A trip to Bruges and Ypres

While a constant threat, COVID-19 is subsiding enough in Europe that borders are open between EU countries and travel is allowed. After non-stop work for months, R and I decided we needed a wee break and headed to Belgium last weekend. You've heard of the John McCrae poem, "In Flanders Fields"? Ypres is literally in Flanders Fields. Bruges is a beautiful medieval city about an hour from Ypres. As a quick reminder, here's the poem:

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

We learned in Ypres that the war itself - the nitrogen in the explosives, the lime in the ruined buildings, the blood and bone of the fallen soldiers (900,000 British alone) and animals - created a perfect environment for poppies to flourish. There weren't all that many poppies before the war, but during and after? A lot. The poppy became a symbol of WWI, and of remembering veterans.

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather, and the weekend was full of history, scenery, and quiet reflection. It was perfect.  A few photos:

In a British cemetery in Ypres.

It makes me cry.

The ramparts that surround Ypres.

The passageway between the Cloth House and the Cathedral in Ypres.

The Cloth Guild House in Ypres - completely destroyed in WWI and subsequently rebuilt.

We stayed in a hotel right on the square in Ypres - this was the view from our window.

Another view as the sun was setting.

This is the Menin Gate - a monument to the 54,000+ fallen British war dead. There is a ceremony there every night.

The cathedral in Bruges.

One of the many bridges that straddle the canals in Bruges.

Couple selfie!

Taken right after we explored the city through a canal boat trip!

Our canal trip starting point.

A quintessential Flemish-style building. We were told you can tell this building is authentic because the windows are large on the bottom and get progressively smaller the higher you go. The large windows were to allow maximum viewing when the inhabitants were showing off their wealth by having fabulous parties.

Another view - gorgeous!

Schengen

On Sunday R and I headed out to Schengen, a small town in the southeastern part of Luxembourg. We had heard of the town and knew its historic European significance, but were surprised when we happened upon a commemorative ceremony celebrating the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. It was just luck that we had decided to explore the town on that day.

Other than those gathered for the commemoration, there weren't a lot of people around - which made it a perfect day for hiking around the town, free from any crowds or other tourists. The weather was mild and cool, and we enjoyed a couple of hours of sweeping landscape and vineyards.

The Moselle.

I loved the wake of the swan's glide.

A piece of the Berlin wall.

A sculpture representing all of the countries in the Schengen Area - I assume that people from these countries place the padlocks on the space depicting their homeland.

It's a wish of so many.