photography by elisa sherman » Belgium

Ghent ~ Castles and moats and chainmail, oh my! Europe 2017 volume 6

elisa sherman — Tue, 08 May 2018 07:29:43 +0000

On our way back to Brussels from Brugge, we stopped in Ghent, specically Gravensteen Castle, before heading into the town for dinner. Gravensteen is a castle from the middle ages, full of armour, and various…torture contraptions, and whatnot. Views abound. It is like stepping through time, as you climb through and around the castle grounds. Dark and dreary, yet also dreamy. You can almost see ghosts of knights past lurking through the dark dank stone halls. It’s hard to imagine a time when this was a lived in, working dwelling. What with tourists roaming about, through the halls, and down below and around it, feeding the ducks, and sitting on the grass aside the moat. Castles seem so “fairytale”, yet here we see, they are but history, as dark as it may have been…

En Brugge , Europe 2017 volume 5

elisa sherman — Tue, 08 May 2018 05:35:12 +0000

Brugge, Bruges…Venice of the north… One of the coolest north Belgium towns. If you don’t mind dark comedies, the film En Brugge, will take you there…on point scenery. If you are but a tourist, like, se moi, there is Photo Tour Brugge brought to you by Bruges’ best photographer, Andy McSweeney @andymcphoto. Andy was so great working with each of us at varying levels of skill and equipment, taking us to sights off the beaten path, and pointing out how to make unique compositions, etc. And he let me swap lenses with him as we were both shooting Fuji mirrorless this fine evening:)

We had headed up to Brugge from Brussels on the Saturday after returning from Berlin…walked around the main Place(plass) ourselves (Wade, his aunt, cousin and myself), and then met up with Andy for an evening private tour(scheduled in advance). From rapt statues, canals, reflections, architecture, odd signs, and windmills we got a taste of everything through sunset. What a great way to see Brugge! The next morning we walked around as the city awoke, and took our final clicks and then headed off to the next stop on #WEeurovacay…for now, let’s look back, En Brugge.

Sprout to be… Bruxelles! Europe 2017 volume 2

elisa sherman — Tue, 01 May 2018 03:03:40 +0000

Brussels, or as the French say – Bruxelles (it basically sounds the same but with an accent)…was our home base for our #WEeurovacay adventure – much love to Cathy for allowing us to visit. We whisked our way there Monday evening from Paris via high speed train – and apparently First class – I highly recommend. Brussels…is a brilliant city, a Grand Place(pronounced plass) with a Starbucks & a Hard Rock…did I mention, we’re American?! Anyways, we actually left the next day for Berlin, but technically it was our second stop, so volume 2 it is! When we did return from Germany, we got to hang out a bit, and again when we returned later from Venice. We rode the subway here, as we did in Paris…to navigate in from the Train station, and back to Grand Place. Drank beer(as I did in Berlin as well – Volume 3 or 4?! lol) thanks to some Monks come brewers…La Trappe ~ Trappist…

…and well, ate chocolate…because, Belgium…

…missed Brussels Pride (we went to Brugge that weekend…it’s early there I guess?)…it would have been fun…but great to see an international city getting ready…

And, of course…Grand Place…

…and did I mention Starbucks?! yes…there was Cafe Americano…

…and chocolate sculptures and chocolate elephants…

…and well, it’s Europe…so really cool architecture, courtyards, fountains & churches…

Brussels was really cool, even if we only got to visit a small part…the people were all wonderful, and everything was so fun, just to walk down the street…until we see you again…to Bruxelles with love, xoxo…

In Bruges

elisa sherman — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:50:00 +0000

A beautifully disturbing film. I have to admit, I don’t see many flicks with Mr. Farrell headlining…

However, I found this one quite interesting…that is when I wasn’t (pleasantly) distracted by my date……….

But we will leave that for another time perhaps…

Movies…I really have gotten out of the habit of going in the last couple years…but I do love them…

Even bad movies have value. I love the escape, the far off locations…it is a bit like a 2hour vacation every time. Fantasy, comedy, drama, action…pure escape…bigger than life. It envelopes you…

Colin’s character, in this film, did not appreciate the gloriously historic surroundings…though everyone else in the movie did…but then, he was but an inept hitman who really just wanted to get a pint and get laid…

I am not sure he ever got the second…sadly. Clearly, his character was not of his own clear charms(I mean how sexy is that Irish accent!?)…

Anywho, I would give this film *** stars…not the best, but very intriguing in its characters…definitley a character piece, not anything epic, nor earthshattering…but interesting and quirky…and oft times quite amusing.

Ralph Fiennes comes in for last portion of the film…so funny…these hit men almost have a heart…but then, not really? Or do they?

Anyways…my message? Go to the movies. They are the cheapest vacation you will ever go on!

http://imdb.com/title/tt0780536/
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809826831/info
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/01/18/sundance-review-in-bruges/