europe – TOKIDOKI (NOMAD)

LIER, BELGIUM: A HERMIT’S LIFE

Published on August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 by jacquelinemhadel3 Comments

Saint Gummarus of Lier was a Belgian saint. He was the son of the Lord of Emblem An official in the court of his relative Pepin the Younger, after a number of years in military service he retired to live the life of a hermit. The town of Lier grew up around his hermitage. (wiki)

The Pepper pot

St Gummarus Tower, known as the “Peperbus” (Pepper pot) to the people of Lier, is 83m high.

Due to a number of catastrophes it took almost four centuries to build. We can see this from the various architectural styles: Gothic at the bottom, the octagon resting on this is late Gothic, the top octagon is late baroque and the tower roof is rococo. https://www.visitlier.be/en/see/points-interest/st-gummarus-tower

15aug2109. Lier, Belgium.

DINANT, BELGIUM 🇧🇪: THE COLLÉGIALE NOTRE DAME DE DINANT

Published on August 4, 2019 by jacquelinemhadel6 Comments

I love to experience solitude with historical icons.

I sat alone in The Collégiale Notre Dame de Dinant, a gorgeous 13th-century Gothic cathedral situated on the River Meuse, for a good 20 minutes without another soul around. I was able to meditate upon everything I’m grateful for, one of those things being moments like this, when I’m utterly alone, apart from the entire human race coexisting with some incredible piece of history in some random part of the world…it’s such a beautiful, weightless feeling.

Dinant, Belgium 🇧🇪 3aug19

VILVOORDE, BELGIUM 🇧🇪: A MOOD

Published on July 17, 2019 by jacquelinemhadelLeave a comment

13jul19. Vilvoorde, Belgium 🇧🇪

MECHELEN, BELGIUM: CITY ON THE RIVER DIJLE

Published on July 15, 2019 by jacquelinemhadel2 Comments

**The Dyle (Dutch: *Dijle*) flows through the city, hence it is often referred to as the *Dijlestad* (“City on the river *Dijle*“)**

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DCIM107GOPROGOPR2984. — **Mechelen City Hall**

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13july19. Mechelen, Belgium

IAŞI , ROMANIA 🇷🇴 GRAFFITI : “JUGGLIN’ MOLOTOVS”

Published on June 28, 2018 by jacquelinemhadel4 Comments

Artist HarceaPacea https://www.instagram.com/harceapacea and the elephant 🐘 featured later in this post…

Artist: ACHE77 https://www.instagram.com/ache77stencilartist and the 1+1=1 and Cat Mai Rezisti pieces featured later in this post…

24jun18 Iaşi , Romania 🇷🇴

Iaşi , Romania 🇷🇴: “Sa primesti ce ai dat”

Published on June 27, 2018 by jacquelinemhadel4 Comments

The Border crossing from Moldova 🇲🇩 .

The road to Iaşi .

Passing through villages on the way…there are still horse drawn carriages serving as practical modes of transportation .

Mănăstirea Trei Ierarhi (Monastery of the Three Hierarchs). Completed in 1639.

Artist : HarceaPacea https://www.instagram.com/harceapacea

sa primesti ce ai dat . Rough translation: “To get what you gave.”

“I also want to be an artist.”

Grand Hôtel Traian. Designed by Gustave Eiffel. 1887.

23/24jun18 . Iaşi , Romania 🇷🇴

Chișinău , Moldova : “Chișinău , You Intoxicate Me”

Published on June 22, 2018October 2, 2023 by jacquelinemhadel5 Comments

Trupele de Carabinieri (Carabinier Troops) is the gendarmerie-type force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova. The Moldovan Carabinieri are to ensure, together with the police or independently, public order, protection of rights and freedoms of citizens, owners’ properties and prevention of violations of the law. The Department of Carabineer Troops has 5 Military Units and some 2,000 soldiers working on a contract basis or on time. On December 12, 1991, the establishment of the Carabinieri Troops was approved by the Parliament and subsequently signed by the President of the Republic of Moldova. (wiki)

**“We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.”**
**― Erich Maria Remarque,** **All Quiet on the Western Front**

**Abandoned building near the city center.**

**“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that SELF may prove to be.”** **― May Sarton**

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**Decay is inevitable, but beauty can remain**

jun2018. Chisinau , Moldova

Chișinău , Moldova: The Central Cemetery a.k.a. The Armenian Cemetery

Published on June 20, 2018 by jacquelinemhadel2 Comments

Founded in 1811. It’s the most ‘honored’ cemetery in Chișinău. Many nobles alongside regular citizens. It’s falling to decay, as it’s so massive, but there’s constantly work being done by groundskeepers. Walking through it, I was struck by two things that are not common in American cemeteries: Pictures of the deceased prominently displayed on the tombstones, really ‘putting a face with the corpse’ for me. Which, I never knew I needed. Sounds creepy, but it was kind of wild to see the face of someone who was born and who died before I ever came to be. Just gently putting into perspective that life goes on with or without us. We’re so small in relative terms. Secondly, the tables that were on the grave sites. Some were as long as picnic tables. Others were small little cafe-like tables that were obviously meant for visitors to come and sit. A Ukrainian friend explained that once a year there’s a special day where families come and visit their beloveds’ graves…drink and eat, and share stories of their lives. An effort to keep their spirits alive, I guess.

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