The Flanders

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Trip Start Aug 23, 1996 Previous
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  Ypres, Belgium
Sunday, June 17, 2007

The Head

Normally, I drop these pain killer sleeping tablets to make me sleep. I'm not a great lover of taking meds, but if I sleep, Lucy does as well, which is all good. However, last night I hit the beers, and I don't mix beers and drugs, but I slept like a log, well at least until 06:30, that's when the mother of all hangovers kicked in. I downed some drugs, then got my act together. There are a couple of known hangover cures, so John, who owns the Shellhole, cooked me a nice greasey English breakfast, to kick the headache into touch !!!

Chocolates

Everytime we come to Ypre, we always buy chocolates. In fact, one year we brought Lucy's mum here, and she stole all the samples !!! We always use the same Tea Shop, as we consider them the best. John asked us where we bought from, and after telling him, he said that the Tea Shop is the oldest and the best, and if you mentioned John and the Shellhole, you will get a discount. Once the shop opened, true to John's word, the discount came, so if you read this mum, the chocolates are in the post !!! We also bought up on cherry beer for both the girls, and various others. Once done, we headed off into the Flanders

Langemark

A lot has to be said about German efficiency. This cemetery is one of my all time favourites. It is so German and so functional !!! In fact, since we were here last year, they have built a little centre with video screens showing the devestation of the surrounding area. There are over 44000 people buried there.

St Juliaan

Another Canadian memorial for the victims of a gas attack. Yes it's large, but as I told you yesterday why the Canadians build these things. It is impressive as well. Everytime I come here, I stop and look. I will be the first to say that I am not a great lover of Canadians (other than you Sandy!!!), but I am always impressed by their memorials.

Tyne Cot

The largest Commonwealth cemetery in the Flanders area. As we are coming up to the 90th year, a visitors centre has been built as well. Once, there were three bunkers, guarding the German's strong points. They were taken out, and after the war, incoporated into the site. Row upon row of headstones, all with roses attached. The smell was amazing, so un Belgium like !!! There is also a large Kiwi memorial here and a blank wall, awaiting more names as bodies are still being uncovered. A nice touch are the two German headstones in the centre. They arrived as enemies, left as friends.

Lunch

When in Belgium, two comments are true. It rains alot and there is always a smell of cow shit (except at Tyne Cot, because of the roses!!!). Today, the weather was glorious. We got lost on numerous roads, but eventually we arrived at the Old Cheese Dairy. We sat outside, Lucia drinking cherry beers as per usual. She is addicted to that shit, but then again, she has Flemish blood. Croques were ordered and eaten, then we just sat in the sun for a couple of hours, soaking it up. I could have stayed there all day, it was so good

Hill 60

We came here as there was an Australian memorial. It's set up on a hill, and all around are pock marks in the ground from the battles that were fought here. The remains of bunkers are littered amongst the trees. I had never been here before, but it was very relaxing traipsing around the site.

Pool Of Rememberance

We came here in '98, and it was dark, both in the sky and the feeling. The tunnellers had dug in over 50 metres, then the sappers laid around 18 mines. 17 went off, one remains still to this day. In the crater, a pool had been created, and fish now swim. It felt so different this time. There was life all around, unlike the deathly feel from last time.

Homewards

As we neared the border to France, Ed became excited. As he travels on a Frog passport, we all, except Lucia, burst into the French national anthem. Lucia was sad, she was leaving behind her ancestory, but we can always come back and watch her drink more cherry beer !!!

Calais

One last quick shop at a bottlo for wine. It's quite easy spending a shitload on wine and champers, but then again, this is France where wine is so cheap, and you get loads for your money. Eventually, we found the train and lined up with the other punters, then it was our turn, and not long after, we were back on British land. How sad !!!

And Finally

Just in case you are wondering, I do not like wars. I come over here for the history. I have been to Normandy, and I found it a little to in your face, where as the Somme and Flanders, are so relaxing. For a daytrip from the UK, it's great, and I can see Lucy and me doing it again. Would you like to join us again Zento ???

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

001 Chocolates in Ypres	002 Chocolates in Ypres	003 Chocolates in Ypres	004 Chocolates in Ypres
005 Ed, Lucy & Lucia outside the Tea Shop	006 David Buying Beers in Ypres	007 Minature Cloth Hall, Ypres	008 The Cloth Hall, Ypre
009 Beach Volleyball !!!!! Ypres	010 Beach Volleyball !!!!! Ypres	011 Poppies, Langemark	012 Poppy, Langemark
013 Poppy, Langemark	014 Entrance, Langemark	015 German Names, Langemark	016 German Names, Langemark
017 Wreaths, Langemark	018 Gravestones, Langemark	019 Cross Langemark	020 Gravestone, Langemark
021 Four Crosses, Langemark	022 Four Statues, Langemark	023 Cross and Gravestone, Langemark	024 Cross and Gravestone, Langemark
025 Gravestone, Langemark	026 Bunker, Langemark	027 Bunker, Langemark	028 Cross, Langemark
029 Gravestones and Wreath, Langemark	030 Gravestone, Langemark	031 Gravestones, Langemark	032 Crosses, Langemark
033 Langemark	034 Canadian Monument, St Juliaan	035 Canada, St Juliaan	036 Canadian Monument, St Juliaan
037 Canadian Monument, St Juliaan	038 Lucy, St Juliaan	039 Gravestones, Tyne Cot	040 Gravestones, Tyne Cot
041 Gravestones & Bunker, Tyne Cot	042 Bunker, Tyne Cot	043 Gravestones and Cross, Tyne Cot	044 Canadian Gravestone, Tyne Cot
045 New Zealand Gravestone, Tyne Cot	046 New Zealand Gravestone, Tyne Cot	047 Australian Gravestone, Tyne Cot	048 Roses, Tyne Cot
049 Roses, Tyne Cot	050 New Zealand Memorial, Tyne Cot	051 Tyne Cot	052 Tyne Cot
053 Tyne Cot	054 Awaiting Names, Tyne Cot	055 Three Gravestones, Tyne Cot	056 Cross, Tyne Cot
057 Canadian Gravestone, Tyne Cross	058 Gravestones and Cross, Tyne Cross	059 Memorial, Tyne Cross	060 Wreaths and Crosses, Tyne Cross
061 Jewish Australian Grave, Tyne Cot	062 German Gravestone, Tyne Cot	063 German Gravestone, Tyne Cot	064 Gravestones, Tyne Cot
065 Cheese	066 Cappuccino	067 Cheesey Australia	068 Pool Of Rememberance
069 Pool Of Rememberance	070 Memorial, Hill 60	071 Bunker, Hill 60	072 Bunker, Hill 60
073 Bunker, Hill 60	074 Bunker Remains, Hill 60	075 Bunker Remains, Hill 60	076 Bunker Remains, Hill 60
077 Hill 60	078 Flowers, Hill 60	079 Australian Memorial, Hill 60	080 Australian Memorial, Hill 60
081 Memorial, Hill 60	082 Poppy, Hill 60	083 The Golf, Hill 60	084 Bunker
085 Entering France	086 Aston Martin, Calais	087 Line of Cars, Calais	088 The Golf in the Line, Calais
089 Golf on the Train	090 Empty Station, Calais	091 Another Train, Calais

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