Last Saturday we explored the region West of Mons some more. As said before, this is where Vincent van Gogh worked with the poor.
We were especially impressed by two small towns on both sides of the Belgian/French border, Quievrain and Quievrechain.
The first looks reasonably prosperous, rather well maintained, and is connected to the Belgian railway network. The latter, in France, looks tired and seems to have suffered too much from industrial decline. It makes the impression that the French government has forgotten about this little place so close to the border: No Man's Land.
The state of decay, the feeling of menace, puts Valerie off completely. I, on the other hand, am fascinated by that haunted atmosphere, the camera just won't stand still.Conclusion: I need to go back there on my own. A satisfying solution for our difference in feeling.
Here a QuickTime slideshow of all this weekend's photos.(2Mb).
Guest of the Week
The ship on the shipyard this week is called Trio. Repairing the bottom is Frits.
Photos Koos Fernhout
4 comments:
Hi Koos,
I do agree with you. Great places to wander and absorb. I love those 'fogotten' cities.
Keep on clicking...the camera, not the mouse ;-)
Erik-Jan.
Hi Koos,
I always enjoy your travelogue pictures, especially the ones less travelled by others. The architecture is interesting, and I like reading your impressions of the places you visit. I like your solution- I have never been afraid to separate while on holidays just to do my thing, if my thing differs from his.
I hope you're keeping well.
Anne-Marie
Hi Koos,
Some strange things are happening to some portholes in Rotterdam....
Maybe the "Spits" is be-witched.
Never found your guest of this week though, also gone;-)
Erik-Jan.
Dear Koos
No Man's Land, indeed!
Your photos do bring out the feeling of loneliness & neglect. It's odd how a bit of land in between two different governments can become so forgotten.
I especially like the photo of the building standing by itself, looking about to fall over, only to be held up by the power lines.
Like AM, I also enjoy the photos of the less travelled places in Europe. If I was ever to visit, I would like to do that kind of tour.
Thanks again for sharing your travels with us.
Love
Dale
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