View allAll Photos Tagged Freethinker
Be like an eagle, spread your wings and soar high. Don't be afraid of taking risks cause they will reap you the best benefits. Go on, be a freethinker...be an Eagle!
Beach pebble, Rainbow Moonstone, Jadeite, Aquamarine, and shell with copper, sterling silver, and brass.
Hiking around Belgium for Street Nurses 2020
July 25: Spanish Toll House. Again those Spaniards...
Saturday afternoon I passed by the Bruges-Ostend canal along a listed dilapidated building that once was a Spanish Toll House. In the garden there was now a cycling and walking café: 't Spaans Tolhuis . Because I had also repeatedly encountered the Spanish in De Klinge and Kemzeke, I decided to go there to get some information over a Latte Macchiato.
When I had fulfilled the corona obligations upon entering, I gave a flyer about my walking project for Straatverplegers vzw. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out that Peter, the new young owner, works for the Agency for Youth Welfare West Flanders. He is involved in the prevention of homelessness of young people and young adults and, like Straatverplegers, carries the 'housing first' principle high on the banner. He was also able to immediately provide information about the presence of homeless people in Ostend.
From Peter and Joke, his partner, the enthusiastic operators who plan to restore the toll house in three years, I learned that its history is summarized on their website. That saves me a lot of typing:
"The tiny Spanish Toll House along the towpath from Plassendale to Bruges was once the gateway to a sturdy 17th century fort. This guarded the old Plassendale lock. Guardhouse for Spanish soldiers; residence of the commander; toll office; inn; house of the lock masters; a last port of call for old bargemen and the Icelandic sailor “Berten”: the small monument on the waterfront has a lot to tell you."
"Four hundred years of locks, forts, cannon fire, shipping, residents and their stories are given a place on the water".
For those interested in a chronological overview, you can find it here: www.spaanstolhuis.be/html/huis-en-fort.html
A funny anecdote that Peter told me is the story of the nickname of the Spanish Isabella 'grauw' (Isabella of Spain and Albrecht of Austria, countess and count of Flanders from 1598 to 1621): she had sworn not to change her underwear until the freethinkers' city of Ostend would be handed over to the Spanish. That only happened in 1604! Poor Albrecht....
The outer fabric is rich upholstery weight brocade in cielo blue, café au lait and espresso browns. (Can you tell that I am trying to cut down on coffee?) There is a bit of ecru as well. Elegant medallions, fleur de lis, and leafy scrolls.
The lining material is a map of the world drawn in ecru on milk chocolate brown.
It measures H 14 in x L 13½ in (36 cm x L 34 cm). The straps measure 26 in (66cm).