2008
en images
in pictures
in fotos
in pictures
in fotos
| All American 4th of July Bar-b-q in Machelen. However, until Bud is officially allowed to be purchased by Inbev, we're sticking to Champagne! July 4 |
| A quick two-day break in Normandy with Bob and family. Scenic Honfleur, WWII history at Arromanches, and the Mercedes-only parking lot at Castle Reay. The Californians certainly know how to travel in style. July 10-11 |
| Family day trip to Kortrijk and Lille in northern France. Compare this photo of Courtrai's beguinage to the very different weather in December 2007 when I visited with Dad. Celebrating the national holiday the right way - with beer and Belgian fries. July 20-21 |
| The Stella was flowing with the Aalst party animals at the Gentse Feest, a huge 10-day street party in Ghent, where we once again saw Flanders' own Liberace, Eddy Wally - the voice of Europe. Kitsch but charming and a lot of fun. July 22 |
| Global management training in Frankfurt with colleagues from Tokyo, Singapore, Houston, Antwerp (me) and Frankfurt. The sightseeing highlight was a visit to a reconstructed Roman fort built along the borders of civilisation (basically to keep the Germans out of Germany) July 28-Aug 1 |
| Our summer holiday gets off to a great start in Bellingham, with side trips to Seattle and to Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. We get to meet three of the five Jacobson kids in addition to sight-seeing with Belgians Hans, Bart and Veronique. Poker with the gang at Redmond, brunch in Bellingham with mutual friends of Janna's. Aug 2-13 |
| Visiting Rick, Kevin and... the cows in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The highlight was a night at "the Roundup" where the Belgian Boogie quickly evolved into a new two-step swing move. Aug 14-15 |
| Creole architecture in the Vieux Carré (including our two flats in a house on the rue Dauphine), and Go-Cup fueled antics by the mighty Mississippi River in New Olreans, Louisiana. Great music, amazing food and even better cocktails. Any place 5 degrees off reality (even without Bourbon Street) is just what you need to shake up your holiday. Two weeks later Hurricane Gustav hit... Aug 16-19 |
| Great views, greats sights, great food, the Naked Cowboy of Times Square (you gotta prob'em widdat?) and gutsy surprisingly friendly down-to-earth people in the middle of an international whirlwind. All this and Central Park too. I can safely say that Manhattan is one of my favourite places on the planet. After several says of sight-seeing with the guys (just how many boats and buses can you ride in this town?), I remained behind alone to meet up with colleagues from Tokyo and Houston. In between shifts (back to "reality" and work) I was able to catch a knock-out performance by Patti Lupone in Stephen Sondheim's "Gypsy" Aug 19-26 |
| Already September. Cousin Beth visits from Budapest, and veggies and flowers come in from the garden. Sep 3-4 |
| A quick but enjoyable weekend in the Netherlands, visiting Gerrit and Terry (on vacation from Bellingham) in their holiday home in the country near Utrecht. Antique stores galore, excellent restaurants, and a visit to Haar Castle. Sep 6-7 |
| Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) joins the household and starts wrestling with Leo. Sep 11 |
| Belgium looks strangely like Texas as we join "Team Primo Grill America" for the World Barbecue championship in Steenhuffel. We didn't win, but showed up on national TV. Sep 13-14 |
| Cousin Dave Bates and Julie visit for several days on their way to Paris. Sep 15-16 |
| Beautiful countryside in Zeeland and a company sailing cruise on the Oost Schelde in the Netherlands. Sep 18-19 |