Trip to the Ardennes

[Hans Deventer]

Hannie and I just got back from 2 days in the Ardennes in Belgium. The area is perhaps best known from WW2, the Battle of the Bulge. There are still quite some war cemetries and monuments and even Sherman tanks on village squares to be found there. We had other things in mind though.

The first day the weather was quite good and we started out cycling. We had broight our bikes with us and there was a great track, because it used to be an old railway track. So it's quite level! First picture is that track and the second is an old railway station, now turned into a home.
Or course there were flowers to be seen along the way!
The next three pictures are of the hotel we stayed in. It was old and small, some 10 rooms, but very nice and it had a good restaurant as well.

[Hans Deventer]

Next day, we had a lot of rain so we did some touring and went to visit a cave in a small town called Hoton. Quite a nice one.
Next stop was La Roche-en-Ardennes, it was the place Hannie and I had our very first (and short) vacation back in 1980. Here is a picture inside its cathedral.
From La Roche we drove south to Bouillon (where the famous crusader came from) and from there on west and north along the river "Meuse" (or "Maas: as we call it) and visited Dinant.
The last pictures are Dinant cathedral, a double picture in a restaurant and a view of Dinant.

[Marg Webb]

Hans thank you so much for the pictures. Hanne looks so very well. So happy she is able to again bike and do the things you both like doing.

Marg.

[Hans Deventer]

Hans thank you so much for the pictures. Hanne looks so very well. So happy she is able to again bike and do the things you both like doing.

Yes, we are very grateful about that! It was actually a little try out for our Summer vacation, to see if the travelling and everything would be possible. And it seems it does!

[Andrea Larabee]

Next day, we had a lot of rain so we did some touring and went to visit a cave in a small town called Hoton. Quite a nice one.
Next stop was La Roche-en-Ardennes, it was the place Hannie and I had our very first (and short) vacation back in 1980. Here is a picture inside its cathedral.
From La Roche we drove south to Bouillon (where the famous crusader came from) and from there on west and north along the river "Meuse" (or "Maas: as we call it) and visited Dinant.
The last pictures are Dinant cathedral, a double picture in a restaurant and a view of Dinant.


There is really beautiful and interesting picture here of Hannie with you in the background--mirrored. Who took this picture? I would think that you took the picture which would be reflected in the mirror behind Hannie. But... in the picture, you're looking at your camera. (okay, maybe I'm just an airhead :basic03 ) Nevermind! I get it. You are taking the picture, just not looking through the little lens area. No flash going off either. You're an amazing photographer Hanz!!! I am just an airhead.

[Hans Deventer]

There is really beautiful and interesting picture here of Hannie with you in the background--mirrored. Who took this picture?

I did! It is the specific swivel design of the Nikon 4500. I was looking into the screen, but the lens was at a 90 degree angle with it.

[Andrea Larabee]

I did! It is the specific swivel design of the Nikon 4500. I was looking into the screen, but the lens was at a 90 degree angle with it.

Cameras are amazing these days. Had you not had that little screen to look at and still held the camera in that position, that photo of Hannie would have come out totally different.

That last photo is a great one too, Hans. I love to see different parts of the world in pictures. I think being in those buildings, sandwiched between a cliff and water, would make me nervous. :basic01 Lovely place, lovely photos. Thank you very much for sharing.

[Gina Stevenson]

From La Roche we drove south to Bouillon (where the famous crusader came from) and from there on west and north along the river "Meuse" (or "Maas: as we call it) and visited Dinant.

Hans, just hafta be "cwazy" for a minute while I wait for the pictures to appear. I didn't think this was where the famous crusader came from ... I tho't it was a place from which these little cubes from which we made broth came from ... you know ... "Bouillon cubes." HA! ;) What!? You mean it's already getting too late for me ... it's not even 1:30 yet! :p

[Shellie Stephens]

Gorgeous. There are some places in the world I feel I simply must see. You've added to my list. I love history.

[Hans Deventer]

Hans, just hafta be "cwazy" for a minute while I wait for the pictures to appear. I didn't think this was where the famous crusader came from ...

He was the leader of the first crusade. They wanted to crown him king in Jerusalem, but he refused to wear a crown where his Master wore a crown of thorns. He settled for the title "Protector of the Holy Grave".

[Cecil Wallace]

Thank you, Hans for sharing.:fav18
All of the images are so sharp and clear.
Did you use a tripod when taking those cave pictures? I know that I could not hold a camera steady emough to take good pictures in those low light conditions.

[Hans Deventer]

Thank you, Hans for sharing.:fav18
All of the images are so sharp and clear.
Did you use a tripod when taking those cave pictures? I know that I could not hold a camera steady enough to take good pictures in those low light conditions.

I could not hold a normal camera steady enough either, Cecil. Still, all pictures were hand held. I took some 30 pictures in the cave, about 5 were unsharp. But the trick is the Nikon 4500. Thanks to the design, I can hold it against my chest, look at the screen and take a picture. That enables you to take sharp pictures at 1/4th, sometimes up to 1/2. Both cave pictures were are 1/4th, the ones in the churches too. I think 1/2 is about the limit.

[Carsten Schermuly]

The mirror photo is a very good idea - you are looking nice!