Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 26 - Towards and in Ottenburg

This blog continues the previous Part 25,
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/10/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

    I took my luggage and pulled it along two horses standing under a tree; the whole body covered with a cloth and a net over their eyes. I’ve never seen such strange masquerades before and would not believe they were Zorro's horses. After I've discovered the many insects bothering these animals I suppose the flies and their relatives could be the reason for the outfit…

Zorro’s Horse?

   Following another lonely road I reached the outskirts of Ottenburg, still a part of Huldenberg. On both sides of the road there were several fields and I was happy that the  way led me to a dense forest with trees giving me some shadows and relief from the burning sun. After leaving the refreshing forest I came to a small house with a Mary statue carrying Jesus on her arms protecting and blessing the fields around her. There were small benches around it and I took some rest in the shadows.

'Take 5'

   While I was taking my obligatory selfie on a tripod I noticed a young woman passing the scene. After I put the camera with the tripod in my bags I've decided to followed her direction. Not as a stalker but as she was dressed up I thought that she might go into the city and would lead me to the right path. She was walking well in front of me as we passed a field with grazing and resting cows. On a blue banner I've noticed the Dutch words for 'I keep it clean here. Do you too?' Living in Taiwan I know how great it is not only make hygienic standards but also to watch keep them and encourage people to follow. Especially in the wake of the infamous 'Mad Cow Disease' or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) the European Union changed some rules keeping domestic animals.

'I keep it clean here. Do you too?'

   Passing other clean and happy cows I followed the young girl until she lead me to the main road, she turned right and sat down at a bus stop. When I arrived at the same intersection I looked left and turned to the town of Ottenburg. The road was lined with farm houses between private houses. I've discovered a supermarket and went inside not only for the air condition but also also for some food and drinks. I was the only customer and therefore tried to understand how a supermarket can survive in this location...

   Leaving the supermarket I continued into the town center but there was, as expected, not much to discover in the countryside. I ran into a worker and asked him about the direction to Wavre, my final destination of the day. He suggested me that I should return and follow the same road from which I just came. I listen to his advice and on the way I took a photo from the supermarket I have visited only a few minutes ago.  

'Temperature showing 27 degrees Celsius

   Looking at the photo people will realized that the town of Ottenburg is very clean and tidy with safe walkways on both sides of the road. But people will also discover that the temperature reached 27 degrees (!) in the afternoon, a very high temperature for June. Later I will learn that the summer of 2018 will be one of hottest in the whole modern history of Europe!

(to be continued@

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/10/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.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! 
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