3x3..x3x3..x3x3..

Now I find 3x3 patterns everywhere. In the streets, on buildings, in our house, everywhere. 3x3 tiles, 3x3 windows, 3x3 cubes, 3x3 iron bars and sometimes the pattern gets disturbed by a jealous cat, who wants to be in every picture I take :-)

Koers

Living in the Flemish Ardennes means that life gets blocked by cyclists now and again as all of the spring classics pass here. This means that some days a few professional cyclists and umpteen fans take over the roads and on other days heaps of amateur cyclists swarm around, trying to conquer the cobble stones like the professionals did. Even though I am not a huge cycle fan myself, I enjoy watching the races as a spectator, being part of the crowd. My favorites are the 'Omloop Het Nieuwsblad' and of course the 'Ronde van Vlaanderen'. It's such a spectacle to be there when the cyclists try to climb the steep hills, such a special atmosphere which you have to experience to appreciate it, watching it on television is so not the same.

Colorful houses

Burano

Close to Venice lies Burano, an island in the Venetian Lagoon. It is known for its brightly-colored fishermen's houses. It looks especially cheerful when the sun is shining. Clearly this daytrip made an impression! Burano is a lovely place and new photo opportunities present themselves around every corner.

Red Fruit Harvest

Our garden is filled with fruit, this is only some of our harvest this year: plumbs, red currants, cherries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, more cherries, tayberries and gooseberries. Most of it has disappeared in home-made jam by now. But still there is more. Too bad my mom lives so far away; she is a true fruit lover and would love to help us eat it all. It is such a pity; in the Dutch stores soft fruit is horribly expensive and here we have it all up for grabs..

Brick-a-Brack

Assorted brick-a-brack. Sometimes beauty is in the details. Brick walls, cobble stones, a mill stone, sand dune ripples, chopped wood or a sudden butterfly.

Tulips, Tulips, Tulips

Home for Easter

We went back to the Netherlands for Easter. Tulips galore! We were surrounded by more and more bulb fields, the further north we went. It seems most of the fields are now located near Den Helder. The weather was lovely and the fields ever so colorful. This is what spring should look like! What more could you ask for? My hometown is located amidst tulip fields. When I still lived there, working at the bulb farms was just a way to earn money during the summer holidays. We did not appreciate the sheer beauty of the fields. But when I go back now I do! This time it's a 3x3 +1; just because I could not choose :-)

Carnevale di Venezia 2011

We had been wanting to go to the carnival in Venice for years. This year we did and we were not disappointed; it was wonderful. There were people wearing amazing costumes and masks everywhere. And we were so lucky with the weather; sunny and blue skies. What more does a photographer want? I also liked that everyone posed as patiently for photographers with simple cameras as for more professional looking photographers. What a fun time! Didn't even notice the crowds much.

CARS

We went to a classic car show in Oostrozebeke last summer. Beautiful old cars; Rolls Royces, Mustangs, Porsches, GMs, Cobra's, Triumphs, Corvettes, they were all there. All shiny and glistening. Polished like mirrors and thus oh so hard to take pictures that do not include the photographer :-) Just look at all those details. Amazing! Nope, they don't make them like that anymore..

Another Harbor

This time it's the harbor of Antwerp. So I like harbors.. apparently. I like the whole idea of harbors; I like ships; container ships, ferries or sailing boats, going places or coming back. I like oceans and seas; beaches and dikes and harbors. I like the colors and the smells. Maybe I just inherited the 'love of water' from my dad, maybe I got it when I grew up with the smell of the sea everywhere.

S.N.O.W.

Snow came early this year, and lots of it too. Apart from causing a mess on the roads it also transformed the landscape into a white fairytale-like world. This is what the Flemish Ardennes looks like in winter. Ain't it great! It would have been even nicer, if it had not been so freaking cold. But I guess warmth and snow don't go too well together :-)

My Hometown

I was born and raised in Den Helder in the very north of Holland. Most people only pass it on their way to the island Texel. And thus most people never get to see its beautiful beach, nor the fisher's harbour, where these pics were taken. Nice huh? And you know what... Den Helder is the sunniest place in the Netherlands. It enjoys the most sunshine hours each year and the sky is often this blue :-)

Signs

Here's some signs, we came across when traveling. Why? Just because I like them :-)

From left to right, top to bottom:

Iceland: Blindhead? now what?

Namibia: so for 80 kilometers we have to be aware of all dangers imaginable?

Namibia: the road as we know it will come to an end!

Argentina: beware of strong winds, it took us some time to figure this one out.

UK: beware of sheep :-)

Canada: beware of a bear! That's why we're here! To see that bear! Where is it?

Botswana: An angry elephant on the road is no fun!

Argentina: Llama's are!

Iceland: why would we want to cross this? We didn't bring a boat ... Actually we did cross, as turning back would have meant a very long drive!

I love Balloons

We went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Sint Niklaas a few weeks ago. I just love those colors. It looks so great when the sun is out and the sky is blue... and off they go.

Spike - the man

Spike

Oh my, I am already neglecting this blog after only one post. Definitely time to post more!

This is Spike, Spikey, Spike-man, Spike-ster, my oldy cat that died last year, 16 years old. He always followed me around, wherever I went. And unlike the youngsters he was always patiently posing for me and my camera. I miss my tabby follower.

So here he is, Spike in 3x3.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

My most favorite city in the Whole Wide World.

The city where I lived in my twenties; where I was a student and had my first job. The city was ours. I knew it so well. And still do. The city I love, where I feel at ease every time I am back. Where nothing seems to change, although it has.

Could I start with anything else? No, I don't think I could.

So, I give to you: Amsterdam in 3x3.