egold.'s photostream  

When I’m travelling I always looking for something unusual what I can shoot and collect to all my other wonders. Because all European cities are full of contrasts, it’s not so difficult to find it. And Brussels which is an inofficial capital of “New Old Europe” is not an exception...
The Charles Buls (or Karel Buls in Flemish) fountain is found at the Agora Square right next to the Rue du Marché aux Herbes. It’s a memorial in the honor of Charles Buls who was mayor of Brussels from 1881 until 1899. He is remembered most of all today for his fight to vote laws to preserve and fund the restoration some of the best known jewels of the city like the Grand Place that are now considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fountain was erected in 1999 and the statue depicted Charles Buls with his dog (they say that they never were separated). But at the time I made my shot the glorious mayor was very busy, because he was listening the sounds of the dungchen, a long trumpet or horn used in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. The young man plays on that long pipe for some reason known only to him. May be he’s follower of Tibetan Buddhism, may be it was his support for Tibet, may be he just liked that kind of music - I have no idea...

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I’m returning back to my “traveler’s diary”. As you remember, it’s Belgium and now I’m in Brussels. I began my shooting day from La Grand-Place or Grote Markt, the most beautiful place here...
So... we are in a center of the city. The central square is surrounded by public as well as private buildings which were 300 years old, being constructed mostly in the 17th century. Those buildings exhibit eclectic and highly successful blending of architectural and artistic styles that characterize the culture and society of Brussels during that time. La Grand-Place is an example of the achievement of a highly successful mercantile city at the height of its prosperity. Every two years in August, an enormous "flower carpet" is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colorful begonias are set up in patterns, and the display covers 79 by 253 ft, for area total of 19,000 sq ft.] The first flower carpet was made in 1971, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued...
Unfortunately I’ve been in Brussels in a very cold spring but even at that time the square was full of flowers and I could see the wonderful guild-buildings through that colorful tangles...

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Break dance on the streets and even in subway trains is one of the ‘business cards’ of New York... Those guys call themselves Breeze Team. They performed very special break dance in many places of New York always collecting the crowd around. But now they are the guests, guests of 5th avenue with her wonderful store- windows and... simply saying, they are the guests of Water World for performing their dance right here with the Queen of Water World who creates her own magic dance together with Breeze Team.

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These magic days (I mean preholidays time) everything is possible in New York... even on 5th Avenue...
When day going closer to twilight and the streets become darker, lighten just by reflections of the store windows, the fairy tale begins... it’s a right time for cup of coffee and even simple horse driver can be invited by the Queen of the Animals (of course together with his horse and carriage) and can be her Prince Charming... just for this evening...

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“All world is a theater and everyone is just an actor here”... Many of us heard this sentence and New York at these days really proofs this phrase. Everyone can see so many shows on the streets of the city here and there and the actors are us ourselves. You can choose who you’re going to be actor or observer, so these shows are very interactive, you can choose even the costume (often it will be your own). And yes... I forgot, you can be a “professional” critic... So, don’t stay at home, go outside and participate...

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