When organising a small trip to the continent last Autumn I was keen to squeeze in a trip to Ghent (or Gent, I still don’t know which is officially correct). Thankfully I managed to make it work by booking a late crossing from Dunkirk to Dover. And so at 8am I took to the road from Nuenen, near Eindhoven in Holland, where I had been staying with family, and arrived in Ghent around 10.30am. I was able to spend a good six hours or so in the city, walking and wandering, soaking in the Ghenten vibe. And it’s a good vibe — even if it did have a post-summer, Monday feel to it with its sparse streets and quiet tourist spots. A few things struck me, though: Ghent’s architecture is stunning, particularly the many crow-stepped gable buildings that reinforce the city’s gothic feel; the city’s uncomplicated layout makes it a great place for walking without getting lost (well, not too lost); and terrific views are on offer at the top of St Bavo’s Cathedral. Oh, and there is the busker who plays guitar in Sint-Baafsplein Square who is just a delight to listen to (very accommodating, too, as he allowed me to take a lot of photos of him). Here are a few snaps, mono-style…
China
When travelling one thing I always love to do is take to the local streets late at night. I find that the atmospheres tend to be more calm and thoughtful than they are during the day, playing well to my reflective side. There isn’t the rush to get to work or pick up the shopping or run an errand or get the kids to school. Instead ones, twos and threes gather on tables inside and outside bars and restaurants to laugh, catch up, scroll through their phones or whatever. Street vendors put slabs of raw meat on the grill whilst serving a regular. Taxi drivers lean against their cars as they exchange opinions and wait (and compete!) for their next punter. Workers walk the pavement home after a long day in the office. Children play as mum wraps up her market stall for the day.
This was typical of what I saw on a recent trip to China, where I visited Chengdu, Kanding and Tagong, in China’s Sichuan province. My Fujifilm x70 travelled with me and a few of the late night shots I took with it are below, along with a selection of other photos I took. Enjoy!
Lacock
I headed to Lacock last Monday (Spring bank holiday) thinking that it would be its buildings or quaint streets or afternoon tea at King John Hunting’s Lodge (seriously good) that would leave the big mark. After all that’s why I was heading there in the first place. But instead it was a gentleman who struck the sweetest chord. I was taking some photographs and he strolled into view. He looked so content, just taking in the streets and sounds. Realising he was in my picture he offered a friendly smile. I lowered my camera and returned the gesture. A couple of minutes later I noticed him quietly hold back from the rest of his party to make sure an elderly gentleman, who was slowly crossing the road with a heavy bag of shopping, was okay. It was touching. I saw this gentleman only briefly, but he seemed to me to be a chap simply enjoying the day, breathing in the life of every moment, whilst keeping a watchful eye out for others. A winning combination.
Below are a few shots of my afternoon in Lacock. The streets were a hive of activity with many people visiting the village for the scarecrow trail. All pictures were taken through a Fujifilm x70.
