Writer: Anna Nilsson Spets
The summer definitely did not turn out as planned, I would probably define it as the worst summer ever... ever.
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ShareAfter breaking my foot in April, I worked for four weeks and had a week's holiday in Sweden, then I fell at work and broke my elbow badly, which required surgery, and that summer was ruined.
Here I am like a beached whale ... 12 weeks sitting at home for a workaholic is not obvious I can tell you.
Four outings I have done, in the local area. My companion is lately a cane, I am afraid of falling, again.
I took part in the protest march against the war in Gaza on a hot Sunday in Brussels with 120,000 other like-minded people, a powerful experience.
It's the second big march here this year. Incidentally, Belgians are generally quite keen on demonstrations, strikes and protests.
My dear work friend took pity on me and took me across the border to Holland and one of those typical markets that are in every town, one day a week.
We started with a classic Swedish FIKA, at a fantastic café called Brownies and Downies, of course focusing on brownies in all its forms. The name downies ... well many of the people working there have just that, Down syndrome. A very cool place.
Markets in Belgium and the Netherlands are an important ingredient in daily life and fulfil a major social function.
Cheese ... there is nothing like cheese and you could try it. I tried everything I could, I am severely addicted to cheese.
Bread, cakes and other goodies, lots of them.
The local positive peddler is part of the entertainment, he plays Dutch schlagers.
A visit from Sweden resulted in a cultural experience in the form of a visit to the mining museum in Beringen.
Mining in the area was extremely large in its day, with communities building up around it. Many migrant labourers came from far and wide to work the extremely heavy work of mining coal.
Mining was abandoned in the 1970s, and today there is a nice museum and guided tours.
A trip to Antwerp has become, started the day by strolling around the constantly roaring city. A coffee and watch the big city life.
Right next to the station is Chinatown, which is nothing more than a street of Chinese shops and restaurants.
Now I love foreign food culture and sniffing around exotic goods is great fun.
Antwerp is a melting pot of so many different nationalities and what they have contributed to society in the form of their own culture. You can walk through half the world there, the worn-out African and Arab neighbourhoods with their own shops, tailors and hairdressers.
Quite close to the station are also the Jewish quarters with the diamond merchants.
Unfortunately, it seems that the need has become greater, with many beggars, homeless and undocumented refugees hanging out on the streets. The difference between the glitz of the diamond shops and the people on the streets is stinging.
The evening ended with a lecture on my favourite subject, TRAVEL.
My favourite TV programme here is Reizen Waes, which has been on the air for years, trips to what I love, what's out of the box.
Tom Waes is the main character of the programme and in conjunction with his new book, we had a travel chat. An enjoyable evening.
So, my long sick leave is coming to an end and now I can soon start with a fresh start. Soon I will start with paperwork and vaccinations for the upcoming trip, to the exciting Mali.
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BP says:
Outch! Poor, poor you. Talk about maximum bad luck. You ruined that summer, but lucky you are already planning another trip to Mali. Brave of you considering the unrest. Just don't forget your walking stick and don't go on trips that require climbing in inaccessible terrain!!!
I like the culture clash with the "Kinaporten" between Chocolate nation and a "regular" house in Antwerp. I can tell you that the foods you show are now also available at "my" Asian Food Market in Täby Centrum. Is a regular there, of course; -)
And that Tom Waes is gorgeous;-)
30 September 2025 - 19:11
Anna says:
Well, now it's time for me to get back to work.
Thank you for reading
01 October 2025 - 6:53
Lillan Kind says:
But what bad luck to get hurt like that, and twice too. Fractures just in time for summer are really not fun. Hope they have healed well now. The market looked lovely. I am also addicted to cheese, so would love to taste myself stuffed: D
30 September 2025 - 20:36
Anna says:
Cheese.... Well what would life be without it.
Thank you for reading
01 October 2025 - 6:53