what makes a good barge.

World War I tank.

Being on the site of the armistice was no less emotional 12 years later.

My favorite Chateau of 12 years ago Chateau de Pierrefonds.

Could this be the entrances to the Secret Garden?

Welcome!  Welcome!

This hall reminds me of Fontainebleau and Versaille.

View from the Chateau

Courtyard

The art inside the chateau was done by the company that did the "skin" from the Statue of Liberty. There were many examples of their work.

We were able to witness a wedding reception at the Abbaye de Vaucelles.

The happy bride and groom.

The back of the Abbaye

We found these convicts walking along the canal.

Election Day.  The mayor is the woman with the blue, white and red top.

Great faces.

Some local color

 

People dress in period costumes going from one war site to another.

War memorabilia 

The new military patrol  

The children sang songs and speeches were given.

We had the chance to walk and talk.

Ghent. Dandelions and Spring 2014

Ghent:

Whirling, swirling, tumbling around like tumbleweed.  It’s spring again in Belgium.  Is that snow outside?  No my darlings, it is dandelions.  They are the tumbleweed of Europe.  Achoo! 

Women in high heels on cobblestone streets.  Ankles going in every direction.

Lots of construction and many tower cranes.  The economy must be good here.

Beautiful town with a church and castle.  An amazing Flemish Beef Stew that I hope to duplicate.  Keep an eye open for bikes, cars, trams and horse drawn carriages if you want to cross the street.

I may never look at a castle the same after visiting the Gravensteen 12^th-century stone castle.  It has been meticulously restored down to the torture devices used.  I don’t think we have improved as time has passed.  I couldn’t stand the exhibit of instruments of torture.  Creepy.

Since we don’t have a car we act like the locals and walk everywhere.  That is until we bought the museum pass that included unlimited tram rides and they even threw in a canal ride.  The larger supermarkets are found on the outskirts of towns.  Since I needed to do a major marketing (again) we took our two carts, boarded the tram and found the market.  It was easy.  For small items the tiny family owned markets were almost everywhere we went and some were well stocked.

We much preferred Ghent to Brugge.  Here in Ghent we see tourists yes, but also many school children on field trips, and people going about their day to day business.  Prices are much more reasonable as well.  

Here we go again.  An angry man was speaking to us thru our hallway window telling us we can't tie up here.  He speaks no English.  What he spoke sounded like German (probably Dutch), and then French.  We had gotten permission from the port captain.  This guy says the captain has no authority and we must move.  With the VNF strike on Monday we won't be moving until Tuesday at the earliest.  

The square facing Gravensteen Castle.  We had a delicious Flemish Beef Stew.

A view of the castle.

Picturesque street along a canal.

View during the boat ride which I highly recommend.

The monastery that once housed a 1000 monks is down to 14.  In its heyday a major problem was lining up for the toilet pictured on the left.  Can you imagine?

An artist's interpretation of what is to come.

Charming views with the castle towering over the town.

They were serious about their weapons during medieval times.

View of Ghent from the top of the castle.

A few forms of torture!

A portion of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers.  This 20 panel alter piece has quite a history,  part of which was also mentioned in the movie Monument Men.

We went to SMAK Ghents Museum of Contemporary Art.  Thomas Ruff creates huge works of art making and painting many canvases which are fashioned into things like mazes.  When the exhibit is completed the exhibit is destroyed.

When in Belgium one must have a Belgium waffle. 

The castle lit at night.

Tom invites you to have a drink with him.  To your health!

We return to Rabelo for a third season. 2014

Wow!  You’d think since this is the beginning of our third season on Rabelo packing would be easy.  HA!  Every year has its challenges.  This year we decided to go with the Rubicon Theatre Group to New York for 5 nights of sight seeing and going to plays.  This is our second season traveling with this group and they are fabulous.  Everything is taken care of.  After 4 plays, browsing thru art galleries in Chelsea, sight seeing in the Bronx which included a tour of the New York Botanical Garden, eating wonderful food, walking the Skyline…we said goodbye to our Rubicon friends and went to Virginia.  There we stayed with dear friends Jim and Randy.  We were lucky enough to relax at their lake house for two nights.  After the craziness of preparing for 6 months away and then running around New York, being at their beautiful home was an amazing treat.  From there it was one night at their Charlottesville home and then a short flight across the pond to Belgium.  Hence the packing dilemma.  Yes, there are clothes on the barge, but we needed clothing for the time in NY and Virginia. Tom and I each had a suitcase of clothes and then we had an extra suitcase of boat things.

Will we ever get caught up I wonder.  Arriving back on Rabelo was both amazing and frustrating.  We love being on Rabelo and the time we spend cruising is wonderful.  The boat is extremely comfortable.  What is frustrating is all the work that wasn’t completed!  Or wasn’t done properly!  Or was done in a frustratingly sloppy fashion!  Or wasn’t done at all!  Or the things that disappeared off the boat.  You should be able to hear me screaming from wherever you are.

Our new captain Julian greeted us at the Brussels airport early in the morning.  What a gem.  We found beautiful tulips on the table and some food in the refrigerator.  First thing we did was dump our bags, climb into the rental car and go to Ikea!  Yes, what is a trip to Europe without Ikea?!?  There were items we needed immediately.  My new induction cooktop doesn’t use regular pots and pans.  The cooking utensils that were supposed to come with my new kitchen didn’t.  After Ikea we pulled in the lines and left for Brugge without having a chance to market.  I went into our cabin to make up our bed.  What I found was that the dirty bedding from 6 months ago had been rolled up and thrown into a cabinet.  NO CLEAN BEDDING!  Time to do laundry.  And then put together a simple dinner.  By close to midnight we were ready to drop.  Which we did into our now clean bed.

Happy Cows

German Bunker from WWII

Entry to Brugge

The bridge goes up and traffic stops as we sail  by.

Medieval Crane

Beautiful Architecture

Charming town center.  Brugge was not damaged by the bombs of WWII hence original buildings.

Repaving the streets by hand placing cobbled stones in the sand and then filling the gaps with more sand.

This display of chocolate in the store window attracted quite a bit of attention.

Cathedral in Brugge

We were treated to an inpromptu organ concert.    

We were also able to attend a free harp concert by Luc Vanlaere.  He played two types of harps as well as a selection of unusual instruments I had never seen before.  A special treat.

The famous Madonna and child by Michelangelo.  We had seen it 12 years ago.  It meant even more to us after seeing the movie Monuments Men with George Clooney.  Last time we were able to get closer.

Many of you have asked how the new kitchen turned out.  It's fabulous!  Wonderful!  We LOVE it!  I have so much more storage than before.  We're figuring out how to use the new appliances.  The counter is easy to wipe down.  Not all of the appliances came with instructions in English.  Dutch doesn't work for us.  Still, the kitchen is a great success!

I look forward to hearing from everyone so please write to me via my email address.