 irisbe's Antwerp Travelogues | | | |
|
| Page Views: 1,850 Last Visit to Antwerp: August, 2005 I Live Here | MEETINGS !!!! are the best of VT! by irisbe - last update: Aug 31, 2006 |
more meeting news more meetings |
|  | Night meeting with Oleg 20th Aug. On 20th of August Oleg (Alexprofi) was traveling through Europe again.
As last year, the tour organisers made a stop in Antwerp to put them into a hotel but.... you don't go to bed when you have friends in Antwerp.
At 10 pm Oleg called us to tell us he arrived and Diamonddog and me went to this hotel, had drinks and snacks and exchanged gifts.
When this ceremony was done we took him out into the city.
A couple of beers and more beers and even some dancing.
Not suprising I got to bed after 4 am in the morning!
More pictures at the Fotki album. |
Red lips & nails goodbye meeting Antwerp 19th .On Friday 19th Nathalie (Nathalie_b @ VT) came down to Antwerp to be a last time with her Belgian friends before she relocates back to Israel after a stay of several years in Breda as a student.
Eddy and Peter came early but left before I arried (what a pity!). Els and Norali started the afternoon a little more early with Nath at Het Pakhuis.
Around 7 pm we all dropped in at Celtic Ireland for the best Guiness in Antwerp and some good dinner.
Diamonddog Rudy, Caroline, Jeanne-Marie and Allain (the raheni's) and having her b-day Myriam joined us there.
Later on Maurice dropped by after his late working shift for a drink.
It was a nice meeting although we were a little saddened because of the reason to meet. Will miss you crazy Nathalie! `-)
so will the cats!
Thank you Raheni's for bringing us home safe!
MORE!!! crazy pictures at the the fotki album! Enjoy! | | |
| Hans & Lori & Baton East in Antwerp |
| | 3rd of August meeting Lori and Hans Soon after I had dropped Aiko at her hostel I hurried to the caffee Monico where Martin_nl and Igraine (Ingrid) were waiting for me.
We went up to the first meeting point at the Stonecastle where we met up with Hans (Waalewiener) and Lori (Loripori); Ilse (Matim) and kids Maaike and Tim; and Caroline (B_caro); Gini (Cadzand) and Jeanne-Marie (Raheni).
Soon later we met up with Pieter_jan_V and Swanet who brought Nathalie_b with them.
A little later on Myryam_C arrived and at the dining place we met up with Rudy (Diamonddog) and Allain (Raheni).
It was quite a bunch!
And should you wonder who that other young guy on the picture is?
Well it is the waiter, Tom.
hahaha he was surprised I knew his name but when he was 5 minutes with Nathalie he suddenly remembered us !
We also had the honour to have Baton East again for the 2nd time in our company :)
ATLC handed it over to Nathalie_B and she brought it with her so we could add our names on his travel list again :)
More fun pictures at Fotki pages!
Panoramic picture! Click to enjoy the full size! |
| | Aiko visiting on 3rd of August 2005 Banditleader Razali introduced Aiko, a Japanese student, to me. She is member of the hospitality club and met him in Malaysia.
It was a pity I only had 2 hours to spend with her.
As she already has seen the old city I decided to take her more to the locations she had missed or would not be going to on her own... :)
and ofcourse we ended our walk with a drink.
I was so much talking and talking that I just forgot to take pictures during the walk but i made it up when we sat down.
It was nice meeting her. |
28th June meeting with Bradbrown and Kinga 27th of June I met up with Kinga_freespirit and Asia who arrived by car in the afternoon in Antwerp. After showing their lodgement place they took off to get Bradbrown and son Daniel from the airport. That evening we went out for a pizza and a drink. A warming up for next day big meeting.
28th we met up with a small group but it grew steadily untill we met up at dinner with 25 persons.
Some stay longer for a drink on the beach or even later for a dance in a pub that only opened just for us and 2 others who got lost :)
at 3 am Nathalie, Els and me arrived at our youth hostel.
at 730 am up again to wave Els out, then heading with Nathalie to the flat of the invitees,.
Kinga has brought Asia to the trainstation as well... we must just have missed them.
Left overs went to the city for some good fries.
I left them around 1:30 pm to get to work...
it was a hectic week !
the more because I had to work on previous saturday and had a trip with our Karibu students on Sunday.
List of people joining the meeting:
Matim (Ilse and husband)
Nathalie_b
Myriam_c
Mahieu
AyseE
Boniunia
Bradbrown (with son Daniel)
Eddymario
B_caro
Goldenboy
Kinga_freespirit
Raheni (Jeanne-Marie and Allain)
Sinjoor (with son Yannick)
Throgal67 (with 2 polish friends)
Asia (friend of Kinga)
Austin73
irisbe (with daughter Eve and friend Friday)
If you are about to get curious what we did that day, have a look at the pictures
Irisbe's pictures
and
Bradbrown's pictures
Enjoy viewing and reading (or leaving) comments! | | | Bradbrown & Kinga_freespirit meeting |
|
| Stavros (stavlois) visiting |
| | 2-3 april : minimeeting with Stavros A call on the Brussels forum but I think with not too much reactions I convinced Stavros (Stavlois at VT) he should go a bit further and visit Antwerp for a day. He agreed and it became 1,5 day of Antwerp instead.
A call to the tourist information centre provided him with a last minute booking at a great price.
Saturday 3 of "my" foreign (Karibu) students joined for the city walk. To them the places we were going too were totally new.
We had a wonderful day and the weather was with us for a chance!
It was nice meeting you Stavros and I hope you got home safe and I am very curious for your pictures!
I hope Elektra came out excellent!
If you want to enjoy more pictures then pls visit my albums on fotki:
2nd of April and 3rd of April. |
19th March: Sam and Abdul in Antwerp When Shyama introduced Sam to me and told him about our Karibu activities and when he told me how lost he was the previous day arriving in Antwerp, I promised him to take him on a kind of orientation walk in the city.
It took a couple of weeks before we finaly could make this trip and by that time I was also contacted by Abdul who is doing his PhD in the University for Leuven.
So I suggested to take them both on an afternoon walk.
We had a pleasant day, visited the market at the Theatre Square, had a drink, walked along some of the highlights and discusses about many topics. It was also to me a most interesting afternoon that I really enjoyed.
Around 7 pm we decided it was time to head back home.
Sam would take the bus and Abdul the train. So would I.
On arrival he had to find out what ticket was most suitable for him and I had taken already mine.
I apologized to have to rush but my train was about leaving.
I said goodbye to Abdul, then to Sam and moved up the stairs to the platform.
My train was announced to be at platform 2 B wich meant it was at the very end of the station.
I had to hurry.
I came at the first 2nd class wagon and as I stepped upon the stairs, I saw too late that the train was standing in a bend of the platform!
That was the very first time I noticed this! This bend created a huge gap between the right side of the steps and the platform.
As I noticed, it was already too late and I ended up in the gap!
1 minute before the train would depart and I was standing between it and the platform on the tracks!
ok I managed to crawl out of it and upon the train.
During the 10 minutes drive I felt more and more how bad I had hurt my legs.
By the time I needed to get off I could hardly walk anymore.
I was really concerned that evening because next afternoon was the guided tour in the ZOO.
I never thought I would manage to get there.
At the same time I felt I was feeling cold... I just hoped I would not become ill as for once I didn't had involved an extra person to arrange everything in case something might have happened to me.
Next morning would give me the answer, if I could go or not.
Anyway to imagine me falling into the gap made not only me laugh but every one I told... even my doctor who came on Monday (because I did fell ill) had this smile upon his face... how do you do this? I could read.
`-) | | |
| meeting in the zoo with tompt & diamonddog&irisbe |
| | meetings On 13th March I organised a visit to the ZOO of Antwerp. I had asked a friend, Roger, if he could guide us. He is a official city guide and I have been on several trips with him. I like the way he is always very enthousiast.
Tom and Gonne (Tompt) and Rudy (Diamonddog) joined as well.
While I was making some notices they were taking lots of pictures.
It was a great afternoon.
As the group was limited (we were with 21); I had agreed with Roger to make this trip over the next week.
As that was full booked too in no time (22 people) we promised the others to have a 3rd visit in September. I should know everything by then at heart as that would be my 4th time on this tour `-) |
12th March evening VT-Meeting If you think we rest in Antwerp? You got it wrong :)
You have to knock us down before we keep still!
After the trip to Rotterdam I was in for a heart warming VT meeting with our Gregg and Tom & Gonnie from the Netherlands.
Diamonddog, who took good care of them (see the pics at fotki from this one on and further to check how great time they had while I was freezing in Rotterdam).
Anyway to warm up the temperature we chose our restaurant a bit tropical. Ever since Jeanne-Marie & Alai (Raheni), our friends from Deurne had introduced us to the restaurant Cabo Verde at the Napelsstraat, I almost became a regular here.
Food is good at fair price, the coctails are yummmmmmie! what can I say? and the service is very eye friendly `-)
When it got 11 pm we were discussion to go for another drink elsewhere or just go get some sleep.
A free drink of the house kept us half an hour longer, which we didn't regret and so we ended up in our bed at midnight.
Next day I had organised a guided tour in the Zoo for our University personel and Tom and Gonnie were going to join us.
I had to be fit! | | | meeting Tompt;Gkitzmil;diamonddog;irisbe |
|
| | 11th March Meeting with Gregg in Antwerp Friday evening we met up with Gregg gkitzmil again.
We had a nice evening out, went for a drink and some local food :)
We are easy to please :))
We had a nice time but decided not to go home too late as next day I had a full day trip to Rotterdam and Gregg was going to go with Diamonddog and Tompt to fetch some of that delicious Westvleteren trapist.
In the mean time they would also make a stop at the Dolle Brouwers....
I almost envied them :) |
2005: 20-21 Jan meeting up with Jovy1011 Jovy is a journalist from Hong Kong who contacted me through VT.
She was making a trip to Belgium to find out what there is to offer.
Conclusion is far too much for only 1 week :)
We had a nice time hunting for good topics for her article in the magazine
Eat and traveling.
Chris was the photographer who joined her. | | |
| Caffeine_induced with real coffee! |
| | 2005:7th Jan. Meeting Caffeine_induced in Antwerp Dragged by Nathalie_B to Antwerp, he had no other choice then a meeting up with some of the Antwerp gang :)
Caffeine_induced78 became for 1 day, beer_induced :)
Later that day other members - Raheni; Diamonddog - joined for a great dinner at a Cape Verdian restaurant.
More picures at Fotki albums! |
2005: Ice ice baby and exams the next day!!! The 1st of January we met up with Tom & Gonnie (Tompt again) and visited the ice sculptures in Antwerp. My goodness it was cold!!! :)
We warmed up by a smile in one of the 8 Irish pubs we have in Antwerp and did some strolling around.
Pictures about the Antwerp day are on the Fotki albums!
2nd of January we had Brussels scheduled!
oh my goodness Exames!!! and who succeeded `-)
After the exams I went for a rest at the metropolitan hotel and afterwards we went for a very "cheap" beer.
We had great fun again!!!!
I always enjoy Tom and Gonnie's company so very much! They are garantee for giving you a great time!
Want to have a look at the pictures? Feel free to visit the fotki album about this meeting day. | | | panoramic picture! Antwerp meeting |
|
| | New Years Eve!!! 2004 -> 2005 Wowww what great time we had!
Tompt, Raheni and all their friends, Diamonddog, Shyama and her daughter, later on we met up with Paul as well.
We had a great time at Marco Polo, however the main Mongolian BBQ was not really that good, the cold and hot entries were a complete dinner on it's own! and made it quite up.
65 Euro all included!
Not bad and well, it is the company that does it!
Just before midnight we went outside to the waterfront to watch the firework. It was beautiful and accompanied by music.
After the firework we got back to Marco Polo for the champaign and dancing.
We didn't forgot the tsunami victims however, and certainly not our friend Razali (banditleader at VT) who has lost so many of his dear family.
We carried a candle light with us all evening. When we had dinner, it was on our table; when we went out for the firework, we took it with us.
During the minute of silence (very impressive with such a 1000's of people gathering togheter) Tom held the candle high up in the air while our thoughts were with all those people who has suffered so badly.
Life goes on, celebrate life, you never know when your day comes.
Happy new year and may it be better then 2004.
Oh don't forget to check on the fotki album! |
2004: 5th December Meeting Paige and Peter | | |
| | 2005: 4th of December night meeting More comments soon but you can already have a look at the Fotki pages. |
Fantastic Antwerp meeting 2004 It was bitterly cold so the city walks we planned to do were partly canceled.
In exchange we stayed a little longer in the pubs.
We were with so many people again, new faces and familiar faces.
It was a real international bunch again!
The die hard Belgian vt meeters, our friends from the Netherland, Nathalie I have to think where to add her on the globe LOL;
our Imelda from the Philippines visiting, my Indian friends from work, our malagese belgian residents who brought their Italian and Polish friend, and our Marie-Claude from Canada who is staying in Brussels with her nice boyfriend, sharing some fries on the picture.
Will add a full list later on ;)
The pics are already on Fotki!!!
Do have a look, want to download one? click on the link underneath and "safe picture as" on your pc.
Feel to leave a comment? Pls do!
The comments make the albums come alive :)) | | |
meetings under construction |
15th October a Night cap in Antwerp Blkbelt57 Doug was visiting Belgium so we gave him the typical warm "Antwerp" welcome.
Boniuna was there and RaHeNi and Diamonddog and me.
We missed B_Caro, she fell ill and I hope she gets better soon (you hear Caroline? hugs!)
The later it got the more laughing and fun. It was 3 am when some one with good sense (THIS IS NOT ME hahahA!) decided we better went home. Indeed... time flies fast in good company!
Guessed right! For more pictures please visit the FOTKI-album.
| | | At the multicultural centre Zuiderpershuis Antwerp |
|
| | 13 October University Personel gathering My goodness... all with our tax money!!!
what? no I don't mean the drinks and the little snacks, I mean the whole set up for this information afternoon!
They hired the Zuiderkroon... must cost nice money and they had this guy from a extern management office of non-information telling us empty blah-blah-blah using a presentation that would never pass you through an exam and treathing us like low-intelligent-commercial television-swalling-bullSHlT persons...
I can't believe this... I went around to all my colleagues asking if they got some thing serious or useful or whatever out of his presentation... but they all heard the same Blah-blah-blah...
and that guy's office must for sure earn more money then the little reception afterwards did....
Getting insulted and pay for it with your tax money... my goodness where is this world going too?
Anyway we tried to get it off our stomach and went for a drink.
Ah I spotted VT member Shyama there too... always fun to share a drink with.. Come 'on let's dance she said and took me towards the three small house orchestra playing some soft music... ok we didn't really go dancing but we got a big smile from the guys `-)
Crazy... they must have thought... those people working at the university `-)
well
they are right! ;)
and we didn't had to pay them for that most accurate opinion `-)
For more pictures of my colleagues you can visit my FOTKI-album whereas the first picture if the best describing the presentation of that company... an facade with nothing behind it... it is just air! :)
|
Imbi & Sahar meeting 2nd May 2004 On 2nd of May, the very next day of Fira's visited, we met up with Imbi and Sahar.
We had such a great day together, with Peter_P, B_caro, Mahieu, Boniunia, diamonddog and me.
Imbi is one of our VT friends who suddenly vanished form the website.
I never question there reason, there must be, but I only want to express my sadnes because we all really loved these two VT friends.
If any one has news of them or are in contact, pls tell them we miss them!
Pictures of this great meeting you can find at the fotki album. | | |
| Dr. Firas trail in Antwerp |
| | Dr Firas Trail meeting 1st May 2004 HOw crazy can meetings go? Well come to Antwerp and find out yourself! Like Firas did!
After he made a stop in Central Station in Brussels to meet up with Els (Mahieu) he hopped on the train and arrived in Antwerp were Bozena (Boniunia); me and Rudy (Diamonddog) were acting as the welcomes committee.
Bozena, funny as ever, has made a special sign for Firas so we would find him back more easy in the crowd should he get lost.
Later on in, how coincidentally, a pub! we met up with Helga (Helga67) and Caroline (B_caro).
We met very strange people on our trail! some lilliput seamen, some party gangsters, some radioactive girls :)
bottles and goldwasser near at the Goddess Minerva's feet... my oh my!
It was a great evening full with fun!
Want to see more of the pictures ?
You can find them at the fotki pages! |
Meeting Jackfruit 4 & 6 April 2004 It was so nice to have Sunita (Jackfruit) visiting Antwerp.
I met up with her twice, once with Yinka, an acqaintance of Bunmi (Isethilola) and the second time with Rudy (Diamonddog).
It is really sad Sunita has been gone from VT. I really miss her.
I hope she comes back some day!
Feel free to visit the pictures at the Fotki albums! | | | Meeting Sunita in Antwerp |
|
| crazy pubcrawl in Antwerp |
| | Super pubcrawl in Antwerp 20th March 2004! On occasion of Leroy's (Brewdog) visit we organised a super pubcrawl in Antwerp on March 20th 2004.
The VT-ers who back-off the last minute have sure missed out a great memorable evening!
We agreed we would all show up with a hat and some hats were euhmmm special ;)
Johnny the barber (left) and his wife Vera took care of us.
Us is Els (Mahieu); Pieter_Jan_V; Carine (Catnl); Leroy (Brewdog); Peter_P; Allain_smeets; Tom & Gonnie (Tompt); Rudy the Diamonddog and my sister Rita.
At a certain point we ended up in the metro with our special personal bar.
We offered some metro residents a drink and they sang a song for us.
Other passerby's just loved the scenery and asked if they could be on the picture as well. Those are the young ones in front, I would have no idea who they are :)
If you think you can handle it, then feel free to visit the crazy Fotki pictures! |
29th November 2003 Mini meeting with Suri On 29th November 2003, previous day to the big VT-meeting in Brussels (see my Brussels travelogue), we met up with Suri.
It was a wonderful meeting with this soft hearted Indian from Mumbai :)
and it was also the first time I met up with Bozena (Boniunia) and with Fré, the kind friend of Frank with the famous VT-name Belgianchocolate.
It was a nice evening!
Feel free to view more pictures at the Fotki album. | | | mini-meeting with Suri visiting |
|
| | Big Antwerp meeting 2nd November 2003 2nd November was the big day of the big meeting. Willy brought the Baton East and handed it over to Norali. It looked like every one wanted to have it!
I have to look up the names of all the people who joined us there but it were at the end 34 or something.
However I am pretty sure you will recognize them all :)
Have a look at the Fotki pictures and find out :) |
Mini pre-meeting in Antwerp 19 Oct 2003 Norali and Peter_P had the idea of organising a Pan-am Antwerp-Brussels meeting.
They asked me to help them out with the Antwerp meeting and as the group would be big, and yes it was BIG, I told them a preparation meeting would be fine.
I already had the whole tour in mind and the places to go to but I wanted to check and take reservations.
We wanted it to be a success and I think we can say it was.
Feel free to have a look at this minimeetings pictures at my Fotki Album.
Did you recognized the right picture as the one being used on the bookmark of the meeting? | | | Preperation meeting in Antwerp |
|
| Aadil;Helga67:diamonddog;irisbe |
| | 3rd October 2003 VT beer-tappers We had a great time meeting up with Aadil again on his 2nd visit to Belgium!
It seems like he is becoming a real regular :))
Hope to see you again very soon! Aadil.
2003, 1-5 Octobor: Aadil, Mumbai, India, visited again! 5 nice days! Foto's at the Fotki albums are coming up.File of Aadil's visits is here! We went to discover some of the places he missed on the first trip. |
Cho and family visiting 4th Aug 2003 4th of August 2004 Cho (Chu45) and Michele and family came to visit Antwerp.
They arrived late afternoon so most of the day was passed but Antwerp has loooong evenings :)
We spent a nice time together and had a great dinner at Jeanty's (see my restaurant tip).
Cho's previous son-in-law is a cook in LA and has been making dinners for quite some celebrities.
He was very interesting to find some idea's here in Antwerp.
Cho's grandson even tried eel.
Feel free to visit the pictures at my fotki album! | | |
| | Mini meeting with Norali and Peter_P 19th Oct A minimeeting with Noro-Liva and Peter to prepare the big 2nd of November meeting in Antwerp.
Don't miss the graffiti walls!
You can look up all the pictures in the FOTKI album! |
First Antwerp Pubcrawl 22 Febr 2003 Excuses enough to hold a pubcrawl in Antwerp... in 3 days it would be my b-day and we had Leroy (Brewdog) visiting Antwerp for the very first time.
So friends and VT-friends got invited to join us.
Luc (Luchonda) and his lovely daughter Kim were there, so was Tom & Gonnie (Tompt); Carine (Catnl); Caroline (B_caro), Jeff (Sargentjeff); Rudy (Diamonddog) and me and many of our friends.
Feel free to view the fotki album. Sorry that the pics came out so dark! | | |
| | Vishnuprasadh in Antwerp |
Sarah & John visiting | | |
| Diamonddog Leroy and Caroline (B_caro) |
| | Leroy visiting 27th February 2002 Today we had Leroy visiting. It would be the first time of several visits.
He knows a lot of beers and that made a good match with us! :)
see more of the pictures taken at FOTKI! |
2002 Meeting with Rosehill 2002:Rose, (Rozehill on VT)Christchurch, NZ, friends on VT and 4ever! We visited Antwerp and Bruges. We had such fun in Bruges!Have a look at the FOTKI photo album to see how much fun we had!
Meeting with KennetRose in 2003
2003, March:KennetRose (UK) visited Antwerp for an afternoon and we made a lovely hike through the city. | | |
| | More mini meetings in Antwerp 2002 |
2002 Aadil visiting 2002:Aadil, (Aadil on VT)Mumbai, India, friends on VT and hoping to meet up again next year! It was such a pleasure to have him as a guest. We visited Antwerp several times. visit my FOTKI photo album | | |
| | 2002: My first organised meeting in Antwerp! It was not "just"a meeting! It was a weekend long meeting and very international!
Actually the meeting was planned for Saturday the 21st... but we started Friday evening and ended... Sunday late afternoon!
We had big fun!!!
Have a look at the pictures at FOTKI. |
Meeting with DJOatlarge 2002:DJO, (DJOatlarge at VT)Floriada, USA, met him on VT. We had 5 great days! It was fun having him camping in the garden! We went to Antwerp few times, to Leuven, cycling in the Flanders, ate pancakes at Damme, went to Zeebrugge, saw the sandsculptures, went to Lier and to Mechelen, where he played carillion for the whole city `-) see his pictures in his external page.
The albums are at my FOTKI pages. | | | Angel and pipes of the organ at Saint Paul's Churc |
|
| Meeting up wit Marjana Lalique |
| | First meeting in May 2002 with Lalique on 9th of May I had the pleasure of meeting Lalique (Marianna) and her friend Ella.
Ron (Ronald-t) joined us too that day.
Ron and I met at Central station in the lounge.
We could walk together to Roosevelt square where the "girls" would arrive by bus around 11:30 am.
I have kept a seperate tlogue in which I describe our day.
To view more pictures of this meeting visit my Fotki album. |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| irisbe's Antwerp Travelogues | | | |
|
 Comments for irisbe about Antwerp | | | | |
hunterV Thu Oct 15, 2009 19:01 UTC
Hello, Dannie! ><>< You`ve done great work on the Internet and present nice albums!Thanks >> | timada Mon Sep 15, 2008 20:01 UTC
It's good to visit .... shopping tips...when you're out of money ! :-)) enjoy very much your Antwerp page . | nora_south_africa Sun Apr 20, 2008 04:52 UTC
great transport tips , thanx for the pics | Goldenboy Tue Mar 11, 2008 09:48 UTC
Happy belated birthday Dannie ;) How are you all there ... so you have a cute granddaughter then, congratulation!! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
