In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium
John McRae
Day two of our trip and we were greeted by a crisp wintery morning, (although it's officially spring here in Belgium) which if you've been living in the Middle East, is very welcoming. The smell in the air is like that of living on a farm where you smell the animals, the manure which may sound gross, but again when you live in the Middle East where animals are not very common apart from the camels on the back of pick up trucks, is a little reminder of home.
The quaint little village is something you can't experience through a blog or through pictures, it reminds me of the Victorian times which you could only truly experience in the physical form.
Meriana and I decided to go for a walk around our little village which was still pitch black at 7am. (Check Facebook for some pics we took this morning). We all met down at the restaurant at 7:40 for breakfast which was an array of breads and pastries, fruit, yoghurt and cereals, toast, eggs boiled and scrambled, bacon and beans. Also an espresso machine which with the push of just one button you could have any type of cafe coffee you wanted.
I checked my phone (forgetting it was on silent) and had a nice little surprise text from my cousin Jo whose been following the blog, thanks cuz.
9am we left our hotel rooms where we organised ourselves for today's trip to Brugge. Took us a little while to find the right road due to road works and no alternative route was sign posted, but we finally found the right autoban after a few or more than a few unplanned detours. Lucky we set off early enjoying the coolness of the air with the warmth of the late morning sun.
Arrived in Brugge at 11:30 and went for a wander around to look at the historical sites and came across a horse and cart tour which took us on a 30min ride around the city centre. The history in this place is absolutely amazing. The feeling you get is indescribable. You're told stories about the war history and knowing that not so long ago this place had battalions from all corners of the globe and more so the French trying to conquer the Dutch to try and take over Brugge. This place is certainly a must to visit if you ever get the chance. We called into one of the restaurants for lunch, which was pretty mediocre but against a stunning back drop. For Devika on the other hand, after eating a bowl of Tomato soup and commenting on how delicious it was, she was suddenly reminded how she didn't like tomatoes and for a while she was trying to convince her husband and sister that she did and always had and then came to the realisation that she actually didn't like tomatoes and that she forgot she didn't like them. one of the most hilarious conversations I've heard in a long time. But she has an excuse for mild dementia hehehe.
We farewelled Devika's sister Geeta from Brugge as she had to go back to London for work. It's just one of those thing which none of us can avoid.
From there we made our way back to Ieper which took us all of about 45min, so by 4:45pm we were sitting outside the hotel cafe enjoying a cocktail in the warm afternoon spring sun while the kids had a play on the little playground they had outside. It was such a relaxing time out there.
6:30pm we went for a walk around the village and made our way to Menin Gate for the the Last Post Ceremony which they have at 8pm every night. This tradition has been in place since 1928, every night without fail the armed services hold a memorial service for all those soldiers who fell at the Ypres Salient Battle Fields. There were larges numbers in attendance at tonight's ceremony, with quite a few school students on field trips, so tomorrow we will attempt to go even earlier and get a good spot where we can get a better pictorial record of the event.
We finally made our way back to the hotel at 8:30, had dinner and toddled off to our respective rooms to bunk down for the night.
I have uploaded photos on to Facebook from today, for most of you, you will quickly flick through the photos of buildings, but for us who are here, it is a reminder of historical beauty this place has to offer.
But for now it's bonne nuit from us here in Ieper, Belgium for tomorrow we will be retracing the footsteps of those young men and woman who sacrificed their lives for us.
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium
John McRae
Day two of our trip and we were greeted by a crisp wintery morning, (although it's officially spring here in Belgium) which if you've been living in the Middle East, is very welcoming. The smell in the air is like that of living on a farm where you smell the animals, the manure which may sound gross, but again when you live in the Middle East where animals are not very common apart from the camels on the back of pick up trucks, is a little reminder of home.
 |
| Early morning walk |
Meriana and I decided to go for a walk around our little village which was still pitch black at 7am. (Check Facebook for some pics we took this morning). We all met down at the restaurant at 7:40 for breakfast which was an array of breads and pastries, fruit, yoghurt and cereals, toast, eggs boiled and scrambled, bacon and beans. Also an espresso machine which with the push of just one button you could have any type of cafe coffee you wanted.
I checked my phone (forgetting it was on silent) and had a nice little surprise text from my cousin Jo whose been following the blog, thanks cuz.
9am we left our hotel rooms where we organised ourselves for today's trip to Brugge. Took us a little while to find the right road due to road works and no alternative route was sign posted, but we finally found the right autoban after a few or more than a few unplanned detours. Lucky we set off early enjoying the coolness of the air with the warmth of the late morning sun.
 |
| Entree |
We farewelled Devika's sister Geeta from Brugge as she had to go back to London for work. It's just one of those thing which none of us can avoid.
6:30pm we went for a walk around the village and made our way to Menin Gate for the the Last Post Ceremony which they have at 8pm every night. This tradition has been in place since 1928, every night without fail the armed services hold a memorial service for all those soldiers who fell at the Ypres Salient Battle Fields. There were larges numbers in attendance at tonight's ceremony, with quite a few school students on field trips, so tomorrow we will attempt to go even earlier and get a good spot where we can get a better pictorial record of the event.
We finally made our way back to the hotel at 8:30, had dinner and toddled off to our respective rooms to bunk down for the night.
I have uploaded photos on to Facebook from today, for most of you, you will quickly flick through the photos of buildings, but for us who are here, it is a reminder of historical beauty this place has to offer.
But for now it's bonne nuit from us here in Ieper, Belgium for tomorrow we will be retracing the footsteps of those young men and woman who sacrificed their lives for us.
"Lest We Forget" ~ You're doing us proud! xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteaww cuz your welcome hehe and man its soo moving that they have a karakia or ceremony every night mō ngā hōia. Ima have to have a titiro at the pikitia. I like looking at old buildings by the way. Kapai cuz . look forward to 2mrws adventures :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog,looking forward to tomorrow x
ReplyDeletewonderfully put, and yay you have changed the font hehe. what a great record to remember your trip by and for us to live vicariously through you. Take care and stay cosey.
ReplyDeleteJosie