Sunday 21 January 2018

Mr. Blue Sky

Opening our curtains on Sunday morning, we were met by a strange phenomenon: a bright blue sky and pale amber sunlight. After all those grey days, it felt really weird, as if aliens had landed in our back garden.

No time to waste, so after breakfast we dressed warmly (it was a bit chilly) and went outside for a long overdue top up of our Vitamin D levels.


This dress, in a funky rust and brown printed fabric, was a € 4 bargain from Think Twice, bought back in November. I secured its tie with a Cameo brooch with unusual pale green background, and added a belt in forget-me-not blue.


On top went the "hairy" green cardigan I'd charity shopped on Saturday, adding a contrasting rust coloured enameled brooch. The ring is one of my € 1 buys from last week.


My Tweed jacket, which you have seen before and is part of a suit, kept me warm all day, helped by a green knitted scarf and green woolly hat. I wore flat heeled boots this time, a very comfortable pair which was definitely made for walking!

Our destination was a small but charming town less than half an hour's drive from Dove Cottage, which goes by the name of Lier.

Lier is located at the spot where two rivers, Grote Nete (Big Nete) and Kleine Nete (Small Nete) meet, creating a third river which, flowing downstream from Lier, is simply called Nete.



We parked on the outskirts of town, then walked along the river's towpath until St Margaret's Church could be glimpsed rising above the rooftops, shimmering brilliantely against the deep blue of the sky.

The church is reigning over the cobbled streets of the enclosed beguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.



In its quiet streets time seems to stand still, in spite of the constant stream of tourists, their voices echoing in this tranquil place, where once widows and unmarried women led a religiously inspired but independent life, under the leadership of a "grand dame", or "grootjuffrouw" in Flemish.



Surprisingly we almost had the place to ourselves on this sunny Sunday morning. When we passed one of the beguinage's gates on our way back in the afternoon, we could see that it was quite crowded.

They say the early bird catches the worm. Well, here the early bird was rewarded by endless photo opportunities without having to constantly work around the crowds!

This particular type of beguinage is called a 'street beguinage", and the one in Lier has 162 houses spread over eleven narrow streets.



At the centre stands St Margaret's Church, constructed in the 17-18th century. Construction started in 1664 and the church was dedicated in 1671. The top section of the front wall, together with the bell tower, was only completed one hundred years later. This period of time is shown by the architectural styles: while the main part of the church is baroque, the bell tower shows a clear rococo influence.


This narrow passageway is called "Hemdsmouwken" (meaning "shirtsleeve") due to its shape, and it is only 98 centimeters wide at one end. It was originally meant as a fire-break, to stop fire from spreading from one row of wood-and-loam houses to another.




The houses in this street, dating from around 1720, were the beguinage's last extension. With their generous proportions, they were inhabited by rich and aristocratic ladies. They were built on the site formerly used by the beguines for washing and bleaching linen and wool. The street's name, "Grachtkant" (meaning "canal side"), refers to the beguinage canal which used to run here.

By the time we left the beguinage, our stomachs were rumbling, so we ate the sandwiches we'd brought sat on a bench overlooking a bend in the river.



Afterwards, we strolled towards the town centre, along a scenic and much photographed stretch of the river, with classic views of the Hoogbrug (High Bridge), with some old town houses beyond.



Across the river is the picturesque building, "De Fortuyn", its striking, red and green shuttered façade, enhanced by the blue of the sky, meeting its reflection in the gently rippling water.

Can you spot the duck who had the audacity to disrupt the building's mirror image?




As we were in need of a hot beverage by then, we decided to check if the coffee shop we'd often frequented in the past was still in business. It was, so we sat ourselves down and warmed ourselves on cappuccino and hot chocolate, for which I seem to have a craving lately.



We'd ordered some chocolates (pralines) to go with our drinks, and Jos's coffee came with a complementary chocolate with the shop's name printed on it.



We made our way back via the Grote Markt, Lier's main square, and through Lier's main shopping street until we reached the town ramparts.

The statue on top the building on the top right is still sporting a Santa hat. Somebody should tell him Christmas is well and truly over!



Upon reaching the ramparts, which form a green belt around the town centre, we followed these until St Margaret's Church and the beguinage came into view, and we were nearing the end of our walk.

By then, clouds were starting to gather once more, a foreboding of the stormy weather to come.

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, as usual.

40 comments:

  1. Lier is a beautiful spot Ann, especially bathed in sunlight. You were fortunate to get a good day for sightseeing. It's snowing here just now!
    Your new frock is very becoming, love the warm colours and the neck tie is perfect secured with the beautiful cameo brooch. xxx

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    1. Thank you Fiona! That day was just a one-off, unfortunately, although we didn't have snow here (yet), apart from two days back in December. xxx

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  2. I so enjoy these days out with you! I feel like I've had a vitamin D and nature top-up just by looking at my computer screen. It's grey and raining here again, but Friday was miraculously sunny so I abandoned my PhD for the afternoon and actually went out to get a good walk (around charity shops incidentally, so there was a little bit of shopping involved...).

    What a fabulous country you live in!
    x

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    1. A walk combined with some charity shopping sounds live heaven to me! xxx

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  3. These are absolutely beautiful photos Ann and I enjoyed your description and history of the buildings.
    Here we have grey skies and snow today, so it's a cosy day inside for us. xxx

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  4. Yeah it's not a joke, the sky is blue!!! I miss it so much, every day grey sky here.And rain, always rainy.
    Thank you for this wonderful pictures, stunning sky and so many amazing buildings.
    Have a nice sunday Ann, huge hug Tina

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    1. It's been grey for so long that we are actually surprised the sky can be blue too! xxx

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  5. So lovely to tag along with you on your walks. It looks so peaceful. The architecture is so picturesque compared to what we have in North America. The old world charm of Europe really resonates from your visual diaries.

    Yesterday was the first day in ages it was above zero and I was able to get out and take the pug for a walk. Even though it was very messy we were both delighted to get out and get some fresh air.

    Suzanne

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    1. We do have quite a few towns exuding old world charm here in Belgium. But Canada does have the scenery Belgium hasn't got. I can't imagine it being sub zero for so long ... xxx

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  6. Lier looks like such a fascinating place! Reading your blog has made me add Belgium to my list of places I want to see before I die...

    Hope you have a sunnier or at least brighter week!
    xxx

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    1. If you ever decide to come to Belgium, do let me know Veronica! xxx

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  7. Lier looks a really nice place to visit. I would like to visit somewhere like that! I love the reflections on the water. Your outfit is really pretty too! :-)

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    1. Thank you Kezzie. I love making reflection photos! xxx

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  8. I love getting to see the beautiful towns near where you live. We've had snow and pouring rain all day today *sigh*

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    1. Thank you Gisela, but you do have Oxford, which is one of my favourite towns! xxx

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  9. I enjoyed our walk very much! I'm glad the weather gave you a break.
    I've never seen a green cameo-how beautiful.

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  10. I absolutely love your dress, Ann! I love the colours and style and it looks great with the 'hairy' cardigan!;) The cameo brooch looks great and I love your ring, too! The photos of Lier are absolutely stunning. So beautiful! Hope you have a great week, Ann! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha! The ring is one of my recent € 1 buys! xxx

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  11. lovely 'illustrated report' post, thanks for sharing your excursions!, so many fabulous architectural details, so picturesque canals and facades, and so cute outfit you were wearing!. Love your dress and all those greens and rusted colors together!, love your hairy cardi, your fab brooches and comfy&cool attitude (with lots of style!)
    besos

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    1. Thank you for your lovely words, Monica! Sometimes it's hard to appreciate what's in front of you, and blogging about places certainly makes you look at them with fresh eyes! xxx

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  12. Isn't it delightful to wake up to a sunny day? Yesterday was wet and it snowed a little, today though we have blue skies and sun!

    Lier looks like a lovely place. The water reflection photos are stunning. Glad you had a nice day out.

    xx

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    1. Thank you Hazel! A sunny day and a bit of blue sky can make all the difference, and certainly lifts the mood! xxx

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  13. You took the best advantage of the sunny Sunday! I must visit your area while I can still enjoy it all - history on every corner! Love the green brooch, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Thank you Patti! Belgium is well worth a visit, it's very compact with lots of old towns! xxx

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  14. your pretty photos are lifting my mood a lot!
    you have such a very good eye for pittoreske views - and the old beguinage is a real treasure.
    your cosy look of warm browns with some green on top inspired me - now i have 2-3 outfits in mind - to do if i ever can dump the overalls ;-)
    much love & hugs! xxxxxx

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    1. I'm glad I was able to lift your mood! And thank you for your lovely words! xxx

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  15. Gosh, you live in a beautiful part of the world! It's just stunning. Love your outfit, and that green-background cameo!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! I am, of course, only showing you the beautiful bit of Belgium ... xxx

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  16. I do love the trips you take us on in Belgium. The towns are so pretty.

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  17. A nice bracing walk, including a stop off for coffee, topped by a super print dress......All very lovely my friend
    LYnn xxx

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! Stopping for coffee, preferably with something sweet, is a must! xxx

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  18. Its so good to read such a lovely post as this that brings the spring sunshine in - albeit through a PC screen! Lier's buildings and scenery are so gorgeous, I bet both you and Jos felt refreshed after your daytrip xx

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    1. Thank you Liza! A day like that is perfect for lifting the mood! xxx

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  19. Mesmerizing! Such a beautiful town of Lier with its beguinage, old church, river with that naughty duck, old bridge... I am in love with it all. I must visit some day!

    And I adore the dress on you, with the "hairy" cardigan and green brooch. And your hat reminds me of my green hat so much!

    Much love! <3

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    1. Thank you Natalia! Lier is such a pretty little town. And Jos's youngest daughter lives there too! Oh, and haven't we got great taste in hats? xxx

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  20. beautiful outfit, I love antique clothes

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