Liege-Guillemins Train Station

Every weekday this month, I have taken the train from Liege to Brussels for a French class in Brussels.  It is beautiful to ride through the country or through the smalls towns of Namur or Leuven, depending on the route the train is taking.  

This past week, while I was waiting for a transfer I explored the Liege-Guillemins Train Station.  It is an amazing architectural masterpiece by Santiago Calatrava, you can read more about the train station here and take a look at my pictures below.

A view from the train station into the city of Liege,
 in the middle of March 2016.

The same view from the station, looking out into the city.  Two trains are on the tracks
below the roof structure.  Circular elevators make the station accessible.

A view of the platforms below, the structured ceiling above
and the escalators leading to the platforms for transferring trains.

A view from the raised transfer platforms to the
train tracks below and just outside of the station.

While Passing by the Royal Palace of Brussels

I started French class this week in Brussels, Belgium and everyday I I walk from the train station to my class. Something interesting got my attention today after class and it was well worth missing my train...

The street was blocked by police and then horses with riders "dressed to the tens" paraded through the streets, two cars passed through the horses and returned. I quickly learned that they were headed toward the Royal Palace of Brussels. I could only speculate that there were members of the Belgian Royal Family in that car. What a beautiful site it was!

Horses and horsemen riding in the streets of
 Brussels, near the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Horses and horsemen blocking the streets of Brussels with police officers close by.

Horses and horsemen blocking the streets with police officers allowing two black cars to pass.

A view of the Royal Palace of Brussels
 as seen through the trees of a nearby park.

Horses and horsemen parading in front of the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Horses and horsemen in front of the Royal Palace of Brussels with open golden gates which allowed the cars to pass.

The front facade of the Royal Palace of Brussels
with the cars at the central entryway.

Outside of Belgium and into Germany....the Cologne Carnival Parade

Nick and I met up with some friends.  We took the metro to a suggested spot to watch the parade and there we stood for the parade.  Ok, I thought we were just catching the end of this parade.  However, we arrived at 12:30pm and by 3:30pm I was asking Nick when it might be over!  Yup, that's right, Nick and I stood outside watching a parade for three hours.  A three hour long parade you might ask....oh my goodness!  Well, we never saw the beginning or the end, so it was longer than three hours!  Each float, set of people, band that went by threw candy and flowers.  Soon after arriving, a seemingly local family was very friendly, turning to us, giving us candy and explaining, in English, to yell "Kamelle" (pronouced approximately... kamella) and "Strüßjer" (pronounced approximately....strusea) to get flowers.  The parade was quite wonderful, but focus had to be kept on the items flying toward the crowds.  I would say almost everyone was hit bit some flying object and at times these really hurt (for instance I was hit in the forehead by a flying candy bar, but Nick was lucky enough to be hit by a flying soft ball)!

Image of crowds of people dressed in costumes.  Clearly shown costumes are a dalmatian and a woman with horns.

Image shows candy being thrown from a float and hands in the crowd reaching up to catch it.

The following two photos are further examples of floats with riders dressed up in local costumes, tossing candy out of the top of the float.

Image of a red float with approximately 11 men with red jackets and red hats looking down at the somewhat light, crowd of people below.  Above the float, a walkway is pictured that connects two city view and gives parade watchers a good view of the floats.

Image of a blue and yellow float with approximately 12 men with blue jackets and black hats looking down at the crowds below.  In the front of the image, a young man with ear length dread locks was kissed on the cheek by someone with red lipstick.

The following two photos are further examples of floats, these are political examples, that Nick took particular interest in.

German political float showing the Greek prime minister directing the German prime minister.  Many in Germany did not like that Germany (and the European union) bailed out Greece.

German political float showing Russian President Putin and the North Korean Dictator directing the actions of the president of Syria.

At the end and after about three hours of standing, guarding our heads, catching and scrounging together the items that hit the ground, trying not to get in arguments over candy, Nick and I gathered 6 pounds of items, mostly candy, but flowers, tissues and a soft ball too.

We are pictured below on the left and our stash of candy and flowers on the right.

Pictured here, Nick and Lisa with a crowd of people behind and a float from the parade at the Cologne Carnival.

Our 6 pounds of candy that was gathered from the parade, all spread out on our hotel bed.

This link has some good information on the parade that we saw too...
http://www.cologne.de/events/cologne-carnival/parade-on-rose-monday.html