Nominated for Best Food Blog

And this has 'what' to do with Brussels DP you'll ask? Well, ok, ok, ok. I know. Nothing much... BUT a very small step for mankind, and given I am just at 1 vote ... a very small step for me too. Yet my Food and Wine blog was nominated (somewhere) for Best Food Blog. I thought I'd first share this news with you, and then kindly ask you to perhaps vote for me?

Is this awful behaviour from my side? I've never been nominated for something before so I have no idea how to go about this :) Any support counts!

More Brussels DP photos tomorrow.

NIR

Here the building which hosted the National Institute for Radio Broadcasting (1930). Today a listed public building, the 'steamship' has been restored and is owned by the Maison du Radio Flagey. One of my favorite bars is just at the bottom of the building.
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L'Archiduc

L'Archiduc. An art deco bar, home to artists, brokers and their secretaries (ok, that was back in 1937) this is one of my favorite jazz bars down town.

The big cast iron door shows an 'A', which probably stands for Archiduc, for Alice (the first owner) and most likely Amour as well.

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Marché Médiéval d'Etterbeek

The medieval market in Etterbeek. An annual event, where the whole family is welcome. There are games, there are horses and swords, there is food and there is beer. A good fun time out.

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Yellow

Idon't know what these two and the ladder stand for (except perhaps modern art?) - but I thought the ensemble looked cool. Found underground, at a metro station.

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Metro Colours

Just playing a little my camera and the Brussels DP over this weekend. Hopefully I'll bring some interesting photos and changes.

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I-Plus

If you happen to be in Brussels and come across these machines: they display information on the communes, the region, and public transport schedules.

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Tragedy

Don't ask me why, but this statue reminds me of a tragic theater figure.

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Nasreddin Hoca

You will probably wonder just as much as I did who this gentlemen is. Walking through Schaerbeek, and by complete chance, I came across Nasreddin Hoca.

And after some research I also figured out who Nasreddin Hoca is. A satirical sufi, a wise man found in the Near and Middle East in the Middle Ages. His actions and stories are illogical yet logical, rational yet irrational, bizarre yet normal. Sort of a satirical stand up comedian in modern day terms.

Do you have a similar figure in your popular culture?
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Cour des Comptes

The Brussels Court of Audit. The institution dates back to 1386, when Philippe le Hardi, duke of Bourgogne and count of Flanders established a court of auditors in Lille (back then part of Flanders and called Rijsel).

A beautiful building, don't you think?
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The Sound of Music

Starting the week with a little bit of music. Not a bad start.
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Rabbit Graffiti

A different graffiti I came across.

Long Weekend

This is where I spent part of my weekend. Anyone guess?

Dancing Feet

Where are the dancing feet?

Mourning (Marronniers) Day

Not one to bring sadness to the Brussels DP but this photo had to be shown. More because of the story behind it than anything else.

For weeks I lived the passionate story of the Uccle chestnut trees. Seems a rather harsh tree plague attacked (some of) the chestnuts on Ave. Winston Churchill, so they had to be cut down.

The number of chestnuts on the 'black list' goes up to 310 which of course enraged the 'chestnut protectors'. In the end however some of the chestnuts went so we had crosses and flowers all along the avenue. Sad and somehow surreal at the same time.

What does RIP stand for?
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Upside Down World

Looking at the world upside down. This photo comes after a special request from a reader, who pointed me in the direction of the upside down flying man. I understand this photo will be saved on a desktop in Brussels - so I hope it fulfills the expectations.

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Omelette Geante

There were already some clues yesterday (the writing on the back of the yellow coats): Confrerie de l'Omelette Geante de Malmedy. Which means as much as the confederation of the giant omelet from Malmedy.

You'll ask what this has to do with Brussels? Well this past weekend, Sunday, hopeful cooks met in down town Brussels to cook a giant omelet. 10,000 eggs were planned for the omelet and the whole city invited to taste. What no one (?) took into account was the changing weather. The mother of all storms came down on the omelet so in the end there was more water than egg. Here you see the disappointed cooks just before the omelet was poured out. Not a pretty sight!

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Mystery Photo

I would like to keep this photo as a mystery. Till tomorrow, when I will reveal what the two are talking about or indeed, looking at. Any ideas? There are some clues.

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Graffiti Sunday

I remember at a certain point we had graffiti Sunday. So ... Sunday ... shine.

More colourful than my graffiti, the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade took place down town Brussels. Unfortunately I missed it (it is a photographers dream!), but you can see some photos here.

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Bitte - Danke

No comment.

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European Flags

The last in the European series, the European flags outside the European Parliament. And as it's Friday, no more lessons.

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European Parliament

The European Parliament. Do I need to say more? A lighter version on the EP can be read here.

To quote 'The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the European Union. The 785 Members of the European Parliament are there to represent the citizens of Europe. They are elected once every five years by voters right across the 27 Member States of the European Union on behalf of its 492 million citizens.'

EU lesson no.4: at the EU level, neither the Parliament nor the Council may initiate EU legislation, only the European Commission can do so.

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Speaking Europe

Can you speak Europe? In a very European way, these are the signs pointing visitors' to the entrance at the European Parliament. Do you see your language here?

EU lesson no. 3 - Europe (EU) counts now 23 official languages, used for EU business.

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The Euro

I think (almost) everyone has heard or used the Euro. The single European currency in 13 countries, the Euro - in my opinion - changed Europe.

The Euro was already introduced as an accounting currency in 1999, but only took physical shape in 2002. Most EU countries joined in using the Euro, notably though the UK, Denmark and Sweden still do not use the Euro.

The currency consists of coins and notes.

The coins are of 2euro, 1 euro, 50cents, 20cents, 10cents, 5cents, 2cents, and 1cent. Interesting about the coins is that one side is identical to all countries using the Euro, the other representing a 'national' symbol. Trust me some coins have become real collectors items.

The notes are of 500euro, 200euro, 100euro, 50euro, 20euro, 10euro and 5euro and are all the same throughout the countries using the Euro. The design on the notes represents different European architectural styles.

The statue in the photo is Europa, holding the Euro and is situated in front of the European Parliament.

I would call this EU lesson no. 2.

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EU 50 years

Brussels is going European. Well, the whole EU is going European with the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Being in the heart of Europe, Brussels was marked since the beginning of this year by celebrations of all kind. Which is why I thought a 'European' week in photos might make a nice addition to the Brussels Daily Photo.

This past weekend, for example, the European Commission hosted a so-called 'open day', where one got the chance to see how the EU works from the inside. The EU open days were hosted as a run-up to the Europe Day (9 May).

If you are interested in the EU, when visiting Brussels, take advantage of the many Info Points - a good source for all things European.

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L'art prend le metro - Black and White

L'art prend le metro - art takes the tube. The artist Benoit van Innis. The tube station: Maelbeek.

A black and white take on, the underground art in Brussels. This particular artist has painted 8 portraits at the tube level, as well as two groups of people at the entrance. This is where I took this photo. The whole station has a very cold and minimalist feel about it as the paintings and general artistic expression is on actual tiles - a very cold material I find.

Previously in the series of l'art prend le metro:
Eddy Merckx tube station.
Coovi tube station.
Heysel tube station.
Parvis de Saint Gilles tube station.
Horta tube station. More Horta.
Porte de Hall tube station.
Albert tube station.
Montgomery tube station. More Montgomery.
Louisa tube station. More Louisa.
Bourse tube station. More Bourse.
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Le Petit Spirou

To continue on the famous Brussels cartoons: there are not only the cartoon walls. Brussels has also recently renamed (or double named) 31 streets after famous cartoon characters. The first one up on this new discovery trail is the Rue Le Petit Spirou.

Le Petit Spirou was created in 1987 by Tome & Janry, and follows the adventures of an elementary school boy - Spirou.
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The Sun

Walking home from work I came across the sun! I think many missed this sign, but isn't it just so cute? With the sun still shining bright in Brussels I thought this would be a good way to finish the week. Sunny weekend everyone.

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Colour

Some colour for today, granted, in jars. These colour filled jars are part of the 'Vous Etes Ici' exhibition, previously photographed.
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Chateau Duden

A very sunny photo of the Chateau Duden, located in the Parc Duden. Built in 1860 by Guillaume Duden (a German trader) the castle hosts today the INRACI - the institute for radio-electricity and cinematography.

The Chateau Duden is today the property of the Belgian Royal family, to which it was given in 1912.

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Nottingham

Missed the actual theme day, but just to give you an idea - we have been to the UK. Sheffield, York, Nottingham, Milton Keynes and back to Brussels. So take a look at Nottingham DP for my belated theme day.