2000年4月23日-2000年5月12日

la Hulpe - Brussels - Bruges -  Gent - Antwerp -Vienna

language: English/French/German

Perfume: Estee Lauder's Pleasure 

Traveller's Tip:每次旅行,我會選擇一種香水,這樣旅行的回憶就不僅僅是影像還包括香味哦~~

Yahoo!Photos : Brussels , Gent , Antwerp , Bruges , la Hulpe , Vienna

la Hulpe, Belgium

IBM在這個比利時小鎮購買了一小片森林並建了一個集休閒,娛樂,及學習的教育中心....

I spent two weeks at la Hulpe for an advanced network management course. During my stay, the weather was very nice, shiny and warm. One beautiful thing about la Hulpe is that wild tulips can be seen everywhere, and they are just as beautiful as those carefully taken care of in a greenhouse. IBM Education Center (IEC) is located in the middle of a small woods, where wild rabbits and deer wander happily around. 

Colorful trees at the town de la Hulpe

There is a park next to IEC, in which there is lake and a beautiful chateau (Chateau de la Hulp). I have been cycling in the woods, and enjoyed the fresh air and lovely view. Moreover, in every room there is a panorama view of the beautiful woods through the big window pane, and through the window sun light and moon light shine up to you. This is a good place to study and to relax.

In the downtown of la Hulpe, there are many cute little shops. When I went into a book store to buy a can of coca cola, the kids there seemed to be very curious about this little foreign visitor. I enjoyed window shopping in the little quite town, where the pace of life seemed to be easy and comfortable. 

I had walked in the park, and spent some time lying down on the grass and watching the clouds in the blue sky. I had also roamed the bank of the brook and enjoyed the moment of silence. I explored the neighborhood but failed to find Waterloo -- the famous battle field where Napoleon llost his empire.

在la Hulpe的日子似乎像是所有人能夢想的平和寧靜的生活的組合.在森林裡騎著腳踏車,沐浴在閃耀的陽光之下,呼吸著芬多精,聽著森林的聲音,迎著微風,然後...幸福地笑了~

Brussels, Belgium

二度造訪布魯賽爾,這次,我可是仔細地把它從頭到腳好好地打量了一遍....

With my luggage left in IEC, I picked up my backpack and went to Brussels for the weekend. I reserved a small three stars hotel "Mozart" through the web. It is very convenient to have the Internet. When I checked in, the concierge asked where I was from. I told him I came from Taiwan, and asked if he knew about this country. 

To my surprise, he said he knew about Taiwan because many Taiwanese stayed in Mozart, but the majority of Asian tourists are from Japan. Mozart is small and cozy, and the decoration is quite artistic. Unlike business class hotels, small hotels have their personality, and every corner is a surprise. Every room is different. My room is neat and pretty -- and tiny. Well, it's lucky I am small. It is sometimes very useful to be small. 

住小旅館的好處就是比較有人情味.而歐洲的小旅館又充滿了藝術的感覺.像是我住的房間,雖然真的很小很小,可是很特殊,似乎住到了印象派畫家的畫中了~這可是制式的五星級旅館所沒有的哦!

The Grand Place is one minute's walk from Mozart. The City Hall, King's House (Maisaon du Roi) are the most significant buildings, and there are many restaurants and cafes along the Grand Place. Many people gather on the Grand Place taking pictures and enjoying the gorgeous view. Some people sit in the ourdoor cafe, order a cup of coffee or a beer, and chat happily while capturing all the interesting activities that take place in the Grand Place. 

I tasted the famous Belgium mussels in the restaurant -- but it was cold and smelt fishy. These restaurants would boast cheap and delicious dishes to attract tourists, and once they go inside and take a seat, they will find everything is expensive. And that's what I had experienced -- the mussels set meal was around four, five hundred Belgium francs, but the Orange juice cost around two hundred, and I ordered two because the mussels were cold and I needed to something to drink. Since then, I learned to be careful before going into any restaurant.

I never really liked alcoholic drinks. Belgium is famous for its chocolate and its beer. There are hundreds of different beers available. I tried one light beer in a restaurant, and it's not as bitter as the others I have tasted. In Belgium, breakfast usually consists of coffee, bread, juice, and eggs. Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and boiled eggs. The European way of eating boiled eggs is by using an egg stand. First, put the egg in the egg stand, and gracefully remove the top of the eggshell, and spread some salt. Then take a tea spoon and scoop the egg. Isn't that an interesting way of eating eggs?

課程結束前的那天晚上,我們一群小聯合國(瑞典人x1,西班牙人x2,挪威人x2,台灣人x2,比利時人x1,英國人x1)去Brussels鎮上吃飯.飯後,我們一行人到了大廣場(Grand Place)旁的露天cafe裡喝啤酒聊天,享受星光下的夜生活.有一件很可愛的事, 當我們在街上行走時, 剛好遇到一群女生要拍照, 那群女生玩得正起勁,看到我們兩個處在一堆人裡的東方人時,很熱情地邀請我們兩個跟他們一起拍照,此時我對一起出遊的歐洲同事們很抱歉地解釋說--sorry, it's because we are from the oriental. If you come to Taiwan, it will be your turn to be invited to take a picture. 原來,我們東方人在比利時這兒還算是頗稀奇的呢!

Bruges, Belgium

布魯日, 這個比利時北方的浪漫小鎮,是我夢想著要再回去的地方...

This is my second time here. Bruges is like a dream coming true. Small, beautiful, happy, and lively European style old town. It has a reputation for "the Venice of Belgium" because it also features beautiful canals. Every house is ornamented with flower pots and every window sill is delicately decorated with exquisite handicrafts. People living in this town seem to have developed a taste for life and art, and the atmosphere is cheerful and dreamy.

I got up early in the morning, and took the first train to get to this middle aged town. Bruges is located at the north west of Belgium, where people speak Belgium French. This town is famous for its lace, and there are many beautifully woven lace work for sale. In one of the shop there were hundreds of old style dolls with big blue eyes and golden curly hair. It is simply beautiful to look at. In another window there was a procelain cat climbing on the edge of a glass and staring at the little mouse inside.

Then I took a cruise on the canals. There was a church opposite the dock across the canal. Some old English ladies were also on the boat, and one of them asked me if I was traveling alone. I said yes. She then asked me if I can understand what the English tour guide said, and I said 'yes, a little'. From then on, she tried to translate the introduction for me in very slow and standard English. It was very nice of her to do that, although sometimes I wished she could speak a little faster :) Anyway, that kind old lady made my short cruise a very pleasant one, and I felt not so lonely there.

如果要選擇, Bruges 會是我最喜歡的歐洲城市(不過它大概只能算是小鎮吧:). 很幸運地,兩次去歐洲我都去了Bruges,讓我更深入地了解這個比利時北方的夢幻小鎮.也許是緣分吧? 

Antwerp, Belgium

安特衛普是比利時北方的港口城市,呼吸著空氣中的淡淡鹹味,想起了也有這熟悉的味道的港都高雄...

I could never forget the thrilling experience I had in Antwerp. Before I arrived at this city, I didn't know much about it because there is little information available in the internet. Therefore, when I stepped out of the train station of Antwerp, the only thing I know about this city is that it is an important industrial center and transportation center of Belgium. I bought a guide book with a walking map in the train station, and follow the suggested route.

The walk led me to a church, where people were attending Sunday's Mass, and I sat on the bench outside and watched people walking by. There was a florist at the opposite side, and it was blooming with flowers. The streets were very quiet because most people went to churches on Sunday mornings. In front of a small restaurant, a stove was put under the signboard with fire burning inside. Why is that ? I have not figured it out yet.

As I strolled down the street, it suddenly occurred to me that the atmosphere was somehow different. Perhaps it was because I had approached the harbor, the air became salty and chilly. Unexpectedly, I saw a woman wearing only underwear staring at me from behind the window pane. Her look was more chilly than the air, and she turned her head away immediately after I saw her. 

Then I realized that I had bumped into the Red Light District!! I took out and put on my sun glasses, to avoid eye contact with the people on the street. My heart beat heavily as I quickly walked down the street. Everyone on the street seemed to wonder what a girl like me was doing in this area. My sense told me I should back off and leave this area ASAP, but my curiosity pushed me to go on. I peeked at the women behind the window while I continued walking, and I felt they were also peeping at me.

Just when I began to think I was safe, there came another thriller. A man was making some grilled meat at the sideway. I didn't pay much attention to it, until I noticed what it is --- a grilled dog! I felt so sick that I thought I might puke immediately. And as I walked past that man, I could feel he was looking at me. It was so terrible that I hurried away as if some ghosts were chasing me behind....

後註:有時候一個女生單身旅行似乎還是有點冒險...

After I left the Red Light District, I felt much relieved. Then I arrived at the harbor, and the wind blew on my cheeks, making me calm down. Walking along the dock and watching the ships from a distance, those terrible experiences seemed to be not so real any more.

The next stop was more real. I headed away from the harbor and towards the city center. It seemed every city has a central "Market Place", where people gathered together and exchanged goods in the old times. In addition to being the economic center, usually the Market is also the political center. 

City Hall, for example, would be located in the Market. Sometimes the Market was also the religious center and -- the tourist center. Because many people gather in the Market, Sometimes there would be street performers doing free outdoor shows.

The last part of my journey was in the modern part of the city. Somehow, I felt very comfortable to be back to 20th century. There were many department stores, shopping centers, cafes, and restaurants along the street. One of the department stores was doing some kind of campaign, and there was a camel! 

It seemed that "Mark & Spencer" was holding some kind of activity and that camel was part of the show. It was really funny to see a camel standing in front of a department store in the middle of a modern city, anyway.

I went into a fast food restaurant and ordered some roast chicken for lunch, and let my feet rest for a short time. Then I walked down the boulevard, which led to the Antwerp Train Station. It was quite a long day.

 i  在比利時火車之旅時,發現一個有趣的現象,從不同地方買來的火車票上居然印的是不同的語文! 原來比利時北部的城市使用荷語,而南部使用法語.所以比利時人如果到了國內不同的城市可能還得會不同的語言才行呢.

Gent, Belgium

在Gent遇見了桃花源....

When I arrived at this town, I was immediately impacted by its solitude. It seemed to be asleep, and there was no one in the street. Perhaps it was because the time I arrived at the city was four o'clock in the afternoon in the weekend. As I approached the town center, I began to feel the heart beat of Gent. The streets were full of young people and shopping atmosphere. I went into some book stores to search for the little guide book. 

 i  到這些歐洲的小城市旅遊,事先幾乎都沒有任何資訊可拿,所以我通常都是在到達那裡之後馬上去當地的書店裡買本旅遊小冊子.在比利時書店裡通常都有賣"散步指南",裡面會有地圖畫出建議的路線以及路上的名勝簡介.

I could feel the curious look as I wandered around in the town -- it seemed as if people from the far east seldom visited this place. When I crossed the street, I found the safety island was unbelievably beautiful -- pink flowers falling from the trees and spreading across the green grass along a small stream. That view forms an impressive picture on my mind. 

One good thing about traveling in summer is that sun sets late, and we can have more time to explore. The drawback, however, is that one often forgets about the time. Most museums and shops close at five or six, and since I arrived at four o'clock, I could only look at the windows and wonder what was inside. There was a small castle (Gravensteen) in the town, but I could not enter because it was past open hours.

While I was strolling down the street, I noticed one interesting red light sign. Instead of using a human shape, the red light displayed a horse standing still. I began to wonder if that sign was meant to be read by pedestrians -- or by the horse ? There were many carriages carrying tourists around the grand place, and I guessed these signs were designed for the drivers.

Whenever one feels tired, he can always find a place to take a rest in a church. I walk a lot when I travel, and I always like to spend some time in the small church where I can get a rest -- both body and soul. Large churches are usually grand and gorgeous, but smaller ones are more friendly and comfortable. I went in the church and looked around, and the stained glass looked fascinating with the sunlight beaming through it.

當走累時,我喜歡到小教堂裡小憩一會兒.運氣好時還會有人在練習詩歌.而且這裡是神的居所,永遠歡迎祂的子民來拜託他.裡面安寧的氣氛總能使我得到身心的休息.

繼續旅程 to Part II

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更新日期: 2004/6/4