Category Archives: Belgium



Road trip to Brugge

It’s been yet another strange year. It was filled with fewer dramatic shocks but with more sustained anxiety levels. I can confidently say I wasn’t alone in that, at least not outwardly. The internal ruminations were more active than ever, partly attributed to shit tons of therapy.
Yet another lockdown (I’ve lost count) was imposed in the country around Christmas time. This is the time enjoy the festive vibes that other people give, more than celebrating it (which I don’t). So all I wanted to do was just sit in a cosy cafe or a bar and see people. Luckily, some close friends agreed to jump on a drive towards Brugge.

I’ve been to Brugge probably a dozen times; the town was pretty as ever and quiet as never. It was a shame that most cafes were closed. And I enjoyed it just the same.
After a long hiatus from the camera, I managed to take some pictures and had moderate success shooting my favourite freelensing style.

We started by walking along the cobblestone streets.

The square at the center was devoid of loud parties and only had people casually strolling about.

The lights suspended the place in time and space, or so I felt. However the daylight proceeded to wane past us oblivious to my feelings.

Lit Christmas trees transforming into surreal bokeh in the pictures had me feeling nostalgic.

A note “A world without covid-19” hung on a wish-tree gave us a chuckle.

We sat by a cafe for some hot drinks as the night dawned and the winter chills took hold. 5:30pm felt like it was 9pm as we slowly started our long drive back to Amsterdam

Liège, Belgium

A sleepy little town that I always happened to pass through without ever stopping was Liege. It was just a point on my thoroughfare to reach some of the waterfalls and hiking trails slightly south of this region in Belgium. In the afternoon, on my way back, the sun was low and golden hour was almost upon which made for a compelling case to stop and walk around.

There was something peculiar about this place. Buildings were unusually tall and neatly stacked up. They were flaunting their geometry in parallels and rectangles. Colours tones were deep yet faded. All of which made the city evoke an air of a small cosy town.

No sooner the evening light was upon the city; the rooftops lit up in dazzling hues of the golden hour. Deep faded colours combined with orange shades of sunlight, draped the place in an afterglow.

The last of the cars passed through, and an eerie stillness took refuge in the quiet roads and narrow alleys. Time momentarily stopped, the light started losing its glow, and then we decided to get going.

Méry, Belgium

Somewhere near Liege in Belgium is this pretty little town called Méry, that a friend and I headed to on an impromptu early morning drive. I discovered this town on an earlier trip that I took to aimlessly explore the northeastern side of Belgium.

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