on 5th of March it was open campus day in the Antwerp Highschools. Initially I wanted to visit the Academy of fine arts and then the International navigation highschool but since the bus company gave me the wrong information I skipped the first to be sure to catch the bus to the latter.
The time before catching the bus I spend walking with Safi to the Antwerp Beguinage and to have a drink at a terrace at one of the students pubs at the Ossemarkt.
At 1:30 pm I took the bus together with a friend Salah and we visited his previous highschool (he graduated the year before). There we med another friend Med, who welcomed us warmly and who studies there in his 3rd year... and after that 1 more to go! :)
Safi loved the day out and she fell asleep as we took a walk outside to see Antwerp from quite another angle then I used to do.
It was a loveable day!

Topic: houses and living

On 24th of May there was a whole afternoon and evening an Amnesty International concert at the Groenplaats.
Unfortunately I only could stay for a short time.

It was a marvelous concert. Youssou N Dour is such a socialy moved person!
This concert was given free and was the first of a double concert weekend. First in Antwerp; second in Sint Niklaas where Freddy Willockx, the mayor got credits for making it possible to happen.
The tickets were very economical and the profits will go to projects in Senegal.
These projects are meant for the young people who had tried to make a life journey to Europe but have been put on a return flight.
Too many flee the country and we have to work on the causes. If not the exodus will never stop and young people would keep losing everything by trying to escape the mysery in their own country.
I really enjoyed the concert to the utmost. I wish them well in Sint Niklaas!
Thanks Lamin for getting me a ticket and for taking the pics at the end with this very special person.
Pity he didn't had more time!
So this is a groupie's life eh?

On 30rd of August I had the luck to be able to see the group El Tattoo del Tigre in the open air museum Rivierenhof in Deurne (at a jump from Antwerp).
They were absolutely great!
I would love to see them again if I had the chance!
And so should you :)

Exhibition we went to with the colleagues about old books (manuscripts and incunabule) that are property of 4 different abbays (e.g. Tongerloo; Postel)
Afterwards we went for a drink.
It was not allowed to take pictures of the books.

That called for a whole weekend of celebration.
This album shows the Bal populaire at the Groenplaats with the Passadena Roof Orchestra.

another edition of Music in the hood during the Summer of Antwerp

Royal de Luxe? That is love at first sight!
I have never seen anything so touching, inventive and bringing out the child in you again as this group does.
Groot Repertorium is an exhibition of all the "machines de spectacle" that they have used during their shows, parades, performances.
Seeing them brought back the memories of those moments I watched them in wonders!
If you ever have the chance to see them DON'T MISS THEM!!!
Royal de Luxe... a real luxe if you have the chance to witness!

Thursday I cycled to Antwerp to check on the tallships as the next day we would have a VT meeting there :-)

In July and August there are several places where you can enjoy a group playing between 6 pm and 9:30 pm.
Pity it doesn't take longer as there is usual a nice ambiance. With an African group playing at the Koninksplein in Antwerp, a typical Black African area, you would believe you are in Africa and not in Antwerp :)

On Saturday 20th of July we went to see the theatreperformance from Bad van Marie
called "Buxus!"
Very special :)

Not sure what the exact date was, but this was one of the beerfestivals I went too on invitation of my friend Marleen, who's friend was one of the organisers. He is no longer member and moved out of Antwerp. But that day was very interesting. We could taste a combined dish (just for us!) of the three different dishes they served there, made with beer. We also had quite some free tasting. The decor was magnificient. After the city festival hall burned down (inside) the beerfestival had to search for a new location and they chose the old stockmarket. A magnificient building.