NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Future NG Events - and Location Reveries => Topic started by: Joost Bollens on June 12, 2016, 14:58:54
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Hello,
there has been a NG visit to Utrecht in March, and just recently we went to Maastricht.
Now I have been given the honour and delight to prepare a new excursion, "somewhere in Belgium". During our Maastricht-trip we already discussed the matter, and several intresting suggestions were made: Leuven, Brussel/Bruxelles, Liège, Gent, Brugge, Antwerpen, Charleroi, Namur, ...
Too much for one day (but at the same time plenty of scope for future NG-trips!) and therefore a choice has to be made. My first suggestion would be Leuven, this being the city that I know best.
To get an idea of things that can be seen here, just "google" one of the following keywords and then choose for "pictures"
Leuven
Leuven begijnhof [the medieval beguinage]
Leuven Arenberg Castle
Leuven Vaartkom
Leuven Dijlemolens
Leuven kruidtuin
Leuven stadspark
Leuven oude markt
Leuven grote markt
Leuven orgels [for Frank]
Leuven sint maartensdal
Leuven kermis
Would a weekend-day in September be suitable?
Joost
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Thanks, Joost. Leuven is looking good - only I'm restricted to the first weekend in September.
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I'm interested, but don't forget there's already an NG event during Photokina from September 22-25
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Joost, Leuven is a great idea and thanks for the initiative!
As Chris mentioned there is Photokina, but apart from that, I don't see why not?
Perhaps the last week of August is also a possibility :)
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I would suggest something later in the autumn. August is vacation time for many.
Don't think I have ever been to Belgium? however, flying down just for a weekend stroll might be stretching the budget a little.
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Last weekend in August is already taken. I will be in Grefrath where 1500 US cars and over 4000 fans will gather. Early September would be good, but towards the end of September there is Photokina. October will be the month in which our baby daughter will be born, so I guess I will have to pass regardless of when the event will take place :)
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Photokina is not set yet. 22nd seems to be admin meeting at JA so I will be at a friend's birthday instead.
23rd could be Wild Boar on a spit evening after Photokina, yet feedback is zero on that suggestion yet.
The longer we wait with booking the fewer the options will be.....
I love Belgium. Why not meet in early September? Who would be in on first Weekend?
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:D
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I'm in. I'll check with Martine and Denis.
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That means Sunday 4th September?
I will gladly join!
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That makes 5?
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Airy, from Lille? Vivion, from Luxembourg?
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the 4th of september is OK for me ,
Joost
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Airy, from Lille? Vivion, from Luxembourg?
+1!
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No problems in my Calendar ;)
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I've never been to Leuven, so count me in. :)
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September 4th is feasible. It coincides, I think, with the "braderie" (jumble sales) in Lille, but we tend to avoid it now.
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Airy. The Organ thread would profit tremendously from that. I hope Joost will put in a good word for us at the local musicians...
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I learned in the meantime that there are no less than 60 organs in Leuven! I will try to visit the most important in the coming weeks, in order to gather some information about accessibiility and opening hours, and of course to make some pics.
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That is a very large number of Organs ;)
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Joost. Thank you so much. In Airy we have a master of organ knowledge an appreciation.
If Airy comes and tells us about the instruments this would be one very interesting highlight of the day.
I do not think more than two organs per day are suitable as there are so many other things to see in Leuwen.
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I've been selected again to participate to the Accessible Art Fair in brussels in september, so for me it depends of the choice of the date. Otherwise I'm ok.
Martine
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If Airy comes and tells us about the instruments this would be one very interesting highlight of the day.
I do not think more than two organs per day are suitable as there are so many other things to see in Leuwen.
Agreed, I'll see what info (and possibly access) I can get. But two is indeed the maximum, if we want to appreciate the other things, not to forget the people.
By the way, a good opportunity for comparing against-the-light shooting merits of our lenses. Zeiss 35/2 awaits challenger.
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Leuven is not too big and everything is within walking distance. Yet there is a lot to see, and having to walk from the railway station to the other side of town, and then again to another side, and back to the centre, etc., is manageable, but certainly needs some planning. Not necessarily the landscape photographers' kind of planning (consulting the "photographers ephemeris" on the web in order to find the best date and hour does not make much sense, as the date has already been picked...), but a planning in the sense that if I want to see A, B, C and D, then it makes sense to first combine A and D, as these are in neighbouring quarters close to the point of departure, and then proceed to C, and eventually visit B which is on the way back;
In the coming weeks I will post some photos of sites in Leuven, always combined with an area indication. At a given point in time, I will make a map with a representation of these areas. This should allow everybody to make a personal plan! I do not doubt that in the end we will also find some common denominator, as there are sights everybody wants to see (or should be willing to see?), but this approach at least leaves room for particular idiosyncrasies. It might e.g. just be that not everyone is into organs...
If my photos not only incite you to say "I can do better", but also spur you to say "I want to do better", my mission is accomplished.
Here a picture of fons sapientiae (the "source of wisdom"), aka "Fonske", with the townhall and the Sint-Pieterskerk in the background. Zone A: Grote Markt.
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...
Thanks, Joost. Very much appreciated.
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(1) This bug can be found in zone B, Ladeuzeplein.
(2) Although the bug is seated on top of a 10 meter high pole, it might be difficult to locate, as september is "kermis "-time, a fair with quite high (and loud & colourful) attractions
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Your photos tell me: I want to go.there.
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Joost, thank you so much for the additional information!
I am sure I have a photo of that bug somewhere, just takes time locating it ::)
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(3) the fancy roofs above the railway station, in a picture showing the (apparent) compression effect of a longer tele
(4) a new hotel at the other side of the raiway tracks (IR)
Both in zone C, the station neighbourhood
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Hello,
September 4th is fine for me, if this is the chosen date.
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Good to hear, Nicole.
I think it is September 4th, yes.
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I am really sorry, but I can't be there at the 4th of september. It would have been great to see Leuven through the lens of a camera and meet y'all.
Have fun!
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As Sunday the 4 th of September soon will be there, it is time to take up this thread again.
- I suggest we meet in the morning in front of the railway station. There are several cafes, but Brasserie La Royale seems to be open from 10 am, which is fine. Let us meet there around 10:30? Underneath the raiway station there is a large parking lot.
- Who will be joining us? This morning I went to the tourist office to collect 15 maps of the city. 15 is not a hard coded restriction, though...
- If someone would like to visit the city the night before, I can provide shelter in my house, some 10 km east of Leuven. It might be nice to do some night city photography.
Joost
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Joost, I just got back from my holiday, sorry for the late reply.
I have to look at my plans and agendas and if I am free I will gladly spend the night in Leuven.
Thanks!
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I will be there. Contemplating night before too.
Still on family vacation. Next week OK?
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I'll be there on the 4th. Not sure for the night before but I don't need accommodation anyway.
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I will be there. Contemplating night before too.
Still on family vacation. Next week OK?
No need to hurry!
Museum M, the municipal museum
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empty parking lot in Leuven
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Sorry I cannot be there. On the Saturday I have a wedding on one side of my family. On the Sunday I have a golden wedding on the other side of my family.
Have a great time, all.
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Leuven is lovely. I once was in a relationship with a girl who lived in Leuven. As can be expected I have been there quite a few times between 2003 and 2005.
Even though I would love to visit Leuven again, we will not be able to make it because Kristina is bed-bound until our firstborn is born. A little safety precaution. All is well with both Kristina and our unborn daughter. Both me and Kristina do wish you all a lovely day though and do look forward to both impressions from Leuve during Kermis, as well as to join in future NG gatherings.
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Hello,
our NG Leuven event is planned for next Sunday, September the 4th.
So far the following persons have indicated that they possibly will participate:
1. Joost
2. Bruno Schröder
3. Frank Fremerey
4. Jakov Minić
5. Nicole
6. Thomas
7. John Geerts
8. Chris Dees
9. Airy
Is this list still accurate?
Meeting point is Brasserie La Royale, in front of the railway station, at 10:30. Underneath the raiway station there is a large parking lot.
The proposal for an extra-Saturday-night session is still pending. As for the shelter, there should not be a problem. I have 3 spare bedrooms, 2 of which actually contain a bed. I have 3 additional camp beds. Just let me know if you are interested, then we can make further arrangements.
Joost
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Werner (alaun)? Will we share a ride again?
Joost. Our family are at an event in Bonn the night before, so I cannot make it to Leuwen for the night. I will be there in the morning though
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I'm sorry but I'm not going to make it.
Have a lot of fun.
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Hello,
I'am coming :) but only on Sunday. So I'll join you at the brasserie.
Nice to see you all again.
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I have to share that i will not be joining. I have some other event to attend to, my daughter's football tournament (and i'm the team's trainer).
I wish all of you a lot of fun and can't wait to see the pictures.
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Hans, I am sorry you cannot make it! How is John going to get there now?
I will be there for sure. Still don't know whether I will visit Saturday evening.
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I'm sorry too, Jakov. Too bad this time. There is always next time.
How is John going to get there now?
Perhaps El Presidente has a free seat left 8)
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Werner (alaun)? Will we share a ride again?
8:00 from Bonn ? With my 1er ?
Is there a good direction to put into the GPS to find the garage/parking?
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8:00 from Bonn ? With my 1er ?
Is there a good direction to put into the GPS to find the garage/parking?
sounds nice. Will you collect me? I am less than 5 minutes from
the Autobahn.
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As for the parking, you can e.g. use these: 50.883363;4.716332
And being a city with a university, bikes can be found all over the town:
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Thanks Joost
and Frank, yes, I will do.
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Great bike shot, Joost. Looking forward to seeing you. This is the fullest weekend of the year.
I even had to cancel some events to make it to Belgium!!!
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I am sorry but I am not able to make it. Some urgent appointments came up which unfortunately can not be delayed or postponed.
Have fun all of you !!
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Buddy & Kristina, Chris, Hans and John, so sorry to hear you won't be able to be there,
but I am sure we will soon find another NG-event to meet again.
Come to think of it, who will organise our next meeting? What about... Germany? ... France?
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Hi Guys,
i will be not in Leuven. Need more time for me and my family at this moment. But i am waiting for much nice Photos. :)
Harald
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The weather forecast for tomorrow is not too bad, but it seems safer to prepare for an occasional shower...
And some further elaboration of my own "zone system" (albeit with only 7 zones)
1. Botanical garden, zone E
2. Busstop in the centre, zone A
3. Tower in Sint-Maartensdal, zone G
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Joost, your bicycle shot is amazing!
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Not tonight Joost.
See you all tomorrow morning, and if anybody in the surroundings wants to join me tomorrow is very welcome :)
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Martine should join us and maybe some other friends. Denis is busy with another project. See you tomorrow.
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The coordinates for the parking are from a parking that grants a discount on weekend days (cost is 1€ per hour, with a maximum of 5€ for 24 hours).
It is in walking distance of our meeting point (300 meter?), you just have to cross the railway tracks through a pedestrian tunnel to arrive at the square before the railway station where Brasserie La Royale is situated.
50°53'00.1"N 4°42'58.8"E
50.883363, 4.716332
See you tomorrow!
Arenbergkasteel, zone F
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Joost, what is the address of the parking garage?
Thanks
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Ijzerenwegstraat, 3000 Leuven
This is a very short street, so you can't miss the parking.
However, pay attention as this is a one direction street, where the direction just recently changed. An older GPS may direct you in the wrong direction.
[By the way, "Ijzerenweg" is just a lousy translation of the French "chemin de fer", de "spoorwegstraat" would
linguistically speaking be preferable, yet still devoid of any imagination as to the street-naming-department]
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I won't make it this time :(