I spent my first year in Brussels, some time after that in the south of France (with over 40 cherry trees on the property), then Belgium again, this time Antwerpen. I've spent more years in Antwerpen than anywhere else, though soon Sarajevo will break that record. Here's what I remember best about Antwerpen:
the huge, domed train station and a certain tunnel both of which spent most of my childhood being renovated
Reuben's Square with the shady gazebo, a million pigeons, and the race across it down to PO box 343
The Stadt Park which at six years of age I re-christened "The Jewish Park" because Antwerpen is full of Orthodox Jews dressed in long black coats, and top hats with long ringlets on either side of their heads and they apparently loved bringing their children to that park.
Climbing the jungle gym and the rocky "cliffs" (which were a lot smaller when I visited them again years later)
Last but not least, "God's Hand". My sister and I HAD to stop and climb it every time we passed it. The biggest challenge was climbing or sitting on the big slippery palm.
In 1997, the first "big" move - Ukraine. I liked Dniepopetrovsk. The wild, climbable fruit trees all over the place, our neighbor's nine puppies, the beautiful Dnieper River, the exciting overnight trains, but best of all I (still do) liked saying the name really fast. Dniepopetrovsk, Dniepopetrovsk. Okay, it's a lot less fun to type.
Odessa was next. I enjoyed the Black Sea immensely - especially the slimy see-through little jelly thingamabobs in it. I liked outdoor markets, but passionately HATED the meat section because of the horrible smell.
Back to Belgium, but not for long. Down, down, down via Air France to La Reunion. Oh for the island of lychees galore!
Geckos swarmed on our walls and ceiling, were brought down by our vicious cat Missy and left wriggling on the floor. Finding their legs and tails lying around wherever Missy had left them always amused us children since we knew the gecko would grow them back anyway.
Our living room balcony was a mini-garden with a small guava tree. I thought the sour little fruits were alright one or two at a time. My sister nearly devoured the tree!
A cyclone passed nearby while I was there. After all the windows were covered and precautions taken, I settled down and played Lego by candlelight until it blew over.
Christmas and New Year's were celebrated in summer clothes outside in the garden. I collected different colored sea urchins while at the beach and spent most of December in bed with bronchitis.
Three children younger than I and myself got locked in our bedroom when my mom's bathrobe hanging on the door jammed it against the frame. I got us out by making my fellow prisoners help me pull the bathrobe (and eventually rip it in half) until the door burst open.
Wow, there's a random selection of memories for you!
This shall be continued...eventually.
the huge, domed train station and a certain tunnel both of which spent most of my childhood being renovated
Reuben's Square with the shady gazebo, a million pigeons, and the race across it down to PO box 343
The Stadt Park which at six years of age I re-christened "The Jewish Park" because Antwerpen is full of Orthodox Jews dressed in long black coats, and top hats with long ringlets on either side of their heads and they apparently loved bringing their children to that park.
Climbing the jungle gym and the rocky "cliffs" (which were a lot smaller when I visited them again years later)
Last but not least, "God's Hand". My sister and I HAD to stop and climb it every time we passed it. The biggest challenge was climbing or sitting on the big slippery palm.
In 1997, the first "big" move - Ukraine. I liked Dniepopetrovsk. The wild, climbable fruit trees all over the place, our neighbor's nine puppies, the beautiful Dnieper River, the exciting overnight trains, but best of all I (still do) liked saying the name really fast. Dniepopetrovsk, Dniepopetrovsk. Okay, it's a lot less fun to type.
Odessa was next. I enjoyed the Black Sea immensely - especially the slimy see-through little jelly thingamabobs in it. I liked outdoor markets, but passionately HATED the meat section because of the horrible smell.
Back to Belgium, but not for long. Down, down, down via Air France to La Reunion. Oh for the island of lychees galore!
Geckos swarmed on our walls and ceiling, were brought down by our vicious cat Missy and left wriggling on the floor. Finding their legs and tails lying around wherever Missy had left them always amused us children since we knew the gecko would grow them back anyway.
Our living room balcony was a mini-garden with a small guava tree. I thought the sour little fruits were alright one or two at a time. My sister nearly devoured the tree!
A cyclone passed nearby while I was there. After all the windows were covered and precautions taken, I settled down and played Lego by candlelight until it blew over.
Christmas and New Year's were celebrated in summer clothes outside in the garden. I collected different colored sea urchins while at the beach and spent most of December in bed with bronchitis.
Three children younger than I and myself got locked in our bedroom when my mom's bathrobe hanging on the door jammed it against the frame. I got us out by making my fellow prisoners help me pull the bathrobe (and eventually rip it in half) until the door burst open.
Wow, there's a random selection of memories for you!
This shall be continued...eventually.
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