Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 40 in Namur (Part 3)

Sunday, July 01, 2018

“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”

Randy Komisar

It was a great feeling to walk beside the river Meuse (French), la Meuse (Walloon) or Maas (Dutch), a major European river. It rises in France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before running into the North Sea through the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta after a total length of 925 km (575 miles). The sun became stronger and, with the first day of July, the long-awaited time of summer holidays arrived in Central Europe. 

From my sidewalk, I could see some people waiting for a ride to start directly beside the river. I don't know the meaning of the yellow vests, maybe the sign of this group... In more dangerous Taiwan, no one wears them and here it is nice that some people think about their own safety on the road. Watching them I missed my own bike very much...

People waiting for a Bike ride. The Citadelle of Namur can be seen on the right Mountain...

The Bridge of Jambes (also called "Bridge of Meuse") is a spanning the Meuse between the suburb of Jambes (right bank) and the foot of the Citadel of Namur (left bank). Probably dating from the Roman era it has been rebuilt and modified several times. The bridge is 145 meters long, it currently has seven arches, including the central one which is wider.

Jambes Bridge (Pont de Jambes)

Later I will cross the bridge several times but now I was still looking for the youth hostel. I followed the road along the river and passed the Grand Casino de Namur, a place out of my world, and the Barbaros Mosquée de Namur, a religion out of my world. Here I asked a young men and he showed me the way through a very green park with lots of trees giving me a nice shadow from the burning sun.

Finally, I stood at the doors of the Felicien Rops Youth Hostel (Auberge de Jeunesse de Namur, Avenue Félicien Rops 8, 5000 Namur, tel.: +32 81 22 36 88). It is situated along the banks of the Meuse in an old manor house. It is named after painter Felicien Rops (1833-1898) who once set up a workshop in this same building.  

Felicien Rops Youth Hostel 

(Auberge de Jeunesse de Namur, Avenue Félicien Rops 8, 5000 Namur)

I had to haul my luggage several steps until I could check in without any problems. The only difficulty was that I could use the room after 5:00 in the afternoon and it was late morning (around 10:00). Some hours to explore but what to do with my sports bag on wheels?

I've asked the lady if I could store my sports bag somewhere and she gave me a key to the basement - the grey door on the lower left corner on the photo. So I took out a shirt of my bag and put it in the messenger bag. Then I moved it downstairs in a room full of bikes and luggage from other guests.

My Sports Bag on Wheels in the Basement of the Youth Hostel

Just that the lady gave me the key was a big 'trust' point for this youth hostel which I really liked a lot. Some hotel would not trust the guest and send someone with you or develop a system which would make sure that it's your luggage.

With a reservation for the new room, or I should rather write bed, I had a lot of time and ‘freedom’ to explore the city of Namur – watch out, I am coming!

(to be continued)

Disclaimer: I traveled to 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!  

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 38 in Namur (Part 1)

Saturday, June 30, 2018

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

André Paul Guillaume Gide (1869 – 1951), French author and Nobel Prize winner

 

As the reader might understand after some days on the road it took some time to get used to the number of cars and people in this city; after my arrival in a ‘new town’, in his case Namur, I needed some time to get used to it.

My first concern was obviously to find a suitable hotel or hostel. Preparing the trip I remembered that Namur has one youth hostel within my budget but unfortunately I did not bring the address with me.

For non-Europeans, most cities in this continent are built around the train station and the same building represents commonly the city center. Namur is not built differently... Still on the N4 (National Road No. 4), I’ve passed the rear of the train station (or Gare Namur). I’ve passed a bus terminal and turned right over a wide multi-lane bridge which led me to the roundabout ‘Place Léopold’. Along this circled road there are many historical three and four storied buildings, witness to a rich past.
From the roundabout, there are several roads leading to the river Maas (or the Meuse in Dutch) which gives the city its distinguished location and view. I chose the Rue Lucien Namêche which, after passing the 'rich' buildings on the front, became quite ordinary.

Renovating a historical building, Belgium style

(Taken the following morning)

On the Rue Rogier, I've turned right and came after a short walk to the Hotel Ibis Namur Centre, right across from the African Museum. On this Saturday early evening, there was a big wheel, roller coasters and other amusement attractions behind this museum. For now, I passed because I still thought about finding this youth hostel…I followed the road and finally, the river Maas unfolded its beauty right in front of me.

African Museum with Big Wheel in the Background,

taken the following morning

I followed an easy and flat walking path beside the river banks. It is really amazing how a river can transform a view or a scenery wherever you go. I had to cross the river La Sambre which flows here into the Maas and followed the road parallel to the river until the Grand Casino de Namur. But even asking some locals they could not help me to find the youth hostel. I did not want to camp 'wild' in a city so I went back and decided to stay in a hotel for the night after paying a hefty price for a simple bed and a shower. But I do not want to complain, sometimes it does not work out how you planned it.

My most expensive Bed during the whole three weeks in Belgium

In the evening I took the chance to wash some of my clothes (underwear, socks, shirt and trousers) to be prepared for the next morning. I also called my wife thru the free WiFi of the hotel and let her and my daughter know that I am all right.

In my bed I was surprised how smooth the whole trip went. My sports bag, which I never used before, worked as planned, my tent was small but light, my new sleeping bag was comfy. Furthermore the weather was very great, I had lots of sunshine and even got a tan. My feet did not get hurt in my 'old' trekking shoes' which accompanied me already in Australia three years ago. I've met some great people and had a very interesting time in Belgium.  

My plan for the next morning was to take a train ride to the north coast of Belgium, a contrast program to the fields and hills I passed walking the last few day. At that time I did not know that I will change my plan the next morning.

Life felt great and with a smile I went to sleep!

(to be continued)

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!