Prowling my world, camera in hand

6 February 2019

Week 05: quick trip to Brussels, then Friday at the office

Filed under: — Administrator @ 22:53

Most of this week’s images are related to my job, but in very different ways. In the early part of the week I had a quick trip to Brussels for a meeting at the European Commission on Tuesday afternoon. Once back in the office, we had the “last-Friday-of-the-month” noontime drink, except that we did on the first Friday of February instead becase our office had arranged a charity run on the last Friday of January.

5_1
But as usual, I started the week on two wheels in the mountains. While taking a break on this little square in Jijona, I photographed my bike leaning against a mural of the town as it looked 100 years ago:
R005140

5_2
There is a plaque commemorating “those who fought for liberty and democracy” during the Civil War, i.e. the republican side:
R005141

5_3
The streets in Jijona are steep, so it takes some energy just to walk to buy the newspaper:
R005145

5_4
On the way home, a pastoral scene in El Campello, depicting the mix of modernity and tradition here:
R005161

5_5
Later, a walk along the beach in El Campello. A man in good company:
DSF3559

5_6
On Tuesday morning I flew to Brussels, departing at an ungodly hour, but still enjoying the familiar sights of Brussels airport, such as Tintin’s moon rocket in the main hall:
R005150

5_7
This bar I had not noticed before, but it is quite striking:
R005149

5_8
My colleague and I descended to the train station under the airport to take the train to Schuman, the heart of the EU quarter. I used a graffiti-covered train car for a selfie of sorts:
R005152

5_9
Twenty minutes later, we were at Schuman, walking along the Berlaymont (headquarters of the EU Commission) to our hotel:
DSF3560

5_10
Around Berlaymont are various buildings housing other parts of the Commission, such as DG TRADE, where I often stop to photograph the statues on the wall:
DSF3563

5_11
We had enough time to check into our hotel and have lunch before the meeting started at 2 p.m. We went to Kitty O’Shea’s for lunch, a place where I go for a beer or two every time I am in town (because it is a nice place and always a short walk from whichever hotel I am staying in). However, this was the first time I have ever eaten there (it was good). Kitty’s is the kind of bar where the TV is tuned to news and current affairs channels rather than entertainment or sport:
DSF3561

5_12
After our meeting, we took the metro to the centre and walked around a bit. This is Boulevard Anspach, an important thoroughfare in the centre which has recently been made pedestrian:
DSF3566

5_13
DSF3567

5_14
All this walking made me thirsty, so I guided us to my favourite bar in the centre, Poechenellekelder, just across from the Mannekin Pis. The beer menu is one of the reasons I like this place:
DSF3574

5_15
Poechenellekelder is often crowded, unsurprisingly:
DSF3573

5_16
Having fortified ourselves with a couple of beers, we walked on. Finding Grand’ Place is not difficult, given the height of the tower at Brussels city hall:
DSF3568

5_17
One of the many small streets leading to Grand’ Place:
DSF3575

5_18
The square in all its splendour:
DSF3577

5_19
This restaurant was our goal:
DSF3580

5_20
It is a Brussels favourite, serving traditional Belgian food such as stoemp or waterzooi. I have been going there since I first moved to Brussels in 1995 and have continued to visit regularly after moving away in 2000. The place looks the same as it did when I first set foot there more then 20 years ago:
DSF3579

5_21
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Kitty O’Shea’s for a nightcap:
DSF3583

5_22
I woke up early on Wednesday morning and went for a brief walk around the hotel. As predicted in the weather forecast the day before, light snow was falling:
DSF3584

5_23
I love taking city photographs in weather like this:
DSF3586

5_24
Later in the morning, we made our way to the Schuman station to take the train to the airport. There was little bit of snow in front of Berlaymont:
R005154

5_25
The last photo in Brussels this time around. There was enough winter weather for the plane to need de-icing and there was another 20-minute delay while the runway was being cleared:
R005156

5_26
Then Friday arrived and it was time for our drink at the office (and good munchies as well). I have recently decided to use my 11-year old Leica M8 more often, and it is perfectly suited for this type of photography. So all the images from the Friday event are shot with that camera, and a 50-year old Summilux 50mm lens. Claire and Stephanie:
L1013426

5_27
Carolina and Jesús:
L1013436

5_28
Pouring the wine:
L1013440

5_29
Franciska has caught me in the act:
L1013442

5_30
Our Polish secretary Kasia, enjoying herself:
L1013444

5_31
Blanca, in a good mood too:
L1013456

5_32
Stephanie wants wine!
L1013450

5_33
Nino in good company:
L1013461

5_34
Two Greek ladies in serious conversation:
L1013462

5_35
Stephanie explains to Massimo the joys of salchichón with trufles:
L1013475

5_36
Finally, a sequence of three images of a Greek lady trying a Finnish liquorice liqueur called Koskenkorva Salmiakki. First, pouring:
L1013484

5_37
Tasting:
L1013485

5_38
Reacting. It is safe to say that Koskenkorva is an acquired taste:
L1013486

5_39
I finish with yet another pre-dawn picture from my neighbourhood, but not from the beach. This is our local fish shop, getting ready to open, around 7:45 in the morning. I am strangely fascinated by this place:
R005159

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Powered by WordPress