Tag Archives: belgium

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire

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Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire
“Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire” — Altar and stained glass windows at the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, Brussels.

This beautiful church in Brussels, the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, doesn’t seem to be on the tourist map. But we think it was well worth the visit. We walked there from our lodgings in the touristy old part of Brussels. Walking away from there changed our perspective on the city. It appeared that we may have been the only tourists at this church.

Entering the church it was rather dark. But once our eyes adjusted to the natural light, we noticed that sunlight was streaming in through stained glass windows along its east side . At the front of the church, the stained glass windows comprised most of the vertical surfaces, and this created a lovely, light-filled area.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

NOW

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NOW
“NOW” — An impromptu poster and other things on a wall in Brussels.

One thing that appeals to me about street art (and not everything about it always does!) is how it “lives” where it was made. It is created by people using a variety of media: paint, ink, paper, glue, you name it. They leave it behind on its own where it deteriorates, may be defaced, gets added to, and eventually is covered by someone else’s creation. Someone creates it, but the eventual effect is often out of their hands.

This sign, or what remained of it, was taped to a steel roll-up door along a Brussels street. The “NOW’ remains emphatic in all-upper-case and red, but what it was that was so timely is a mystery since the upper portion has been ripped. A closer look reveals a few more details that may (or may not) provide some clues.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire

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Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire
“Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire” — Columns and stained glass windows in the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire.

We came to the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire midway rhrough a very long walk in Brussels, last year. The idea was to go beyond the busy central old district where we were staying to see some other parts of the city. (That central district has a lot to offer, but it is not the whole of Brussels.) We came to the church, walked around it outside, then entered. We were almost the only people there, probably because it isn’t on the tourist map.

It is a beautiful church, full of light from its extensive and tall stained glass windows. In some ways it brought to mind La Chapelle of Paris, though here you could just walk into it. (Accessing La Chapelle is trickier due to its location and security concerns.) I made this photograph along one side of the church where morning light was gently streaming through those beautiful windows.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Tourist Go Home

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Tourist Go Home
“Tourist Go Home” — Graffiti and tags on a Brussels wall, including the slogan, “Tourists Go HOme.”

The “Tourist Go Home” tag is seen frequently in European cities these days. I have mixed feelings about it. I understand the frustration when housing has been taken from local residents to provide lodging for visitors, which has the secondary effect of raising the costs of the remaining units. In some of the extremely crowded places (especially in the summer high season) the streets are so full of visitors that the locals must feel overrun.

On the other hand, “go home” is what tourists do! So while I understand the sentiment being expressed and the reasons for it, it doesn’t carry quite the sting that they may intend. And, to answer the obvious question, do visitors in general feel hostility from local residents? We have not — though it may help that we now visit outside the main tourist season and make every effort to not be one of “those ” tourists.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.