This was definitely a A+ show, and we watched it from our bedroom window. Our little hamlet has one more thing to brag about now. The annual festival included a singer who sang Elvis songs for over an hour, and then finished with a firework display that I can only say was a genius production, including of course Katy Perry’s song, “Firework” ~ I love that song now!

A rod-iron gate maker at work.

The finished products are beautiful to behold.

mime artists at work

a choral of folk singers

Organ grinders from the old country.

They are a family act!

I got to try my hand at it

Today was simply a perfect day. I can’t explain to you all the reasons why right now, but just believe me that it was special, and memorable, and p.e.r.f.e.c.t. I will show you in pictures what it was like to be out and about in Liege today. I walked, ate, sat, read, and wrote, but mostly I watched people around me going here and there, and took pictures. I think the first one was the most beautiful!

Next I met one of my students from last year and took a picture of her with her mother and sister. Here they are, looking beautiful.

Next is the very delicious Cafe Liegeois that you’ve got to try when you come here to visit.

The Moroccan woman and her daughter that I met at the bus stop were also beautiful. The mother’s dress caught my eye and they were more than happy to take a picture. They invited me to visit Morocco, and gave me some bracelets. How come I never wore anything on my wrist before? I love it!

Liege looks LOVELY! This week the city seems to be in full party-mode~ maybe because it’s the last week of summer before school starts again. There are fireworks, outdoor bands and performances, street fairs, and noisy parties at our neighbors’ houses. Even the anglers are more numerous than usual, competing to get the biggest bite on the line. In the park next to us some of the trees got decorated. When I asked Sarah about it today at the annual club fair, she said, “It’s to make the town more fun!” OK. Smile for the camera now Sarah. I need to get a picture of your beautiful sweater! 

How did they get up this high?

Even the benches are dressed up. Soft!

Have you ever seen a tree with a sweater on?

Anglers competing~ Do they ever catch anything?

I read recently that many people are moving back towards the cities, not away from them like we once did. The main reason? Convenience. It’s so nice to be able to walk out the front door and down the street 3 minutes and be at the grocery store, or the hairdresser, or the post office, or the bakery, or the ice-cream shop, or the dentist, or the optician, or the thrift store, or THE MALL. Heavens, who wouldn’t want that? 

The owner of the corner grocery store is friendly…

and the produce is always fresh and beautiful

On the other hand, people want the best of both worlds. They want to have all the convenience of living in the city, but the beauty of GREEN, and NATURE ~ trees, gardens, grassy lawns, mountains, rivers, streams, ponds, birds, and QUIET. Ahhhh….who wouldn’t want all that?

The BEST place is one that combines the two, wouldn’t you say? 

You can find such a place here in Angleur, a little hamlet on the south side of the city of Liege. I think I can safely say that this is a neighborhood that’s got everything, along with some extras: a castle with a moat, fountain, hedges and rose gardens, for example ~ nicely maintained by the city so one has nothing to do but enjoy; a sports center where the daring can do Tai Chi or play basketball (I’d probably go for the former) and listen to the sounds of children’s voices at play (recalling the unrestrained joy that life once was and still can be); a forest trail leading here and there, but definitely not into town;  the sound of slow trains passing by, reminders that there are still places to go; and of course, the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees….

Angleur ~ it’s right around the corner. Where are you?

I think it would be fun to model…learning how to pose for the camera and getting to show off the clothes you love. Being on the side of the camera is also exciting~ arranging the shots with the eye of an artist. I’m sure many people are interested to try doing either one. This past weekend they had the chance to get made-up and strut their stuff at Media City in Liege. I got a chance to take some pictures!

Even the mannequins look like they’re modeling.