Plaisirs d'hiver

Place Ste Catherine
Originally uploaded by MKWM

The Christmas Market is now open and the Winter Wonders have begun in Brussels.

Gluehwein, frites & croustillons, tartiflette, you name it... everything is there, waiting for you. Dress warmly, wear flat shoes and don't forget your umbrella. Enjoy!

Halloween Hannibal

h barman mask best

Good to see the hardworking staff of O'Reilley's getting into the spirit of things.

Or at least I think they were

Exploring Brussels by bike

From April till October, a guided tour is programmed every Sunday afternoon.

Brussels : atmosphere, history and architecture
5 circuits of about 15 km (9 miles) lasting 3 hours, in the afternoon:

The heart of Brussels through the centuries, Treasures of Art Nouveau, Comic strips and cafés, Fountains and Sculptures.

Brussels, the greenest of cities
4 circuits of about 25 km (15 miles) lasting 4 hours, in the afternoon:

The green mysteries of northern Brussels, Castles and abbeys, The splendours of south-west Brussels, City and gardens (south-east Brussels), Brussels Art Déco and Modernism (1920-1940).

On yer bike then, have a look at http://www.provelo.be/ and find out what is on this Sunday or the next, or pay a visit to La Maison des Cyclistes (rue de Londres, 15 - Ixelles) to learn more about human-powered transport. Who knows, you might need to rent a tandem bicycle some day...

Cheers!

monk2

I've just started working for a Brussels free magazine, Upfront, which covers Brussels nightlife and so on. As you would expect, I am woefully underpaid, but it gives me a chance to get out and about as well as having my ego flattered by having someone actually publish my pics.

The next issue should be out today, with my first ever cover shot.

Libertad

havana5

This is a poster in the Havana Bar, where I was taking photos for Upfront. We got there by the big lift near the Palace de Justice, surely the best way to travel.

Inside the bar is very lively and done in Cuban crossed with bare brick style.

How To Advertise

How To Advertise

There is a style of advertising - taken from a DIY store's claim - called 'it does what it says on the tin', that is a basic and no frills packaging.

I thought of that when I walked past this Brassiere, just down from Montgomery. Why else would you stick a pigs arse, not in, but through your front window.

Simple message that requires no translation; Sit down and eat a pigs arse. Sadly they semed to be devoid of custom, perhaps people were bust eating the front part of the pig?

Bookish

hob

Off to the library today. i've been a member of a public library since I was 4. My parents taught me to read before I went to school and always encouraged me to read.

When I was 4 they were taking me around town and we went into the local museum and my mum took me to the childrens library in there and asked if I wanted to join. Even at that age I understood that I was being offered as many books as I could possibly read for free.

Brussels has many joys and pleasures, but nothing beats being able to read books for free - or for 5 euro a year.

The Clown

clown

A lovely sunny day and I managed to get a lot of reasonably good shots. This is a favourite one, of a clown walking to work, looking for a new pitch. He doesn't look too happy though, which makes me suspicious that he might be an undercover cop, forced to do this as punishment for something or other.

Or perhaps he's a rebel clown, fighting against the restrictions of the eight clown commandments. We may never know, such is the enigma of Brussels.