TWO SPECIAL DAYS IN BRUXELLES

TWO SPECIAL DAYS IN BRUXELLES

THE THIRD AND FOURTH OF JULY

2012 

On the first Thursday in July, Bruxelles celebrates "OMMEGANG" in the Grand Place, a mediaeval festival dating back to 1549.  This is the setting for a reenactment of the procession of Charles V and his entourage, to solidify the position of his son as rightful successor among the people. The word "Ommegang" means "procession" and is derived from the Flemish  words    "omme" (around) and "gang" (walk).

 

We walked through this beautiful cobblestone courtyard just inside the old City Hall area, on our way to attended a VIP reception  prior to the opening of the "Ommegang" festivities in the Grand Place "Grote Markt", on the evening of July 3rd.  Our friend, the concierge at Hotel Amigo across the street, arranged for us to attend. The Hotel Amigo has the appearance of a centuries-old style of the Spanish Renaissance, and is internationally famous for its clientele. The past year, we have established friendships with people in many settings, and the Lord opens doors continuously to our utter amazement!  There are many examples as you will see, in the unfolding of the story of July 4th and 5th.

THE CITY HALL

These buildings around the Grand Place date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The artistic interiors and attention to detail are amazing, especially considering their duration and the period in which they were built! The City Hall is fully functioning today, and is the site of multiple civil weddings each Saturday. It was here that I first met the mayor of Bruxelles, Freddy Thielemans, at a solemn memorial service in March for a group of young Belgian students killed in a bus crash on a mountain highway in Switzerland, while returning from a school ski trip.

The grand staircase to the second floor provides "an elegant entrance for an elegant lady on her way to an evening of new experiences and friendships", said her adoring husband!

A surprise work of art around every corner of the City Hall!

The VIP reception was held in this old, but beautiful, 16th century ballroom setting.  Prior to the beginning of the evening festivities it was interesting to take a few minutes to examine the tapestries and to imagine the countless souls who had made their way to this site for meetings, celebrations, dinners and political intrigue over the centuries of human history. I believe that over the years little has changed, and that conversations then and now center on religion, politics, history, economics, the arts, health and what the future might hold! There is really nothing new under the sun, only the details change.

 This family was enjoying the reception, prior to performing in the Ommegang extravaganza later that evening.  These little boys were adorable! We were told that all costumes are as authentic as possible and no expense is spared to re-create the apparel of the times.

Look closely at the glass coat of arms in the City Hall window, and you will see the date 1431. This is a view toward the interior of the Grand Place, and the setting which would soon be filled with figures from the past.

David just happened to have on the perfect matching tie to compliment my outfit. He surprises me sometimes with his "savoir faire."

Following the reception, at the invitation of the Ommegang director and staff, we stepped out onto a red carpeted balcony area overlooking the Grand Place below, and to our surprise, were invited to take VIP seats for the event. We were told that to our left was the private box of H.M. Queen Fabiola of Belgium and her entourage. Our seats ended up being just 30 chairs to the right of her box on the same balcony!!!!!  (As you can see the flag twirlers are rehearsing prior to the evening performance and the crowd is gathering.)

 

While waiting for the gala to begin, David engaged the director of "VISITBRUSSELS" in conversation on the balcony near our seats for the evening.  No red velvet ledges for us, however, the location was among the very best vantage points. We were priviledged to join the guests of honor sitting on this beautiful and historic balcony. The facade above us, created by the skilled artisans of an earlier day, made a spectacular setting for what was to follow.

Just prior to the show beginning, a couple rushed in to find their seats next to us. I overheard the gentleman on my right tell someone he was from Bethesda Maryland!  When the opportunity arose, I confirmed that, and told him that we too were from the Washington D.C. area and explained what our assignment was here!  I then asked him what he and his wife (in the background) were doing in Bruxelles?......  He told me that he was the United States Ambassador to Belgium!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh my goodness! Ooops!  I then told him that we were invited to his Fourth of July party the next day at the Embassy, and that we would see him there!  We both had a good laugh! 

 LET THE SHOW BEGIN!




The huge OMMEGANG production is well organized, and here we find some of the cast waiting patiently in the courtyard for their cues to proceed to the Grand Place


"LIGHTS...... CAMERA..... ACTION"!!!

On the big screen in the background, you see  H.M. Queen Fabiola and her entourage arriving, just down the row to the left of our seats! The cast below looked as if they had just stepped out of a painting by Brugel, the Dutch artist. As they slowly walked around the Grand Place courtyard, it created a feeling much like the "Pageant of the Masters" which we enjoy so much in Laguna Beach, California.

The OMMEGANG reenactment of  the historic arrival of the King in 1549 went on for over three hours! It depicts the fervent religious faith of the people of that time, and also includes large   participation by royalty, the guilds, crafts, musicians, horsemen, and soldiers all in period costumes and is set to stirring music and brilliant lighting.


 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!
The greatest country in the world!

 The United States Embassy in Brussels was the site for a very special celebration of our Independence Day.

 

In the center is the red, gold and black Belgium flag, the blue European Union flag is to the right,

and of course Old Glory!

Although I had brought my nicer heels to change into, my feet were hurting after taking the metro and walking on those cobblestone sidewalks. So, when we arrived and saw the hundreds of guests who were there, I decided that no one would ever see my feet anyway, because it was so crowded, so I opted for comfort!!  My routine in Bruxelles is that you wear good flat walking shoes when travelling, and take your nicer shoes in your bag to change into when you arrive!

GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

When you are living on foreign soil, there is nothing more moving than to see the flag of our great nation, which is the symbol of freedom around the world! 

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...."

This photo was taken with the United States Ambassador to Belgium, the Hon. Howard Gutman and his wife, whom we had sat next to the evening before at the program in the Grand Place. He has decided to visit every Belgian city and town while Ambassador, and has made a good start in doing so. We have three U.S. Ambassadors in Brussels: to the European Union (EU), to NATO, and to Belgium. 

The Hon. William Kennard is the United States Ambassador to the European Union. He has invited us to participate in upcoming events at the Embassy. Ambassador Gutman and Ambassador Kennard made fine patriotic remarks at the July 4th celebration. We were hosted by Serge Vandereische, a public relations officer at the Embassy, and a Flemish member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghent. He is the the LDS public affairs director for Belgium with whom we work, and find that he does an excellent job.

Even though there were over 200 guests at the Embassy's 4th of July gathering, we were fortunate to be invited to a small VIP reception beforehand with both Ambassadors, due to the fact that our good friend Serge is the public relations assistant to Ambassador Gutman. It's all about connections in Brussels or Washington, D.C.  The military attaches from many countries were in attendance at our celebration and we were proud to be photographed with our U.S. Pentagon representative.

   
                                      We are proud to be Americans! May God bless America.

                      "Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith." Alma 44:4


    THE FABULOUS RED WHITE AND BLUE
  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA, AND MAY WE ALWAYS CHERISH AND PRESERVE THE FREEDOM THAT WE ENJOY IN THE PROMISED LAND!!

 

Friends joined us for a patriotic moment in front of our Bruxelles Chapel.  L-R - house guests Sasha from St. George, and and Karmen Olson from Ogden, Utah;  Elder and Sister Hall of Garden Grove, California, upon the completion of their mission and soon departure for home.....  and our mysterious friend from the streets of Bruxelles, who jumped into our photo and just happened to have an American flag in his back pocket!!!  Funny!

                                                                  AU REVOIR MON AMIS!