Euro 2008 - fans

In anticipation of a possible win, fans in Berlin began to show their support of the German team as early as 15h00 on game day.

Euro 2008

The final match of the Euro 2008 football championship was played on June 29 between Spain and Germany. Lucky for me, I was in Berlin, Germany at this time.

Copenhagen Summer Night

View of Jagtvej in Norrebro, June 25/2008, 02h30

... only 4 days after summer solstice

By the Canals / In the City

Final Shots of Ghent

Trien

"Tring!Tring!", thank you for the Belgium Train experience

Behind Bars

I planned to take a day trip out of Ghent. After weighing many options, I finally chose to visit to a Pop Art Exhibition in Hasselt taking place in a very special location.

(Bezoekzaal or Visitor's Room; Infirmerie or Patient Infirmary)

After all, it is not everyday that I will have the opportunity to visit a Belgium Jail where prisoner cells are transformed into creative spaces for artists.

including an attic venue for live Belgian music.

Design Museum Ghent

Not only is the Design museum in Ghent interesting because of their art nouveau and art deco exhibitions, it also has a unique courtyard...

...and a passageway to washroom facilities designed such that the world around can see where you are going

Double Vision

1 of 3 towers

St. Bavo's Catherdral

The old city of Ghent revolves around Three Towers: St. Nicholas' Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo's Cathedral. (website)

Guild Houses

The Leie canal

a closer view

even closer

Detailed facades of medieval guild houses on Grasleistraat

History:

During the 14th century in Ghent, artisans or craftsmen gained prestige and hence were organized into guilds. These associations were developed for the organization of labour as well as to function as real political associations with a voice in the city's policy. As a group, the guild members were not only part of the municipal militia, they also went to church as a group, participated in processions, and welcomed rulers. They had their own guild houses, their chapels, dedicated to the patron saint of their profession, and even their own hospitals for sick and old members and their widows.(source)

A New Life

NEWS FLASH: After an infection of a number of Trojan viruses on my laptop and an operating system seriously jeopardized, I am pleased to announce that my computer has been reborn!

Everything was recovered but only because I had done a full backup of programs and files on a separate external harddrive before I started on my journey. I strongly urge anyone with a computer system to do the same.

Special thanks to Shailoh for introducing me to Jago, to Jago for connecting me to Roeland, and to Roeland for getting the job done in less than 4 hours!

Freedom

In Ghent, I had the freedom to explore and discover the beauty of the city by my favorite means fo transportation, a bicycle! Thank you to Lynn and Caroline.

Belgium June 13 - 16

On the train from Brugge to Hasselt

Belgium, such a small country and thus easy to get around. I decided to base myself out of Ghent for 3 nights and take day trips to Brugge, Antwerpen or Brussels. Instead, I spent one day in Ghent, one day in Hasselt and one dinner in Brugge. Yes, I can confirm that the major cities in Northern Belgium is definitely easy to visit. You just have to sit on the train, run to catch connection and occassionally miss your stop.

Fotographie

A boring shot linking photography and architecture proves to be an unsuccessful attempt at finding inspiration. Somedays, even a visually symbolic and literal connection is futile.

What is Dutch cuisine? A Pancake House at a Ronabout...

Since arriving in Holland, I have had excellent Indonesian, Indian, Thai, and Italian meals. Hence, I am still in the dark as to what Dutch cuisine is. For starters, they are known for Pancake houses.

Ron, here's a pancake especially for you. Now, you just have to imagine it with strawberries, sugar and whipping cream!

Lateral Office Cells?

What are these exterior brown window boxes?

All suggestions (no matter how absurd) are welcome.

Architectural Layers

and finally...

Rotterdam, a city, proud of it's skyline, chalkfull of eye-opening and innovative architecture.

But to my readers, I ask your opinion: Are the design styles in conflict or in harmony with each other? Please leave your comments.

Erasmus Medical Centre

The Erasmus program (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) encourages and supports academic mobility of higher education students and teachers within the European Union, the Europoean Economic Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as well as candidate countries such as Turkey. Students who join the program study for a period of 3 months to an academic year in another European country. Rotterdam is home to the Erasmus University with the Erasmus Medical Centre being the largest and one of the foremost academic medical trauma centers in the Netherlands.

Shipping Style

Shipping and Transport College with a seventy metre high tower overlooking the port of Rotterdam. Design by Neutelings Riedijk Architects.

Bowing down

Kubuswoning or Cubic Houses, 1970s Piet Blom

"The city of Rotterdam asked him to design housing on top of a pedestrian bridge and he decided to use the cubic houses idea. The concept behind these houses is that he tries to create a forest by each cube representing an abstract tree; therefore the whole village becomes a forest". More information from this website.

Beyond Geometry