Europalia India

 I'm excited to learn that the country that is to be the subject of the next Europalia - biennial arts and culture festival held in Brussels and some other locations - will be INDIA!  It starts on 3 October 2013.





Europalia originally focussed on EU Member States, but after 9 of those, they branched out to Japan - still the best one I remember - and now it can be any country in the world (that can obtain the necessary sponsorship and insurance - some years ago, Europalia Turkey was cancelled because of difficulties in those areas).




They should have some really fantastic subjects for different exhibitions on India. I hope they have learned from Europalia Brazil, which focussed on some rather obscure aspects of that country's culture that I didn't find very interesting.






Anyway, roll on October 2013! I might even apply next summer to be part of the support team, depending on travel plans.

The concrete coast

Went to the Belgian coast to visit a friend, and spend a happy afternoon riding up and down on the Coast Tram, which runs the entire length of the (extremely built-up) coastline, largely between buildings but for about 5 minutes, between sand dunes, and another 10, in front of the apartment blocks, next to the sea. It is supposed to be the longest tram route in the world, covering (for the price of a €5 "day card") a route of 65 km beween De Panne in the South, just across the border from Dunkerque in France, and Knokke in the North, which runs up to the border with the Netherlands.

Beach huts at Wenduine

Wenduine (and a good illustration of just how built-up the Belgian coast-line is)

Looking toward De Haan

Coast Tram, Northbound

Tram station at De Haan

De Haan

The pier at Blankenberge