FIREWORKS TONIGHT !

Fireworks at Eiffel Tower - Paris

Tonight the Dutch will go wild with fireworks at midnight again.... A rough estimate says that a total of € 50.000.000 (yes... fifty million Euros!) worth of fireworks will go up in the air or bang in the streets this year.

My all-time favourite fireworks display was definitely at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. No,.. I was not among the lucky ones to witness the spectacular Millennium Fireworks (1999/2000), and YES am still jealous!!!

This shot was taken at the Bastille Day celebration in 2004, when I was in Paris for the Quatorze Juillet festivities. Also saw the impressive military parade on the Champs Elysées.

US Marine Drum & Bugle Corps

Drum major of the US Marine D&B Corps

Giants Stadium 2005

The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps was formed in 1934, at historic Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., to augment the United States Marine Band. The unit provided musical support to ceremonies around the nation's capitol and, during World War II, was additionally tasked with Presidential support duties. For this additional role, they were awarded the scarlet and gold breastcord by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which they now proudly display on their uniform.

In the early 1950s the unit gained considerable acclaim performing for an increasing number of civilian audiences. Music composed specifically for their unique selection of instruments helped establish their reputation for excellence during this period. These factors also led to the unit's formal designation as "The Commandant's Own"-a title noting their special status as musicians for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In the tradition of their "field music" predecessors, these musicians in "The Commandant's Own" are Marines in the truest sense of the word. Every enlisted member is a graduate of Marine Corps recruit training and is trained in basic infantry skills. Prior to enlisting, each Marine must pass a demanding audition for service in the Drum and Bugle Corps. Following Recruit Training and Marine Combat Training, the Marines are assigned to "The Commandant's Own."

Throughout the summer months the unit performs in the traditional Friday Evening Parades held at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and in Sunset Parades at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Monument) in Arlington, Va., every Tuesday evening.

Orléans - Joan of Arc

Projections on the Cathedral in Orléans

Every year the city of Orléans (France) has its Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) Festival in the month of May.

A long, well-attended, folklore parade takes the crowd back into the time of Joan. Lots of folklore group are dressed like farmers and traditional costume.
Also every year a new "Joan" is elected. She is dressed in a harnass and gets to ride a horse in the parade. Very impressive celebration.

The absolute highlight of the festivities used to be the moment the cathedral was "set on fire". Unfortunately this year was the first time this long-time tradition was not continued.

Since a few years the commemoration has included beautiful light-projections on the cathedral facade.

Reflection of a drummer

At the most recent Bandshow taptoe, the annual event organised by Showkorps WIK from Oostende, I shot this picture of a snare drummer in the bell of one of the musicians (a tuba player) of showband Juliana from Amersfoort.

Always a great event to attend. Most of the time it's like going to a reunion, meeting so many people I know there.

The event is very well-run by the board and members of the local band WIK!

A Beauty !!

Wanted to post this photo earlier, but was afraid my brother or sis-in-law would check the blog and find out before they opened the gift under the tree...

Their 4 months old daughter - and my favourite member of our family - Ruby.

Merry X-mas everyone!!!!!!

Naked & Sexy ?

Naked fish... Sexy?
Well,... I just wondered if that's what other fish think....

I'm allergic to them.
On a plate that is... not in an aquarium !
I love 'em there!

Need more pink?

This one looks a little pale....
Blijdorp Zoo - Rotterdam - The Netherlands

Jazz Connection

There's a lot of Jazz Bands I enjoy listening to, but Jazz Connection has the full package! This is not a band to just listen to and enjoy, but this is a
true jazz experience.

Saw them at Breda Jazz the last few years, invited them for a performance at Dixie Dordt and try to make it to at least a number of concerts every year.

Last summer the band had a great project with female singer Marjon van Iwaarden: "A Morrisson Feeling". Jazz, blues, soul, New Orleans, Ballads,.... you name it,... Jazz Connection's got it!

A MUST-SEE at Café Dante during the annual Breda Jazz Festival.

Definitely my favourite Dutch band alright!

What are YOU looking at?

At the ZOO

Pretty bird!

Blijdorp in Rotterdam is a very nice zoo. Great variety.

Oceanium recently added! Walking through a glass tunnel surrounded by sharks... creepy!

Titus Brandsmacollege anniversary

Group shot....

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the school I used to teach at, I suggested taking an unusual group shot. Traditionally every class has their picture taken at the beginning of the school year.

Getting ALL kids together in one photo was quite a challenge. After having marked a huge 4 and 0 on the grass field close to the school, we asked all kids to come outside and fill the numbers. This project only took about 20 minutes, and everyone was back in their classrooms again enjoying their next lesson.

Enjoy your meal

Scorpion - MMMmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Every country has its own national specialty as far as food is concerned. The Dutch and French are known for their cheese, The Brits for their Yorkshire Pudding, Italians for their pizza, Spaniards for Paëlla, and the Chinese for their fried rice and noodles with all sorts of meat and fish, preferably sit-fried.

In Europe the saté sticks have become very popular, but we only know them with chicken, pork or beef.

When I was in Beijing in 2003 I was stunned by the most unusual delicatessen served at an outdoor foodmarket.

A wide variety of different sorts of what we'd call saté:

snails, centipede, seahorse, seastar, cocoons, squid, chicken heart, silkworm, froglegs (the whole thing), grasshoppers,... and most disgusting of all... little scorpions!!! And even worse,.. they were still alive when fried.

In the bottom left corner something to really make you puke: young sparrow!

Dessert please!!!

Free erection...

Need more to be said????

Are things in other countries not considered as funny as we think they are?

I saw this sign in Ripley (Surrey) - England, a promo sign for the local Timber Garden Shed company.

We had a hard time keeping the car straight from laughing. Pulled over,.. reversed, and took the picture.

Colours of Costa Maya

In 2003 I took a Western Caribbean Carnival Cruise to exotic places such as Belize, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico).
Totally different cultures, each with their own long and rich history.
Especially loved the use of colour in Mexico.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde - Paris

The Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, is situated along the Seine at the beginning of the Champs Elysées.
Jacques Ange Gabriel, Louis XV's architect, began construction in 1754 and completed it in 1763. It was thus called the Place Louis XV.

It became the Place de la Révolution and held in its center the guillotine that executed in particular Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and 2800 others between 1793 and 1795.

The place today maintains the general appearance that it had in the eighteenth century. The statue of Louis XV - removed during the Revolution - was replaced by the Obelisk of Luxor given to Louis Phillipe by the viceroy of Egypt, Mohamed Ali.

At each corner of the octagon shaped square there is a statue that represents one of the large French cities: Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Brest and Rouen.

ÉCOUTE !!!

"L'écoute"- Henri de Miller

Modern scuplture at the place René Cassin in the Jardin des Halles, Paris. Great contrast with the St. Eustache church in the background!

What a GREAT WALL!!

Great Wall of China at Badaling - May 2003

In 2003 I won a trip to Beijing on the internet. I never really believed in these games and raffles on the net, but participating couldn’t harm. And thus I was rewarded a full paid trip to this magnificent city in China. What an impressive trip this was.

Excursions to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Hu Tong,… all breathtaking sights in and around this capital of China.

One of the most impressive visits was climbing the Great Wall at Badaling. Where most tourist took a right onto the rather flat accessible part of the wall, our crew opted for the very quiet part of the wall through on the left. Pretty unbelievable to on the other side of the globe and being blessed to experience something this wonderful!

I Left my Heart in San Francisco

Heart by Lynda Dann on Market Street

“Hearts in San Francisco Project 2004”

Well,.. among other places of course… But San Francisco for some reason has something special, something unique and on the other hand something very European. On the four trips I’ve made to this great city so far I always felt at home but still experiencing new things.

Obviously, as a tourist, one visits Fisherman’s Wharf with Alcatraz situated just off the mainland, the crooked Lombard Street, the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge which is especially pretty seen from Battery Spencer when the morning or evening fog rolls in, Chinatown, Alamo Square with it’s most photographed “postcard row” of Victorian houses, the murals in Mission District, Nob Hill, The Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower.

Now a visit to San Francisco is absolutely incomplete if one doesn’t take a ride on a cable car. The most exciting ride is on the Powell-Mason line which begins at the Powell/ Market turntable, and the line runs from there up and over Nob Hill and down to Bay Street at Fisherman's Wharf.


The loveliness of Paris
Seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome
Is of another day
I've been terribly alone
And forgotten in Manhattan
I'm going home to my city by the bay.

I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me.
To be where little cable cars
Climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
Your golden sun will shine for me!
(Composed by Douglass Cross and Geroge Cory - 1954)