| Ypres |
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| We've jumped straight to Ypres. I had meant to include Messines Ridge, but failed to get there. Why? The little matter of the map (and the other contents of the map case, which included directions to and the phone number of our Ypres B&B), that I had left outside the lunchtime restaurant. So it was a case of retracing my steps, accompanied by Paul, from Ploegsteert in order too recover it. |
| Luckily , it was there. However, using the same route back, via Ploegsteert and Messines would have added another 10 miles, compared to heading directly to Ypres from Frelinghien. So Messines, sadly was by-passed. The link here will give you details of the battle of Messines Ridge - in fact the linked site has other material on this area that can be referenced if so desired. Back to Ypres. We had luckily found a B&B just inside the city gates, allowing us to leave our bikes and explore Ypres centre by foot. So after a swift shower and change we did just that! |
| The two principle buildings in Ypres centre are the Cloth Hall (above and below) and St Martin's Cathedral (left). Both buildings were completely destroyed during the Great War, and rebuilt during the 1930's respecting their original design (except a spire was added to the cathedral). The buildings as they are today give the impression that they have stood for centuries - quite a remarkable achievement. More info on Ypres here |
| We stayed two nights in Ypres, being our centre for exploring the battlefields and memorials. Certainly an inviting place with a good selection of bars and restaurants, as well as its own history. The Cloth Hall houses the 'In Flanders Fields' exhibition which offers a unique and remarkable account of the First World War as it affected Ypres and the surrounding area. Well worth a visit if time permits (not for us this visit). Plus, of course, there's always the unexpected... |
| ...and the unexpected this time was a young lady dressed as a fairy. She was on her hen night, so to speak, which entailed dressing up and parading around the city attempting to collect money - probably for charity, but, then again, it might have been for wedding gifts - in return for which the donator received a gift - chocolate, sweets or similar... An interesting distraction to our evening meal. |