This blog continues the previous Part 19,
Tuesday, June
26, 2018
Nearly at the top of the hill the convenient bike and
pedestrian path stopped and with a traffic light had to cross the busy road.
Here there were no more houses but 'only' a shadowy forest. I followed the N3
(National Road 3) on a parallel road, a nice and easy stroll under trees.
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My
Path in the 'Middle of the Road'
|
Even
here were only very few bikers and I could take some pictures of a managed
forest. The road became flat and even sometimes downhill. Walking several
kilometers indulging myself in the nature I arrived at a traffic junction with
a traffic light. Here I ran into a group a school class of children with some
adults riding on their bikes the opposite direction towards Brussels.
Where I crossed the road is a tram station called 'Vier Armen' (Four
Arms) and I continued with a new road beside another forest. I still went
downhill or became flat, another easy walk for me and my luggage I hauled
behind me. Only in the far distance were some houses to be seen, the road
seemed stretched endlessly.
Finally I left the main road and turned left into the city of Tervuren.
Here the houses were clean and flowers decorated the building, the windows and
the many gardens. I could not discover any high or tall construction, a sure
sign that I arrived in the countryside. Tervuren is a municipality in the
province of Flemish Brabant in Flanders compromising of the villages of
Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. There is a total population of 20,636
(Jan. 1, 2006).
Contrary to the capital Brussels the official language is not French but
Dutch. Due to expatriate workers and their families who work for the European
Union, NATO for multinational corporations around Brussels many other languages
are spoken. The British School of Brussels has been located in Tervuren since
1970.
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Impressions of Tervuren
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I
walked along the very quiet main road until I came to a big open market place.
Walking for several hours I wanted to buy some refreshments but could not find
any shopping mall. So I went into a drug chain store and went in and bought
some snacks and refreshment. The lady at the cash register talked in
Dutch to me but I could not quite understand. I explained that I am a tourist
and immediately she changed to English. Not many people in the store we had a
small conversation. She was obviously from the Middle East which might be one
reason why her English was so great. With a great smile she told me that
'Belgium is a small but beautiful country'; I am sure that the Tourist
Association of Belgium could not hire a more convincing representative...
Leaving the drugstore I walked to the main road I left
before turning into Tervuren and by accident I discovered a fountain right in
the middle of new road, still under construction. The fountain was made up of a
group of animal playing different instruments. I took the chance to walk in the
center of the busy road and took a picture for my daughter who likes hippos
very much.
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Marching Band Fountain
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Right behind the fountain a building of the Royal Museum for Central
Africa (RMCA, Dutch: Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika or KMMA) can be seen.
Also known as Africa Museum it is an ethnography and natural museum. It was
first built to showcase King Leopold II's Congo Free State in the 1897 World
Exhibition.
From the fountain I walked back into the town and accidentally found the Park of Tervuren. The public park is quite large with tended lawns, tall trees and several ponds full of birds and plants.
From the fountain I walked back into the town and accidentally found the Park of Tervuren. The public park is quite large with tended lawns, tall trees and several ponds full of birds and plants.
Many visitors come here from Brussels but on this afternoon not
many people could be seen. Because of its size many bike riders enjoyed the
views and the easy ride. But unfortunately for me and my luggage it became too
large. After one hour I returned with great impressions and fond memories to
Tervuren!
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Impressions of the Park of Tervuren
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https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/09/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_9.html)
Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel
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