Solden

Solden. Soldes.

They're not on Google Translate, but I know what they mean 'cause they're all over the place. When you see this sign in the window, it means that something is on sale. Not just for sale, but on sale. A discount. After each season, these signs go up in all the stores downtown.

Prepared for all foreigners too.

But here's the interesting thing about it. It only lasts a couple of weeks. Every store, I presume in all of Belgium, apparently sets a specific date when the "sale" or "solden" is going to begin. And just as specific is the date when it's all over. Suddenly on a Monday, every store, EVERY store has all new merchandise for the upcoming season. I assume they spend all day Sunday making this transition.

I made my way downtown last week to check out the shoes 'cause as we all know, one can never have too many shoes. And lo and behold I found a pair. Just the one pair and at less than €100, is actually a bargain here.

Downtown Hasselt on one of the sales days.

I think it's a good concept. Everyone knows the sale is on and it's an event. Some people even take a day of vacation from work for this. The streets are crowded with shoppers looking for a bargain. And for good reason - I think I may have mentioned once or twice that everything here is expensive!

Well, except beer.

Freedumb

Freedumb of speech and freedumb to be a complete idiot.

Alabama's new governor went straight from taking his oath of office and headed across the street to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to honor MLK, Jr.

I'm pretty sure MLK, Jr. would not have been honored.

More fuel to the fire for the rest of the country, let alone the rest of the world, to view the South with reproach.

In his speech, the new Alabama governor said "Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother."

Jesus Christ! He's breaking all the rules right out of the gate!

Is he using his new office to advocate a religious conversion?

Did it slip his mind he's an elected official and that in America there's a constitutionally guaranteed right to "freedom of religion"? How about that old "separation of church and state"? He's walking a fine line.

And the old fear factor disguised as a way to witness. Was that an invitation or an exclusion? Oh, but he's apologized. Didn't mean to offend anybody.

For all of us still living in our own little world . . . there are over 2 billion Muslims and Hindus in the world. And there are over 1 billion Chinese of which 96% are not Christian.

There are almost 7 billion people in the world with only about 30% of them Christian. That's a whopping 70% who are something else or nothing.

Hello?! Does history always have to repeat itself? Do you ever think the tables might be turned? They have been before.

Can we all just respect each other and get along, for Christ's sake?!

Please.

Different

I guess I knew this day would come.

This past week I did some Spring cleaning (mostly cleaning out) despite it being only January. You may ask how I could possibly have anything to throw out in only a year and a half, but somehow it just accumulates. Like, for example, I had every instruction sheet from all our Ikea purchases. Yeah, those are gone now.

I am anything but a pack rat. I'm known for throwing things away. Even to the point when something is missing because someone else lost it, I receive all the credit for throwing it out. I understand that logic.

I figure Spring cleaning (albeit in January) is for when you've been some place long enough to have accumulated too much stuff. It also means you've been somewhere long enough that when you are away and you come back, you say you are "home".

That's where we are now. The new has worn off. By that I mean, we've pretty much figured this place out.

Belgium, that is.

And now we're different.

Not better or worse . . . just different.

Okay, just by living in a different country doesn't make me special or worldly. I certainly haven't survived a war or even prejudice, but let me just say that . . . I'm different.

We've talked about the time when we're back in the States - back to our old lifestyle; back to our old way of thinking.

No one really wants to hear about what life is like somewhere else. It may seem like they do, but they don't.

I get it.

I wonder if I will be able to go back to my old lifestyle; my old way of thinking. Will I see things from a different perspective that doesn't work any more?

Life here isn't quite the challenge it once was. Not complaining, for the record.

Of course this is still an adventure, but we live here. It's not a vacation. We live here.

I walk to the market, tote my groceries home in a fabric bag, ride my bike to town, park it in the foyer, pack my umbrella, take Winslow everywhere, and wear my warmups only at home :)

We have a doctor, a dentist, a salon, a veterinarian, friends. A routine.

We don't need our GPS anymore to run to Brussels or Cologne or Maastricht for the day.

Life in the States still seems so easy. Being able to read every sign at the DMV. Even that won't be a challenge.

I suppose I once feared maybe we'd be here too long and now perhaps I fear maybe we won't?

Chartres

Chartres, France, about an hour south of Paris, has a population of 40,000. It's most famous for the Chartres Cathedral. And you'll see why.

Although there are no other tourist attractions, the city itself is very quaint and pristine with many restaurants and shops.

Ross's friend Erica was visiting from the States and we were happy she could go with us to both Chartres and Paris. We enjoyed her visit and hope she will come see us again soon!

These are restaurants and shops across from the cathedral. The whole town is really picturesque.

And this is the Cathedral Notre Dame de Chartres.

It is definitely something to see. Constructed between 1193 and 1250, amazingly, today it is almost exactly like it was originally constructed.

As I'm sure you know, this cannot be said for most historic buildings which have been destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries.

I borrowed the picture above from the internet since on the day we visited it was very cloudy and difficult to take pictures inside. Check out the size of those columns compared to the people standing next to them.

The stained glass windows of the Cathedral of Chartres survive intact and the architecture has had only minor changes since the 13th century. Dating from as early as 1140, most of the total of 170 windows are from 1200-1250 and cover 21,000 sq. ft. These 170 windows have survived intact for 800 years! Through countless conflicts. I find that simply amazing.

And amazingly enough, it was neither destroyed nor looted during the French Revolution.

An outdoor labyrinth on one side of the cathedral.

There is the option to take this winding staircase and climb to the top.

And Jim, Ross, and Erica did it!

I had several good excuses for staying firmly on the ground.

But I sent my camera along and Jim snapped these pictures.

I read that on a clear day you can see the Eiffel Tower. Not so sure about that or exactly how many really clear days there are here, but I'd say this is amazing, even on a foggy day.

This is the stone inlaid Chartres Labyrinth (c. 1205) used for walking contemplation by monks and still used for meditation by pilgrims.

The Notre Dame de Pilar - The Black Madonna of Chartres.

This is a figure of Mary on a pillar, not to be confused with Virgin Mary nor Mary Magdelene. I read about this and the explanation is really still a mystery. They (black madonnas) are considered powerful healers and miracle workers standing for equality, justice and liberation.

To be clear, they were not just being politically correct back then.

In 876, the cathedral acquired the Sancta Camisa, believed to be the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary at the time of Christ's birth. Legend has it that it was a gift from Charlemagne, but in fact, the relic was a gift to the cathedral from Charles the Bald and it became an important object of pilgrimage closer to the 12th century.

Thanks again to the wonder of the internet, you can see in this picture above what a presence this place has in Chartres.

Chartres Cathedral. You just cannot imagine how beautiful (and huge) this place is, pilgrim.

Compiegne

We've driven to Paris several times and although France is a huge country, the road from Hasselt to Paris is a 4 hour drive through nothing but farmland. And toll booths.

In an effort to find a good stopping place to break up the trip and not get too far off the beaten path, Jim found the city of Compiegne. Located on the Oise River, Compiegne has a population of about 40,000.

This is their City Hall.

This is Eglise Saint-Antoine Church.

We had the whole place to ourselves.

This area was barricaded with an iron fence housing the remains of famous saints. You may be able to see the bones in those boxes.

In this same place, was this framed spike/nail so I took a picture thinking I could surely find some information about it on the internet. Well, I couldn't so I have no idea what this is. Railroad relic I presume.

That would be facetious. I know cathedrals rarely house railroad relics.

The Compiegne Palace

This royal residence assumed its present appearance in the reign of King Louis XV. After the Revolution, Napoleon I turned it into an imperial palace and did extensive restoration. From 1856 on, Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie organized the famous Compiegne Series each Fall inviting scientists, writers, artists and famous people to stay at the palace.

These next pictures were taken by Ross when he and his friend Erica toured the Palace. One of the few places Winslow wasn't welcome so we opted out of the tour.

Napoleon's bedroom.

Is that a bed? Did you know he was only 5' 2" tall? Oh yeah? Me too, same as me, I'm the same. I wish Ross had been in this picture to give it some perspective since he's about a foot taller than that.

"Drink me." comes to mind. And maybe a Chinese restaurant?

The Third Salon.

Not to be confused with the First and Second.

Napoleon medal

Napoleon was a master at cultivating his own glory by publicizing his victories and celebrating his rule and accomplishments. He had these medals struck to commemorate pretty much everything. They are beautiful.

The Salon des Cartes

Main staircase.

In the niche is a cast of Apollo.

This place was just completely deserted.

This is the Galerie de bal.

The ceiling has 12 compartments with paintings depicting the great battles of the empire.

Compiegne is also the site of Joan of Arc's capture on May 23, 1430. She traveled to Compiegne to help defend the city against an English and Burgundian siege. She ordered a retreat, assumed the place of honor as the last to leave the field. She was executed at the age of 19 on May 30, 1431.

So if you're looking for a good place to stop north of Paris, I recommend Compiegne, France. You won't have to stand in line at the palace or the church for all the other tourists 'cause there aren't any.