July Sky

Fireworks for national /regional holidays, summer 2009.

Highgate Western Cemetery

The perfect Victorian place of rest: http://www.highgate-cemetery.org/index.asp

London Zoo

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/

London (2009)

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/
http://www.britishmuseum.org/
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/

So many nice exhibits! We just have to go back again ;-)

Kitty O'Shea's Pub

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Irish
Location:	Brussels, 42 Boulevard Charlemagne

Yes another Irish pub and yes it's a nice one too!

We didn't eat here yet (there is a small restaurant area btw) but at least they have two kinds of red beer (which of course gets them points on my list).
And of course football on a big screen which just makes them a typical Irish pub I guess ;-)

Read more info on the site because it gets more interesting after reading it: http://www.kittyosheas.com/kitty_brussels.asp

British photography and other exhibits (Fotomuseum, Antwerpen, 30-8-2009)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

There are a lot of interesting photo's to be seen again in this museum but it isn't essential that you see them. If you love photography it's of course always nice to go and see these exhibits!

More info: http://www.fotomuseum.be/en/

People On Show and other exhibits (museum dr.Guislain)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

People on show is pretty obviously about people on show but more specifically about other cultures as entertainment.
It's a visually interesting exhibit with loads of old posters from shows with "cannibals" and "amazons" and other exciting "savages".
It also raises a question we should all consider, especially in this age of "reality-tv": where does interest in watching other people and cultures become degrading for those people or cultures?

Also exhibiting in the museum is Goran Djurovic, a Serbian artist with fascinating paintings. His world is filled with a certain darkness, people pulling strings and awkward situations.

Another exhibit is Burland/Toyland. The Swiss artist François Burland recycles everyday waste materials into great objects! His world is full of funny and beautiful vehicles like submarines and planes.

All exhibits un till 13-9-2009. More info: http://www.museumdrguislain.be/

Festivals (summer 2009)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

A quick look at what we've seen or heard this summer on the festivals.

26+27-6-2009: Dijle Feesten Deflux
A great new stage actually IN the Dijle-river makes for a great sound on our balcony!
Bands we've heard: Moriarty, TUNNG, Maden Suyu, Joe Gideon & the Shark, Nid&Sancy.

28-6-2009: Ottertrotter
Multicultural free festival with great food from all around the world and music too of-course! We saw Amparo Cortes (flamenco).

18-7-2009: Rock Herk
Free festival with loads of alternative bands. We saw:
- This Will Destroy You: a nice new instrumental post-rock band from Texas
- And you will know us by the trail of dead: ok but their songs still lack structure and purpose
- The Horrors: the band we came to see and they were brilliant!
- Woven Hand: yes again and the sound is better here!

6-8-2009: Lokerse Feesten
Always a nice one to visit because it's cheap, easy to reach and a nice location. We saw:
- Nid&Sancy: still great live! Where's your acid brother? Fucking machines!
- Etienne de Crecy: better than expected and the cube-light show was great.
- Orbital: wow they were brilliant! Heaven is a place on earth!

21-8-2009: Pukkelpop
One of the best festivals! So much to see and do!
- The Airborne Toxic Event: loved their cd and they are good live but possibly better in a nice club
- Buraka som Sistema: the sound of kudura ;-)
- Glasvegas: I so wanted to see them and it was terrific! First Belgian gig too!
- The Ting Tings: fun!
- Vampire Weekend: a really nice band with happy songs
- Snow Patrol: love their songs and they are great live
- Fever Ray: brilliant atmosphere, totally loved it!
- Placebo: not their best gig but it's always nice to hear their songs
- dEUS: still one of Belgium's best
- Blood Red Shoes: it's nice but I had expected better
- Kraftwerk: great retro-futuristic fun!

Pont de Normandie

Going home: bye Bretagne , bye Normandie!

Lisieux

Calvados, Normandy, France: the biggest place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes!

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisieux