Blues Singer in Brussels

There are dozens of street performers in this old section of Brussels. This guy was one of the best and most popular. I saw a children's book that had a picture of a singer like this on the cover. The book called him "Little White Jack." The store was in a 19th century shopping mall just a few hundred feet from this singer. The store was closed, but here is a picture of the book in the window.

Human Growth Hormone may cause people to grow to huge heights. They may then dress in silly costumes and go dancing around the Centre Ville of Brussels.

An unseasonably late maypole is raised in Brussels, on the anniversary of a wedding which took place in 1213. A posse of costumed giants accompanies the pole on its journey from the Sablon to the Grand Place.According to legend, a wedding party was ambushed by a gang of youths from Leuven. When the unwanted youths were finally dispatched, the happy couple were entitled to honour their saviour, Saint Laurence, by planting a may tree on his saint's day every year

Science Experiment in Brussels

I don't want you to think that I am just aimlessly sightseeing around Europe. The attached photo served as documentation for a science experiment. The hypothesis was that 25 mph wind gusts might have an effect on the skirt of a wedding guest. This shot shows that this hypothesis was correct!

Les Mariages

This couple had an interesting wedding custom that I have never seen before. These three shots give you an idea what is was like. After the ceremony in the formal hall of l'hôtel de ville, the couples come outside for a celebration in the Grand Plaza. This couple cut out a heart on a white sheet with their names on it. The groom then carries the bride through the heart shaped hole that remains. Different couples had different customs, but this was the only one that I saw like this.

Summer Weddings in Brussels

L'hôtel de ville is a busy place during the summer with weddings occuring constantly, Every thirty minutes another wedding party pulled up last Saturday at the Grand Plaza.

Brussels Grand Plaza

If you think Canada has problems with two official languages. Belgium has three Flamenco (Flemish) , Français (French) and Deutsch (German). The official language varies according to the part of the country you live in. The Flemish have about 40% of the land and 55% of the population and are located in the north of the country. Flemish is a form of Dutch. The Walloons live in the south and speak French and make up 33% and control about 55% of the land. In the east of the country there is a small section of the country that adjoins Germany where the official language is German. Add to this mix a large number of North African immigrants in the largest cities who speak Arabic.

The Walloons are a minority of the population, but they have controlled the government and much of the wealth. Their philosophy is that anyone who does not have the intellectual capability to speak French should not be allowed to govern. This seems like a reasonable proposition. Just look at th 2004 presidential election. John Kerry speaks fluent French while George Bush can't speak English much less another language. We have seen the results of this unfortunate decision for the last four years!