Europe 2004
We were gone for a full three weeks from Sept. 1 - 22.
We were the guests of Luc Goossens & Debby Michielsen (Some Kind of Magic Aussies) in Vorst-Laakdale, Belgium (abt. 1/2 from Antwerp) for most of the trip. Very special thanks to them for all they did in making the trip possible, including running us back and forth to the airport and to the various places we visited!
Sept. 2 - BELGIUM: We arrive with an embarrasing amount of luggage which we manage to squish into a very tiny car! OK so next time we come with a small suitcase with cloths we can layer!
Sept. 2-3 - BELGIUM: We try to stop staying up until 4 am and adjust to the fact that we are hopelessly like little chidren in a foreign culture. Most people in Belgium speak Englash very well, but we still realize that even something as simple as going to a restaurant or taking a walk can make you stand out as a tourist. Something I was determined not to do. Travel is humbling!
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Sept. 4-5 LUXEMBURG: We go to a dog show in Luxemburg. It is quite a different experience than our AKC shows. The groups are quite the socail event. Many people stay to watch and music ads to the drama. All the judges for the day sit at tables inside the ring and are served wine and champagne! The groups are much larger than ours since they have so many breeds. It was fun seeing breeds we had only previously seen in photos. Debby's dog "Alessi " wins the Herding Group! On the way home we all get lost and get a nighttime tour of the whole country of Belgium!
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Sept. 6-9 - BELGIUM: Days spent discovering Belgium, including the wonderful food! We won't talk about how large I would get if I lived ther! One of the highlights was a day in Antwerp with Lisette Michielsen. It is an incredibly beautiful city, and Lisette entertained us with lots of stories and interesting little out of the way places.
 Antwerp |
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 Where I want to live. |
 One of the many sidewalk cafes we enjoyed. |
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 De Steen Part of the original city wall. Guarded on the left by our friend - Lange Wapper - which was translated by Lisette as - Long Dude! There are many interesting stories about him. For more info: http://www.trabel.com/antwerp/antwerp-steen.htm |
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 The Cathedral For more info: http://www.trabel.com/antwerp/antwerp-olvkerk.htm |
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 Home of the famous painter Rubens For more info: http://www.trabel.com/antwerp-rubenshuis.htm |
Sept. 10 - BELGIUM: I (Joni) give the USASA Judge's Education Seminar on the Australian Shepherd which is attended by people from Belgium, Holland and France.
Sept. 11 - BELGIUM: I (Joni) judge an Australian Shepherd specialty for the ASC of Belgium with an entry of about 85 dogs. Each dog needed a written evaluation and a grade which considerable slows things down.
Sept. 12 - ENGLAND: We are up bright and early to catch the Eurostar train to England which goes under the English Channel. We are picked up in London and wisked off to Polesworth which is farther north. I (Joni) give the USASA Judge's Education Seminar on the Australian Shepherd which was well attended. After the seminar we are taken to the gracious home of Geoff & Pat Gatenby in Yorkshire. We are dazzled by Pat's cooking!
Sept. 13- ENGLAND: The countryshire of Yorkshireis breathtaking and we decided to have a long walk... which turned into about 7 hours! We did have a nice lunch at a pub and had to call for a ride home, though we were only about a 1/2 mile away from where we should have been!
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| The beautiful mores of Yorkshire. Photos cannot capture the landscape. |
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 A great lunch at the pub! |
Sept. 14 - ENGLAND: Geoff & Pat take us on a driving tour of Yorkshire and to the home of James Harriot.
 The street where James Harriot lived. |
 A beautiful little cottage. |
 Lunch at the Black Swan. |
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 Rainbow at the end of the day. |
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Sept. 15 - TRAVEL TO BELGIUM: We take the long drive south to catch "The Tube" to London, where we catch the Eurostar back to Belgium.
Sept. 16 - BELGIUM: Debby & Luc can't seem to rid of us, but we have a fun day shopping in Antwerp!
Sept. 17-20 - FRANCE: We set off for France to attend the RACP Nationals. The club encompasses all 4 of the Pyrenean breeds. SEe the following page fro more photos and information: France 2004
Sept. 21-22 - BELGIUM: We have a quiet night in Brussels before heading out the next morning for the US. Bon Voyage!
c. 2004 Terra-Blue