{"id":7737,"date":"2025-07-31T06:00:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T10:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/?p=7737"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:23:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T17:23:11","slug":"the-waterloo-journal-ten-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/31\/the-waterloo-journal-ten-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"The Waterloo Journal | Ten Years Later"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s hard to believe that I went on a massive trip to Europe ten years ago for three weeks. The trip&#8217;s primary purpose was to attend and participate in the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo with a large group of Canadian Reenactors and other reenactors from around the globe to mark a major anniversary of this world-changing battle. The trip also proved to be an adventure and offered many photographic chances. I also made a point to write a journal of my travels. As I was building this post, I ran a search and found out that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/04\/the-waterloo-journal-revisited\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I had written about it before<\/a> and even included sections of my journal. So, for this entry, I&#8217;m going to take things a little differently and talk about the places I visited more retrospectively. And, of course, share different photos, digital, phone, and film.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18694745906\/in\/album-72157654445698151\" title=\"The Waterloo Kit\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/330\/18694745906_0991090cf1_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"822\" alt=\"The Waterloo Kit\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I ended up packing super light for my camera gear, the a6000 (new at this time) and the Contax G2, I did load up on film as I wasn&#8217;t sure where I could get more. I did use every single roll I took along.<br \/>\nNikon D300 &#8211; AF-S Nikkor 17-55mm 1:2.8G DX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Amsterdam<\/strong><br \/>\nAmsterdam was both the first and last city I visited during the trip. After an overnight flight from Toronto to Schiphol Airport, we hit the ground running. Travelling with a tour group meant that nothing was left to chance. After clearing security, grabbing our bags we got sorted into buses and were taken out to the old city. I wanted to strech my legs a little bit to I set out on a solo photo walk to try and get some rolls through the Contax and of course grab some lunch.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19389627176\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Horray\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/467\/19389627176_3e6f5e937f_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Horray\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Everyone is very happy to have landed safely and none of our bags had gotten lost.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19768351758\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/473\/19768351758_1941840156_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"743\" alt=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The De L&#8217;Europe Hotel was the very first frame I took in the Old City.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Eastman Double-X (5222) &#8211; Kodak Xtol (stock) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19415765275\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Groceries\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3884\/19415765275_a5685bb7fd_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Groceries\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I quickly became comfortable looking for groceries, especially snacks at the Albert Heijn chain of stores.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19956408115\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/308\/19956408115_ce0640dbd0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"658\" alt=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Streets were both narrow and broad in some cases.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Eastman Double-X (5222) &#8211; Kodak Xtol (stock) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19389695146\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Art Photographer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3893\/19389695146_2241f6df43_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Art Photographer\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>An old Photography studio or store near where I got lunch.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/22071537230\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/717\/22071537230_008b4096f9_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"784\" alt=\"Amsterdam...The First Day\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Of course this classic architecture is everywhere!<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; FPP Retrochrome 160 &#8211; Unicolor E-6 Rapid Kit<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>Later that evening I headed back into the old city using the subway system with Colin, Laura, James and Connie. The only one missing from our happy little group was Ewan, who had a terrible time on the flight. Yes we were all tired, but the excitement of having finally made it certainly helped keep our energy high. We found a place to have dinner and wandered around a bit, almost all of use had various cameras and I did make a point to turn it towards the people who I was with.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19389657256\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"The Gang\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/525\/19389657256_fc7328b35c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Gang\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Connie, James, Colin and Laura all posing on a bridge over one of the iconic canals.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18793242324\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Dam Square\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/401\/18793242324_f2ae31a85f_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Dam Square\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A World War Two memorial at Dam Square.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19409502892\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"The Royal Palace\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/409\/19409502892_c8d36de8c3_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Royal Palace\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Royal Palace, was surprised me was how close we could get, but I don&#8217;t think the Royal Family was present the day we were there.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19415716315\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"The Anne Frank House\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3954\/19415716315_78690180f3_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"The Anne Frank House\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Anne Frank House, yes that house and that Anne Frank.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19228180830\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"The Castle\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3780\/19228180830_e3d75df7e4_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Castle\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>One of the old gate houses that once controlled access into and out of the city.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>The final two days I was in Europe were again spent in Amsterdam, including Canada Day. By this point the temperatures which had been climbing slowly were now hitting uncomfortable levels. I would do some wandering through the streets but I would also take the time to visit several museums just to get into some air conditioning. Thankfully the hotel I stayed at near the air port was modern and did have a good HVAC system.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20264269252\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Canada Day Far Away\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/267\/20264269252_32f152fe27_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" alt=\"Canada Day Far Away\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I could take a hotel shuttle to the airport and then get on a local train to get into the old city.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Panatomic-X &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19480667029\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Amsterdam Centraal\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3731\/19480667029_9577bac39a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Amsterdam Centraal\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The beautiful central train station in the old city.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20078875678\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Canada Day Far Away\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3685\/20078875678_0d1e0213b0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" alt=\"Canada Day Far Away\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another iconic canal shot in the Old City. Thankfully there were a lot of spaces that had cover from the heat.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Efke KB50 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19509166050\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Montelbaanstoren\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/366\/19509166050_4e41e67011_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Montelbaanstoren\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Montelbaanstoren, completed in 1512 is the remains of a defensive tower that once was part of the city walls.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19710709103\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Amsterdam...The Last Day\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/515\/19710709103_db5a5a325f_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"668\" alt=\"Amsterdam...The Last Day\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The historic Heineken brewery, by the end of the trip I was sick of Heineken beer.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19670947076\/in\/album-72157655038881590\" title=\"Entrepotdok\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/345\/19670947076_cf0ca7d6de_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Entrepotdok\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Entrepotdock once controlled access to the city&#8217;s former warehouse district.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Antwerp<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter leaving Amsterdam while driving to Brussels we had the chance to stop in Antwerp, visiting the oldest part of the city centred around Het Steen a castle constructed between 1200 and 1225.  Then we got to wander around the Old City. Colin, Laura, and I also checked out the beautiful Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady the size and scale was like nothing I had ever seen. It wasn&#8217;t a long visit and I did transfer through the city later in the trip but I didn&#8217;t have enough time to stop in a see a bit more. Which is a shame because there was another fortification from the 1860s that would have been fun to see. But would have been a pain to get to with all my gear.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19440049821\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"Grote Markt\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/470\/19440049821_47d6457f92_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Grote Markt\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Grote Markt, or Great Market at the center of the Old City of Antwerp.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19705566096\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"Camera Review Blog No. 14 - Kyocera Contax G2\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/517\/19705566096_e305cf2a32_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" alt=\"Camera Review Blog No. 14 - Kyocera Contax G2\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another shot of the Great Market.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Ilford FP4+ @ ASA-125 &#8211; Ilford Ilfosol 3 (1+14) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19249636619\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"Cathedral of Our Lady\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3684\/19249636619_8819c8d9fb_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Cathedral of Our Lady\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The stunning Cathedral of Our Lady was never finished and probably never will be. But the scale of the church is amazing.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19248205810\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"But first...\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3773\/19248205810_6cc600efff_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"But first...\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Wandering around Old Antwerp with Colin and Laura, of course we had to get a selfie.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19409714886\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"The City Hall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/259\/19409714886_2bcb333473_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The City Hall\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The stunning city hall!<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19736404691\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"Camera Review Blog No. 14 - Kyocera Contax G2\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/304\/19736404691_c6271c55ee_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" alt=\"Camera Review Blog No. 14 - Kyocera Contax G2\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Close up details of the first real castle that I ever saw.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Ilford FP4+ @ ASA-125 &#8211; Ilford Ilfosol 3 (1+14) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19409703176\/in\/album-72157655079729170\" title=\"Het Steen\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/379\/19409703176_c9185943d4_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Het Steen\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Het Steen, first built to counter Viking raiders between 1200 and 1225. It is the oldest building in Antwerp.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Brussels<\/strong><br \/>\nI did not spend a lot of time in Brussels I wish I had spent a bit more time exploring the city. But when we first got there it was pretty late and we were hungry and immediately headed out for dinner. And then the others times we were coming back from a long and tiring days out at the Waterloo event and I left the cameras behind. Also the city had a bit of reputation for pick-pockets so I didn&#8217;t want to carry too much on my person. That said I did get a chance to get some photos.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18823947403\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"The Plaza\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/373\/18823947403_5a2035b206_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Plaza\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Out along a street while trying to find a place to have dinner.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19444550495\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"Turetts\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/452\/19444550495_586d77aa95_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Turetts\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The architecture was of course beautiful.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19438242202\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"A Touch of Sun\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/494\/19438242202_1a89fc7a32_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"A Touch of Sun\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some more details. Seriously, the old city was stunning.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19257015648\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"The Monistarium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/460\/19257015648_7a4ec6b324_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Monistarium\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>We of course found a little bar called the Monistarium that became our preferred spot to drink.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19438269672\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"The Monistarium\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/452\/19438269672_25776469f7_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Monistarium\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The place served amazing beers and was covered in artefacts from former churches. Our table is a former baptismal font.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>I did, however, remember to bring my cameras out for the final night together as a group. After a disappointing meal, we all had to go find better food. Trust me, if you&#8217;re in Brussels, do not go to any of those fixed-price restaurants; they&#8217;re terrible. But we did find a great pub (after having an earlier experience with such a restaurant) called the Pub of Six Nations and got something better than heading back to the Delirium Village for a fun-filled evening, including some impromptu karaoke.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19846349522\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"Six Nations\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/362\/19846349522_c93d968abc_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"656\" alt=\"Six Nations\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Pub of Six Nations, we ate here a couple of times.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19446199686\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"The Brussels Stock Exchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/444\/19446199686_b63f4eda51_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Brussels Stock Exchange\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Brussels Stock Exchange, Belgium used to be a financial power house in Europe.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19667158819\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"The Streets of Brussels\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/430\/19667158819_f1966d3952_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"663\" alt=\"The Streets of Brussels\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Enjoying that architecture again!<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19476564211\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"One Last night out\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/360\/19476564211_7c9301e53c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"729\" alt=\"One Last night out\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Yes, this is a Mayan\/Aztec Tequila bar but it was the only spot we could all fit at one table together.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19827547706\/in\/album-72157655077889069\" title=\"Sadly we never went in\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/315\/19827547706_85df04f290_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Sadly we never went in\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Beer Temple, sadly we never got to visit this spot.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Waterloo<\/strong><br \/>\nThe primary purpose of our trip was to be a part of the 200th Anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo. The final big battle in a decades-long conflict was the Napoleonic Wars. We spent three days on the field, driving each day from Brussels and returning after we were done. The first day was spent working as a whole battalion with our international partners, two days in the camp and fielding for the battle. I used my phone a lot and packed the Contax for the first day on the battlefield, but it was stupid not to bring a second roll of film. Because we marched through the original La Haye Sainte farmhouse, I was out of film and foolish and didn&#8217;t take out my phone. I was so in awe of being in history. I did bring my a6000 the next day, but we didn&#8217;t go through the farmhouse.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18930655325\/in\/album-72157654445698151\" title=\"Day one at Waterloo\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3879\/18930655325_0537f9da95_b.jpg\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" alt=\"Day one at Waterloo\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I had no idea when I first met Connie and James through PYPS that one day I would be at the Waterloo Battlefield reeacting the 200th anniversary of the battle together.<br \/>\nApple iPhone 4s<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19820854858\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"The Field of Waterloo\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3728\/19820854858_fbde4eb247_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"671\" alt=\"The Field of Waterloo\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I missed being in Green at the event, but it was still fun to dress in red and be in the line facing the French. Here&#8217;s folks representing the 5th Batt. 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18744326289\/in\/album-72157654445698151\" title=\"Day one at Waterloo\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/491\/18744326289_16c6153fa8_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Day one at Waterloo\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>So there was this guy with a replica of a French Eagle collecting photos of British troops holding it. So of course I had to pose.<br \/>\nApple iPhone 4s<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19820944730\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"The Field of Waterloo\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/431\/19820944730_8212115bf2_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"662\" alt=\"The Field of Waterloo\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some of the many pieces of artillery that would be on the field when we got there.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>As battles went on, we fought almost the same scenario both days and let me tell you, the battles I had been a part of in North America had nothing to do with this one. First, the scale was immense; the number of reenactors on the field was about equal to the number of troops in the historic battles of the War of 1812. And then there was the brutality; no quarter was given by either side. We screamed, shouted and fired almost directly at the folks on the other side. Also, the horses, being charged by cavalry, is terrifying with only my musket and fixed bayonet in place to defend myself. But the trick is yelling obscenities to help keep the fear down.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19457753272\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"The French\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/448\/19457753272_a9d2b9fc33_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"519\" alt=\"The French\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Yes, those are real people on real horses riding across the horizon. Facing mounted cavalry was both exciting and terrifying.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19438021296\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"King Panther\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/561\/19438021296_dfc1059559_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"778\" alt=\"King Panther\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Colin was our steady company commander during the battle.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19438019666\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"The Iron Duke\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/288\/19438019666_45ff10d2dd_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" alt=\"The Iron Duke\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The reenactor who portraying Sir Arthur Wellesley was excellent in the role!<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19277975699\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"Defenders of Hougomont\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/266\/19277975699_032b5b932f_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Defenders of Hougomont\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>More Canadians, this time portraying the 41st Regiment of Foot under the steady hand of Tom Fournier.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19277975169\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"Scots Lights\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/339\/19277975169_3ef9bd07dc_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Scots Lights\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Light Infantry troops from the 1st (Royal Scots) Regiment of Foot screening the big line.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19438037136\/in\/album-72157655460166226\" title=\"Through the Smoke\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/551\/19438037136_6701ebb166_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Through the Smoke\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>You can see through the smoke the columns of French troops.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bruges<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter three days in uniform and despite a victory parade, I decided to take a cheap bus trip to Bruges. I wanted a quiet day solo to decompress before another night party in Brussels. I decided to wander around the city and follow my heart. I got lost at one point and nearly exited the historic town but got myself turned back around and headed back in. I also learned that using a bathroom is worth the 1-2 euros. The public bathrooms in Europe are wonderful, clean, well stocked and attended. Also learned that many places of business do insist that you order something first before they let you use their bathroom as proven by the dive bar I bought a beer at just to use the bathroom.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19446190196\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"Out along another canal\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/548\/19446190196_a043aa29f9_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Out along another canal\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>More Canals through the historic city of Bruges.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 666px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19999618601\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/321\/19999618601_67367d1b6e_b.jpg\" width=\"666\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The 83-metre high Belfort (belfry) from the 13th century is one of the three iconic towers of Bruges.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Eastman Double-X 5222 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (Stock) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18849731624\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"Around the Grand Market Plaza\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/514\/18849731624_203ae5edb0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Around the Grand Market Plaza\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another Sunday in a Grand Market in the Old City of Bruges.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 685px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19371771024\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/504\/19371771024_9cb100f07a_b.jpg\" width=\"685\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another beautiful structure neatly framed up.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Eastman Double-X 5222 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (Stock) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19284678470\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"Ahh the Canal Life\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/536\/19284678470_76c04073e9_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Ahh the Canal Life\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I rather like this shot, another canal through the old city.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 664px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19371769854\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3761\/19371769854_02f419e740_b.jpg\" width=\"664\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"A Sunday in Bruges\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>This architectural style was all through the parts of Europe I visited.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Eastman Double-X 5222 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (Stock) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18851602423\/in\/album-72157655472072676\" title=\"The Bonne-Chi\u00e8re\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/331\/18851602423_071223af17_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"The Bonne-Chi\u00e8re\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>De Bonne Chiere stands out among these historical mills. Originally constructed in 1888 in the village of Olsene, it was relocated to Bruges in 1911.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Arras<\/strong><br \/>\nIt was raining as I boarded the train with all my luggage in Brussels and took the long train ride south to Arras. The group had split up; some were on their own adventures, and others went home. After getting past the language barrier, I got into my hotel room and didn&#8217;t want the rain to stop me, so I loaded up a roll of Tri-X and headed out into the rain. The entire old city was quiet as I wandered through the streets. I also noted that many of the businesses were closed, and it was late afternoon at this point. As I wandered the street, I enjoyed the quietness and focus on photography. I found one open restaurant, and I even tried escargot. It didn&#8217;t go well, and I got a bottle of wine and Domino&#8217;s pizza. Yes, even in Europe, I could get Dominos. Weird.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19864249459\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/463\/19864249459_4ca569642b_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Rain doesn&#8217;t stop me.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20043080182\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/554\/20043080182_f75de0e58b_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"651\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Beautiful \u00c9glise Saint Jean-Baptiste, this is a 1920s reconstruction as the first one was destroyed in World War One.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20050942485\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/430\/20050942485_a0675bdbf3_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Lots of back alleys and streets here.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20043088042\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/272\/20043088042_625683c30e_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"677\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A public washroom, but it was closed.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19862849218\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/548\/19862849218_08ce0d938c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"635\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Chinese Take-Away?<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20043083102\/in\/album-72157655555096412\" title=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/346\/20043083102_6e4764d3b2_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"689\" alt=\"Rainy Day in Arras\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>It&#8217;s far from  being a perfect image but I like it and it has become a rather special image to me.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Vimy<\/strong><br \/>\nMy trip into Vimy did not start out too well, first up I had to switch hotels, thankfully the hotel I was staying at made it seamless. Second I wanted to take a bicycle out to Vimy from Arras but there was only one place to rent a bike and they weren&#8217;t about to let their bikes leave the city. I also wasn&#8217;t about to rent a car either. I wanted this whole trip to be done without a car. So I finally figured out the trains and was off to Vimy. Then using my phone&#8217;s GPS I ended up walking the five kilometers out to Vimy Ridge. And it wasn&#8217;t by the direct or easy route, rather it was a weird route through a logging camp and a nature cross-over. But it was worth it as I openly wept at the monument. Then after exploring it I ended up finding the visitor&#8217;s centre and talking to other Canadians. Who directed me back to the town by a better easier route. <\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19495975795\/in\/album-72157655167874298\" title=\"First Sight\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/303\/19495975795_93199b6ff3_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"First Sight\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>There are whole swaths of France that are still uninhabited due to the First World War.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19763993831\/in\/album-72157655167874298\" title=\"Have you Climbed the Ridge Where Canadians Died?\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3783\/19763993831_362a3a831a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" alt=\"Have you Climbed the Ridge Where Canadians Died?\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>There&#8217;s a certain majesty to the Vimy Memorial.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Panatomic-X @ ASA-32 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19309843779\/in\/album-72157655167874298\" title=\"Canada Bereft\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/437\/19309843779_12927f4fd5_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Canada Bereft\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The central figure represents a Canadian mother mourning the loss of so many young men in the war.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19571272530\/in\/album-72157655167874298\" title=\"Have you Climbed the Ridge Where Canadians Died?\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3809\/19571272530_8b40bd8dae_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" alt=\"Have you Climbed the Ridge Where Canadians Died?\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another favourite shot of mine, banking on the narrow depth of field of the 45mm f\/2 lens.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Panatomic-X @ ASA-32 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18873463784\/in\/album-72157655167874298\" title=\"Canadian National Vimy Memorial\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/354\/18873463784_0ae2436f6c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Canadian National Vimy Memorial\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>While the weather stayed, we got treated to a storm later that night.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ghent<\/strong><br \/>\nI only went to Ghent for one reason: to get a photo of a plaque that marks the building where the American delegation to the peace talks that ultimately ended the War of 1812. Unlike the previous cities I had visited, the train station is well outside the city&#8217;s historic centre. I arrived later in the afternoon, and knowing I still had several hours before sunset, I walked from my hotel in a more modern area into the city centre. It was an enjoyable walk as the architecture moved back from the 20th into the 19th and further back in history. as I moved towards the centre. At one point, I gained a tail, and as soon as I noticed this, I went to a police officer who took immediate action. While I never felt unsafe, I soon felt much safer wandering the city. I also found a good bar and store selling many fantastic beers.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19514231841\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"Justitiepaleis\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/557\/19514231841_b8c8f4f4b8_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Justitiepaleis\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Justitiepaleis &#8211; The main court for both Ghent and the Flanders Region of Belgium.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19905253521\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"Ah Gent\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/515\/19905253521_9d0e47d053_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"659\" alt=\"Ah Gent\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>While I walked to to the town centre I took the beautiful trams back to my hotel.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19514228621\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"There it is!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3735\/19514228621_f947f19463_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"There it is!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Getting into the older sections of the city.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19900193685\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"Ah Gent\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/444\/19900193685_fb7d42a1aa_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" alt=\"Ah Gent\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some stunning later 19th Century architecture.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19503400252\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"Sometimes Wandering Pays Off\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/501\/19503400252_2c7d6cdab4_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Sometimes Wandering Pays Off\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Now that&#8217;s what I call a bar with character, they had some great beers on tap here. I enjoyed a few before continuing on!<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19446980734\/in\/album-72157655604297085\" title=\"An Afternoon in Gent\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/261\/19446980734_5f0a8e3493_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" alt=\"An Afternoon in Gent\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some World War One memorials were all throughout the cities. But yeah, we&#8217;re in Flanders.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 &#8211; Agfa APX 25 &#8211; Kodak Tmax Developer (1+4) 6:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>While visiting a castle was not my primary purpose, I wasn&#8217;t about to let the chance to see inside a castle. Gravensteen is the historic seat of the Count of Flanders. The castle today dates to 1180 and served in that role until 1353. Since then, it has been a court, prison, mint and even a cotton factory. It saw restoration from 1893 to 1907 under the watchful eye of architect Joseph De Waele. It became the centre-piece of the Ghent World Fair of 1913. One of the more interesting things I noted inside the castle is an original guillotine that saw actual use in the past and a plaque dedicated to British, Polish, and Canadian soldiers and airmen who were all part of the liberation of the city in World War Two.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19323799889\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"My Inner Child is Jumping.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/320\/19323799889_3cafbbca01_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"My Inner Child is Jumping.\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Yep, I even got to see another proper castle in Ghent.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19881636990\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"Gravensteen\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/341\/19881636990_3819c89e18_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" alt=\"Gravensteen\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another view of the castle, I wasn&#8217;t about to let this one go.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19510280755\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"A Strolls\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/375\/19510280755_35c0613d93_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"A Strolls\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Strolling along the works.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19279270503\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"The Court\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/378\/19279270503_2b99517f00_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"643\" alt=\"The Court\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The outside of the council chambers for the Count of Flanders.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19510286575\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"My Type of Rooftopping\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/436\/19510286575_5cbaaf5249_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"My Type of Rooftopping\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The view from the top of the walls was stunning!<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19279267003\/in\/album-72157655578741952\" title=\"Drop the Hot Oil!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/357\/19279267003_c9f74bc250_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" alt=\"Drop the Hot Oil!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>More along the castle walls.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Arnhem<\/strong><br \/>\nIt took a lot to get from Ghent back to the Netherlands and Tilburg, where I stayed. However, after getting off the train and getting to my hotel, I realised there wasn&#8217;t much for me to see in Tilburg. So I was checking out a map as I took a quick rest in my room, and I saw a city that was only an hour away by train that rang a bell. Arnhem. I&#8217;d done Napoleon and World War One; how about a World War Two battle? Arnhem was the site of the Battle of Arnhem, which was part of the failed Operation Market Garden. And the titular Bridge Too Far. I quickly grabbed my bag, returned to the station, and caught the next train. The film &#8220;A Bridge Too Far&#8221; was not filmed in Arnhem but rather in another smaller town nearby that looked far closer to what Arnhem looked like in World War Two. It was a fair hike from the station to the bridge, but I was able to raise a glass for the men who died while defending the bridge.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19611120289\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"Inter-City\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/528\/19611120289_35be638931_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" alt=\"Inter-City\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Inter-City trains were perfect as they only stopped at major stations. Different from International trains or commuter trains, it was all about picking the right one.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Adox CHS 100 @ ASA-64 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+2) 8:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19517278252\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"The Market\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/281\/19517278252_32f123b71e_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Market\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A rather interesting mix, mostly early-mid 20th Century buildings here.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19337442849\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"The Battle of Arnhem\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/269\/19337442849_34a24b9e8c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"The Battle of Arnhem\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I like the style choices here for the fifty-year anniversary memorial of the Battle of Arnhem.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18901421654\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"John Frost Bridge\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/330\/18901421654_b16d1194be_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"John Frost Bridge\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The titular bridge too far, well technically that bridge was destroyed, this one dates to 1948.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19611115819\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"Artillery Fire\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/287\/19611115819_35eb17f5ed_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" alt=\"Artillery Fire\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Something familiar, there are a tonne of similar artillery pieces all throughout Canada at war memorials.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Adox CHS 100 @ ASA-64 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+2) 8:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19517277442\/in\/album-72157655207003060\" title=\"Sabre Gates\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/493\/19517277442_e092449740_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Sabre Gates\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Saber Gate is the only surviving medieval gate left in Arnhem and have been since 1836.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tilburg<\/strong><br \/>\nI could have found a bit more to do in Tilburg, but there was nothing too interesting where I stayed. Looking at the map now, I was close to the centre of the town, but I don&#8217;t think I wandered far enough when I got back from Arnham. But I couldn&#8217;t get away with not taking any photos here. Also, by this point in the trip, I had been city hopping for nearly a week, so I was exhausted dragging my kit around every day. So I made a point to find a central spot for the next several days to stay put so I wasn&#8217;t always dragging stuff to and from a hotel room. The sacrifice was cutting out a trip to see the Impossible Project. <\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19340292780\/in\/album-72157653302117163\" title=\"St. Joseph Church\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3734\/19340292780_ec97a92772_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"St. Joseph Church\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The beautiful St. Joseph Church.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18905706204\/in\/album-72157653302117163\" title=\"St. Joseph Church\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/264\/18905706204_6b11643c6b_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"St. Joseph Church\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another shot of St. Joseph Church.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19340292280\/in\/album-72157653302117163\" title=\"Stunning\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/312\/19340292280_c80a37e21c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Stunning\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Despite being from 1900 the architecture is excellent.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19528212705\/in\/album-72157653302117163\" title=\"The Train Station\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/404\/19528212705_a804bff9bd_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"The Train Station\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Getting kindof a 50s\/60s vibe off this clock tower.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19521545502\/in\/album-72157653302117163\" title=\"The Noble Duke\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/511\/19521545502_1d15739ac0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"741\" alt=\"The Noble Duke\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Nobel Duke, it&#8217;s a great name for a pub, except this wasn&#8217;t a pub.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Rotterdam<\/strong><br \/>\nRotterdam would be my home base for several days into the third week of the trip. I had enough of city hopping and I wanted to be able to put down all my kit and not have to drag it out every day to move on. I found a Holiday Inn Express a block away from the central train station and booked my rooms there. Not only was this the biggest room I had all trip, it was good to have a free breakfast available to me. <\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19275929256\/in\/album-72157654445698151\" title=\"Going Dutch\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3789\/19275929256_4223170c1a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Going Dutch\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>While this is leaving Rotterdam for Amsterdam, you get the idea of how much stuff I carried along with me.<br \/>\nApple iPhone 4s<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18928819624\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"I really like this style\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/456\/18928819624_65eaf05b17_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"I really like this style\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The architecture was far more modern than I was expecting.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19551331635\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Old and New\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/310\/19551331635_fe43b0d0aa_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Old and New\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>But there are still pockets of historic architecture.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19363394228\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Details Details\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/435\/19363394228_7ff33baef2_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Details Details\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some 1920s\/30s vibes here.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19586378281\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Rotterdam City Hall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/326\/19586378281_71b1cbc42a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Rotterdam City Hall\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Oh and the city hall also.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>What struck me as odd was that the city seemed modern. I had seen some towns with contemporary elements, but there was still a lot of historic architecture scattered about. Had Rotterdam done a major urban renewal in the 1970s and wiped out some of the city&#8217;s historic elements? Well, the answer hit me like a bomb, literally. I turned my head at one point and saw a massive display about the Rotterdam Blitz. The city had been levelled not by the local government but by the Luftwaffe as a warning.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19507459843\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/290\/19507459843_edb3e7e307_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"648\" alt=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Loving the art deco styled type-face on this garage.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Efke KB50 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 694px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20133969111\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Koningshavenbrug\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/342\/20133969111_1d30601527_b.jpg\" width=\"694\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Koningshavenbrug\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Koningshavenbrug or &#8220;De Hef&#8221; is an old railway bridge separating Noordereiland and Feijenoord districts it operated from 1927-1993.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Efke KB50 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19940345118\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/428\/19940345118_22b766f98c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"710\" alt=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Some brickwork details.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Efke KB50 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20102162436\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/356\/20102162436_8188bec997_b.jpg\" width=\"670\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A lighthouse from Oude Haven, the Old Harbour that survived the 1940 Blitz.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Efke KB50 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19968233740\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/255\/19968233740_a82a1e1632_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" alt=\"Hello Rotterdam!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The former Holland-American Line Headquarters, today it&#8217;s a hotel.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Biogon 2.8\/28 T* &#8211; Kodak Plus-X 125 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>One of the highlights of visiting Rotterdam is meeting some family. I had a lovely visit with my mom&#8217;s cousin (Peter) and met his mother (my mom&#8217;s aunt) at the same time. Of course, the aunt didn&#8217;t speak English, so the conversation was translated through Peter or his wife. It was a lovely respite from travelling solo. I also got a full taste of how good the public transit system is; I got to use both Lightrail and Subway. I got lost a couple of times on my way back, but I eventually made it. I also took the chance several times to get off the system and explore different parts of the city, which is probably why I was turned around at some point. But it was worth it, as I did find some surviving historic sections of the city.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19590870795\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"All the Rounding\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/466\/19590870795_8efa784cb0_h.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" alt=\"All the Rounding\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A little more historic architecture.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18969959123\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"The Fleet\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/360\/18969959123_2d4e2d547f_h.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" alt=\"The Fleet\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A fleet of private boats, I can imagine some of my ancestors heading out on fishing boats like some of these.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18969959643\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"Again with the round\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/358\/18969959643_819e4212e5_h.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" alt=\"Again with the round\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I do like the rounded details on the corner buildings.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19590873575\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"The Yellow\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/519\/19590873575_98311f7582_h.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" alt=\"The Yellow\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Not sure what this building used to be but I like the deco styling.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19595191061\/in\/album-72157655247979000\" title=\"The Atlantic House\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3724\/19595191061_1e2e6851cf_h.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" alt=\"The Atlantic House\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The Atlantic Huis is an art deco styled business complex built in the late 1920s. It was the first building in the Netherlands to feature a parking garage.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><strong>Den Haag<\/strong><br \/>\nTaking advantage of having my luggage in a secure location, I could work on a better schedule with my photography. I&#8217;m always much more of an early riser and getting out in the morning. Being a block from the central train station, I caught a train to Den Haag or The Hauge, the seat of power in the Netherlands. The one thing I noticed is that there were many people in uniform. Both modern and historical, mainly from the Second World War. I asked what happened and was told that a display of military vehicles was taking place. I got off the train where the folks indicated. I wasn&#8217;t disappointed; it was a great display of modern and historic vehicles. After wandering around there for a bit, I headed out to my main goal: get up to the North Sea and the small town of Scheveningen. I took a long and weird route mainly because I wanted to grab as many photos as possible.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19477033734\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Morning in Den Haag\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/551\/19477033734_73b221531a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"663\" alt=\"Morning in Den Haag\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A Stridsfordon 90, a Swedish infantry fighting vehicle designed by H\u00e4gglunds\/Bofors.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19566368781\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Panzerhaubitze 2000\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/260\/19566368781_a97e8968fe_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Panzerhaubitze 2000\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A Panzerhaubitze 2000, a German made 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20105113691\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Morning in Den Haag\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/441\/20105113691_9fbde97745_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"656\" alt=\"Morning in Den Haag\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A DAF YP-408, a Dutch 8\u00d76 armoured personnel carrier.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19374155120\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"German Wespe 105 mm self-propelled artillery vehicle\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/432\/19374155120_cedd90a0e6_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"689\" alt=\"German Wespe 105 mm self-propelled artillery vehicle\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A Canadian Sexton Self-Propelled Artillery Piece &#8211; derived from the M3 Lee and M4 Sherman with a 25pdr gun.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/20105113101\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Morning in Den Haag\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/364\/20105113101_b8ede31310_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"695\" alt=\"Morning in Den Haag\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Reenactor with a BAR.<br \/>\nContax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>But I eventually made it to the spot. Until now, the weather hadn&#8217;t been too bad; it was relatively mild, thanks mainly to how far north I was compared to home. But by this point, it started heating up more. After taking off my shoes and socks, rolling up my pants and walking into the North Sea, I settled into a Muskoka Chair and had a couple of beers at a beach club. Then, I wandered through the old town section of Scheveningen before finding my way back to a tram. Then, it was a nice long ride back to a train station where I could catch a ride back to Rotterdam.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/18941196493\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Up and Over\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/296\/18941196493_5b54406bd6_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Up and Over\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>You bet there&#8217;s more canals!<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19566358311\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Jag!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/307\/19566358311_c565f29d85_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Jag!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>A beautiful classic Jaguar I saw on my walk.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19562081615\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/380\/19562081615_9641c80a9a_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk, one of the oldest buildings in Den Haag, some of the stained glass was commissioned by a Holy Roman Empire.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 683px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19535944536\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/536\/19535944536_8026fbc664_b.jpg\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another interesting part of Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk is that it is where the Dutch Royal Family conducts their baptisms.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19375555049\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Scheveningen Pier\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/524\/19375555049_fab29f9ce6_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Scheveningen Pier\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The classic Scheveningen Pier, there are photos of my mom&#8217;s family standing by this pier.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/19555280672\/in\/album-72157655658587452\" title=\"Scheveningen\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3790\/19555280672_e1ff747c28_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Scheveningen\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Walking the streets of Scheveningen.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve reached this point, thank you so much for taking a walk back through my trip to Europe ten years ago. I&#8217;m happy I went. I&#8217;m even happier with the photography I achieved during the journey. Ten years ago, I was still locking my phone into square format so that I could upload it to Instagram without cropping. Yes, there was that time when you could only post in square format, and reels weren&#8217;t a thing yet. Even now, the quality of the iPhone 4s still stands up, although that case interfered with the image and made it much softer. This is only a small selection of my pictures; you can always go and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/collections\/72157655432025141\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">look at all of them over on Flickr<\/a>. It&#8217;s funny because I still look at these occasionally when I want to revisit the trip. Is it nostalgia? Probably, but also a reminder that the world is a lot bigger and a lot older than my little slice of Canada, where the oldest buildings I have are young when you compare them to the places in Europe. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s hard to believe that I went on a massive trip to Europe ten years ago for three weeks. The trip&#8217;s primary purpose was to attend and participate in the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo with a large group of Canadian Reenactors and other reenactors from around the globe to mark a major anniversary of this world-changing battle. The trip also proved to be an adventure and offered many photographic chances. I also made a point to write a journal of my travels. As I was building this post, I ran a search and found out that I had written about it before<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/31\/the-waterloo-journal-ten-years-later\/\"><span>Read More &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[726,446,355,356,1979,1162,358,361,1311,357,1307,1731,557,1306,362,1309,115,327,132,354,353,262,147,171,351,360,556,989,1308,865,1978,1310,1228],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7737"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7737"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8490,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7737\/revisions\/8490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}