Six weeks non-stop travelling through countries I had
never been and learned the most enriching stuff of my whole life are behind my
back now. Im finally arriving into my own country where I was born. Whats
better to discover spots in nature where I have never been?
Given that I came southwards, my first stop is in the
Ardennes. This territory is sometimes called the green lung of Belgium and is
situated in Wallonia.
My first stop takes place in Bouillon[1],
a wonderful little city, dominated by Godfried
van Bouillonin the Middle Ages. Im
taking a walk to the Tombeau du Géant,
a wonderful phenomenon of Mother Nature which came into existence by year-long
sedimentation of the land.
The place where Im going next, is situated in the High Fensof Belgium, particularly the Naturpark Hohes Venn-Eifel. How a piece
of unspoiled surface can silence me mouse-still. For me this is just the
perfect place for the Belgians to come together. One can find Flemish, French
and German all together in perfect harmony, guided by pure nature. This is the
moment for hiring a bike and enjoying a mix of fields, forests, flowers, tiny
rivers etc.
Sadly enough, to every fairy tale comes an end and Im
awakening from my silly day-dreaming. Im heading to the other part of Belgium
that has also got to offer wonderful nature: Flanders wide and open fields. Where the poppies grow[2],
wrote John McCrae in 1915. Unfortunately, Im not at the coast but the reverse
side of the country, the region of Voeren[3].
If youre strongly interested in biking between picturesque villages, you have
to go there once in a lifetime. Not convinced yet? Well, the eternal sympathy
of the people of Limburg will persuade you.
To finish my green week, Im going to the Flemish
Ardennes where yearly the Tour of Flanders is held. In order to test my biking
skills, which I definitely improved over the last days I presume, Im riding
the route of Flanders most beautiful.
The last
country of our journey is Belgium. That's why I would like to mention some facts
to get to know Belgium a little bit better.
History
Belgium has
been called "an accident of history". It is made of leftovers of
other European countries like, e.g. Spain, France, Italy and Austria.
It was the Belgians who founded New York City.
General
In Belgium you can find the longest tramway
line in the world, namely the coast tram. This tram operates between De Panne
and Knokke-Heist, in other words it operates from the French border to the
Dutch border.
Our very own Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps is
the longest and the second oldest Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit which is still
in use.
Even as a little snow here in Belgium and
neighboring countries, we cant handle. The winter 2011-2012 we were able to
see the result of 5cm snow
Food and drinks
Typical for
Belgium are its beers: Belgium has the greatest diversity of beers (over 800),
many of them flavored with herbs, spices and fruits. And because we are famous
for our beer, the average of the beer consume is stated on 150 liters of beer
per person a year!
There are 3
sorts of Belgian waffles, namely Liege waffles, Brussels waffles and galettes.
Belgium is
also very well known for their chocolate. Therefore I want to mention some
great companies, all from Belgian origin. I am sure you are going to know the
following chocolate makers: Côte dOr, Guylian, Leonidas. And even better: the
Brussels International Airport is the Worlds biggest chocolate selling point.
Brussels
sprouts really do come from Belgium and have grown in the Brussels area for
over 400 years.
Finally
Ihopethat these factshave
helped you to get to knowBelgium alittlebetter. I ampleased that ourtripis over.We haveseenmany countriesand have learned many things of them. After thislongtripI'mglad to be homeagainandcanenjoy
everythingI already know.
The name of
Belgium goes back to the Belgae, a Celtic tribe whom Caesar described as the
most courageous tribe in all of Gaul. Its present surface occupies a part of
the Roman province of Belgica. The tribe was overwhelmed by Caesars forces
around 50 BC. It stayed a Roman province for about 300 years.
After this period, it was overwhelmed by the
Franks in the 5th century. Then
it was part of Charlemagnes empire in the 8th century. In the
Middle Ages, life centred around the towns where independent trading and
manufacturing were the main way of making a living.
Then followed
a period of centuries of war to end into the possession of the country by
Charles V around 1500. The arrival of Protestantism polarized the country into
2 hostile camps. The split was both geographical and political and resulted
into the northern provinces to become
the actual Netherlands. The Catholic south was more or less equivalent to
modern Belgium.
After 2 centuries of Spanish rule, the Austrian Hapsburgs controlled the
country from 1713. Napoleon annexed it to France in 1794 and in 1815, after his
defeat , Belgium was annexed to the Netherlands again. The people of Belgium
revolted and became independent in 1830.
Leopold I
was installed as the first king of Belgium. His successor, Leopold II,
colonized Congo in Africa and made it his personal possession.In European matters, Belgium always tried to
stay aside and succeeded in that until 1914 when Belgium was occupied by the
Germans under king Albert I.
Between the
2 world wars, there was a blooming of Flemish culture in northern Belgium and
an ethnic rivalry between the northern Dutch-speaking and southern
French-speaking emerged.
Belgium was
occupied in 1940 by the Germans again.It succeeded to win the war together with the Allies. The government
however, under Leopold III, who ruled in exile from the UK, was forced to
abdicate in 1951 in favour of his son Baudouin. This king granted independence
to Congo, and ruled until he died in 1993. He was followed by his brother
Albert II, who is still ruling.
If you
travel through France, you meet a great mixture of landscapes. There are green
forests, glittering rivers and a lot of mountains.
In northern
France you find the Paris Basin which has a flat type of landscape. In the
centre of this Basin is the city of Paris and the north side of the Basin melt
into the plains of Flanders.
In south-central France the peaks of land raise as high as 6,000 feet and the
land is mostly made by volcanic activity. This part of the country is named the
Massif Central.
The Alps
begin at the Mediterranean Sea where they are known as the Maritime Alps. Then
they go northwards and turn east where they enter Switzerland and Italy. The
highest point is on Mont Blanc which rises 15,771 feet.
The Pyrenees Mountains appear between France and Spain. The highest point of
the French part of the Pyrenees is Pic de Vignemale which rises 10,820 feet.
The Spanish part of the Pyrenees has higher peaks to above 11,000 feet.
In France
there are three main rivers, the Seine, the Loire and the Rhône. The longest
river is the Loire with a length of 634 miles. The water is coming from snow
melting from the mountaintops.
Because
France is bordered by 4 seas and 3 mountain ranges, theres also a blending of
weather patterns with different climatic conditions. The weather is determined
by the balance of force between oceanic weather systems from the west and
continental systems from the east.
There are 2 main climate zones. In the western and north-western half of
France, the climate is mainly oceanic. Its a mild climate but there is
rainfall possible at all times of the year.
The eastern side of France has generally a continental climate. It is drier
than western France, with winters that are colder and summers that are
hotter.Obviously the mountain areas
have a cooler climate.
If you want
to visit France it is advisable to consult the weather forecast for the part
you want to visit before you start to pack.
Absinthe is
a liquor based on anise, wormwood, fennel and some additional herbs. It is
usually green or yellowish green tint, but is sometimes bottled as a colorless
distillate.
At the
beginning of the 20th century Absinthe was banned in several European countries
because of alleged hallucinogenic effect and neurotoxicity of the substance thujone.
As a surrogate the company Pernod developed their famous anis, actually an
absinthe without wormwood. Other manufacturers entered the market with their
pastis, where the herbal extracts were not obtained by distillation but by
maceration.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Henri de
Toulose-Lautrec was a French
painter,
graphic artist and lithographer.
He was also
the decadent aristocrat who portrays delights in the sleaze, political chaos,
hypocrisy and loneliness of his time. He outlines the outcasts of his society,
in their most intimate moments. He is also the broken man, who is part of the
black night of Paris.
Camargue
The
Camargue is a triangular area lying on the coast between the
Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence.
Camargue horse
The
Camargue horse is one of the oldest breeds in the world. At birth they are
coloured dark brown or black, but turn white around the fourth year.
Camargue
horses are smaller than other modern horses. They are technically ponies. They
are used in rounding up Camargue bulls.
Weather
The climate
of the Camargue can be harsh, ranging from scalding heat in summer, sometimes
with 100% humidity, to desiccating cold whipped by icy winds from the Alps in
winter.
Typical French
To end
with, I decided to list some things that are typical French and you also
encounter a lot during your visit.
1. In their
daily lives, with every meal, they also serve baguette, with or without butter
2. As one
of the largest wine-producing
countries in the world, there should be of course a glass of wine at every meal.
The wines are named after the region where they are made, such as the famous
Bordeaux.
3. Champagne is produced in the Champagne
region. It is an elegant drink for many Dutch people, which is drunk on special
occasions, in France it may be drunk at every opportunity.
On my way to France, Im perceiving lots of
propaganda. Not surprising at all if you are a bit aware of the current politic
situation.
President Nicolas Sarkozy is
struggling with main candidate François
Hollande. Also Marine Le Pen et François Bayrou are still in the running
for the title of President. However, it seems like its going to be a clear
battle between liberals and socialists. The results of polls prove that its
going to be an equal presidential contest.[1]
On 6 May 2012, the Frenchmen will know how matters stand.
Basically, politics of France cant be told in just
three hundred words. Because its a country with such a rich politic background
dating back to the Middle Ages, even a hundred books still cant describe its
process.
The official type of governance is a unitary semi-presidential republic with
strong democratic undertones. Thats a mouthful for what means that the
President is the head of state and the Prime Ministers leading the Government.
Democratic influences are to notice by the multi-party system.
The two main political parties in the Government are the UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) and the
PS (Socialist Party). Sarkozy sides
with the UMP, the rather conservatives who tend to liberalism unlike the PS,
standing behind François Hollande.[2]
The last emperor who reigned France was a nephew from
Napoleon. From then on, presidents took control. Currently France is in the
Fifth Republic, which began in 1959. Charles de Gaulle became head of state in
that year and apparently he was the best Frenchman France has ever known
according to a national poll in 2005 going by the name of Le plus grand Français de tous les temps.[3]
Obviously, second in the row of head of states on the sixteenth place was
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Staring at a poster of Nicolas Sarkozy, I wonder if he could ever get in the
top ten of that list.
After the natural wealth of Algeria, la bella Italia is waiting for me. Traveling
by boat from Algiers to Catania, I made a stop in Malta, the little island in
the Mediterranean Sea.
Italy is split up in three big parts: the biggest part and peninsula, also
known as the boot, referring to the shape of it, Sardinia and Sicily, where I
discover the first things.
Sicily or the volcano island is surprisingly most known for its volcanos. The
largest active volcano of Europe is probably the Etna. The island with triangular shape[1]
characterised by its hilly terrain. The climate is typically Mediterranean.
With a volcanic little stone in my pocket as a
souvenir, Im heading to the mainland. The ferryboat helps me to get there in Reggio Calabria.
Given that there is so much to say about Italy, Im conscious of the fact I
have to make decisions so I move on northwards to buy a bottle of Tuscan wine.
Im enjoying its landscape comprising beautiful hills intersected by vineyards
and scenic villages. The sun shines and a light breeze is running through my
soft hair. Im nearly a poet because of the influence of Tuscany[2].
Time passes by and I have to hurry to my next
destination, the very north of Italy. I arrive at Lago Maggiore , the protracted lake just underneath Switzerland.
To rest from a nice and filled day, I unfold my folding chair with my glass of
Tuscan wine next to me, watching the sunset and reading the marvellous quote of
Anna Akhmatova : "Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your
life." [3]
Italy has a
long history during which the city of Rome came to dominate, although there were
also many interesting developments outside Rome.
Because
this history is so rich, we decided to explain a few events a little further.
Rome
The history
of Rome is unclear. When the city became powerful, legends were born about the
foundation and origin of the city and its empire. The "official"
version became that Aeneas, son of Aphrodite, came from Troy to Latium. His son
Ascanius founded Alba Longa. Finally Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars and
Rhea Silvia, the daughter of the king of Alba Longa, founded the city of Rome.
The foundation year was set to 752 BC.
Pompeii
Pompeii was
one of a number of towns located near the base of the volcano, Mount Vesuvius. An eruption occurred on 24 August 79.
It was heat which
was the main cause of death and for a long time people believed that the main
cause was ash suffocation. The people and buildings of Pompeii were covered in
up to twelve different layers of tephra, in total 25 meters deep, which rained
down for about 6 hours.
With that burst,
a lot has been preserved in good condition. Without this incident there would
have been much less information available about the Romans.
March to Rome
In late October
1922, it was decided to take over the capital Rome. It was decided to march to
Rome from four different directions, and then a takeover of the city should
follow.
The Prime Minister wanted to set in the army
against the fascists, but the approval of King Victor Emmanuel III was needed. He
feared a civil war when soldiers would overflow. The government fell and the
king offered the premiership to Mussolini. Mussolini accepted and went straight
to Rome. He became prime minister of a coalition cabinet of Fascists,
Catholics, liberals and socialists. But Mussolini soon turned against his
coalition partners and threw them one by one from the coalition.
Italy has
been a democracy since the end of World War II. Theres an electoral college
whose members are representative for the popular vote. They have the
responsibility to elect the countrys president. The president in turn elects a
prime minister from the reigning coalition in the parliament.
It is a
bicameral legislature with a 315-member Senate and a 630-member Chamber of
deputies. These are directly elected by popular vote and the members serve the
country for 5 years.
The
biggest party is Forza Italia, who was led by Silvio Berlusconi until end 2011
and he was also the leader of the coalition. This party wants to reduce the
role of the state in the economy and wants to quicken privatization.
The Northern League shares these ideas but also wants to increase political and
fiscal autonomy for all regions. The regions have to provide several services
like education, health care and transport. The National Alliance is the most
right-wing party and mostly wants to limit foreign immigration in order to
secure the integrity of the national territory.
Because of the enormous debt of the country, which reached up to 1.900 billion
euros, a new government was installed in the end of 2011 and was led by Mario
Monti. He is member of no party and his first aim is to solve the debt problems
of Italy.
Italy
joined 5 other countries when they signed the 1951 Paris Treaty which was the
beginning of the European integration. In 1999 Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was elected
president. Its this man who made Silvio Berlusconi prime minister by the
following legislative elections in 2001. Silvio Berlusconi engaged a more
Eurosceptic mentality. He tried to connect Italy more to the US. So did he
support the US-led campaign in Iraq. From 2006 to 2008, the Europhile Romano
Prodi, the ruling prime minister, pulled the Italian troops out of Iraq and
tried to fix the relations with the other members of the European Union.
The
biggest challenge for the ruling government is to improve the situation of the
tax system. This is a complicated matter because there are countless taxes that
each citizen has to pay. Moreover taxation is very elevated, representing 43.3
percent of the GDP. The government is trying to improve it, but there is still
a gigantic amount of work to do.
Tunisia has an ancient civilization completely mixed with modern European
influences. This results in a very liberal Islamic country.
The
majority of the Tunisians are followers of the Islam and they are guided by the
Quran and the actions of the Prophet. They have to pray five times a day and
the exact times are listed in the newspaper. During the holy month of Ramadan
they all must fast from daybreak till sunset and they only work 6 hours a day.
During the Ramadan they are not permitted to eat, drink or smoke. At night,
family and friends come together to celebrate. In general, everything happens
more slowly, even businesses operate on a decreased level.
Family
relations are very important for the Tunisians. An individual is always of
minor importance than the family which includes the nuclear and the extended
family.
Handshakes
are the habitual salutations for individuals of the same sex. When its a
salutation between a men and a woman, its the woman who first extends her
hand. If not, a men has to bow his head in acknowledgement. They usually do not
show any affection in public and have no dates before getting married. Also the
public bath-houses, called Hammams, are separate for both sexes.
The
national language of Tunisia is Arabic. Due to the French influences, French is
a second spoken language, especially in commercial matters. Some businessmen
are now also speaking English and Italian.
The
clothing is different for every region, though much is influenced by
Western-style of clothing. In the villages, traditional dresses are still worn,
especially by elderly people. If youre invited by an Tunisian family, its
important to be well-dressed because its a sign of respect for your host.
The
traditional music of Tunisia is Malouf, which is played by small orchestras,
consisting of violins, drums, sitars and flutes. Malouf is imported from
Andalusia after the Spanish conquest in the 15th century. If you want to hear a
piece of music, you can watch this little movie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoyogeV-aaY
