Sculptures on a Belgian Beach...

There were a lot of great sculptures spread across the beach at De Haan. 

Back to Belgium...

In late August 2024, we headed back to Brussels to celebrate Higgins’ 60th birthday. Rather than just have a party, he planned a multi-day experience for around 100 hashers from around the world. While Jimmy had to work that Thursday, I went along on one of the optional tours. Our small group just happened to be led by Higgins. We took a train to De Haan Aan Zee on the coast.

It was a windy day as we walked along the beach...

...to our first optional drink stop.

Many of the buildings were built during the Belle Époque (Beautiful Age) from 1870 to 1914. 

Albert Einstein lived in Villa Savoyarde for five months in 1933. 

Most of us grabbed a snack before going to our first official drink stop in an old bar.

It must be crazy there in the summer when there’s a bunch of underage drivers speeding around. 

 

Another Day, Another Banksy...

Ashlynn left the following day, so I was on my own to venture out in search of yet another Banksy, this time east of Greenwich. It was a beautiful day when I took the Tube to Greenwich North. My journey started with this cool piece of art called Poured Staircase by Ian Davenport. The sign said he created a full-sized replica of the stairs in his studio, poured saturated colors down the steps, photographed the result and transferred it into a vinyl format. 

I continued along the Thames Path to the Thames Barrier, which I first visited in November 2019...

…and then turned into an industrial area to see Banksy’s latest, a rhino which had already been protected. It wasn’t quite as interesting without the car that the rhino seemed to be resting on in the initial photos of the artwork. 

Definitely not the prettiest part of town...

...but saw some very pretty parts of the city later in the day. 

 

Another Fun Birthday...

What great luck that Terri happened to be in town and was available to join me and Ashlynn for a vegan feast at Mildreds Soho to celebrate my 61st birthday. 

The food was delicious, especially the chocolate cake. 

Ashlynn then surprised me with tickets to a matinee to see the musical Hadestown. It told a version of the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus + Eurydice and of Hades + Persephone. 

We both enjoyed it!

That evening, Jimmy and I hashed with West London H3 in Chiswick. 

 

Another Long Walk with Ashlynn...

The following day, Ashlynn and I went out for lunch before she did a DJ set at a yoga studio. The owner was kind to invite me to take the class, but I wasn’t dressed correctly, so used the time to take a bit of a nap to Ashlynn’s soothing tunes.

The next day, I went with her to do an errand and then we took a long walk to see this clever Banksy in Richmond next to Kew Bridge. 

Despite having been protected, the whole building had been painted over the last time we were in this area.

It was not windy at all. 

’

Not sure why I didn’t capture this adorable postal box topper from different angles, but you get the idea.

Later we went through Leake Street Arches to check out the latest creations.

Then we walked home along Southbank where we passed a bunch of kids frolicking in this temporary fountain...

…and saw sand art along the Thames for the first time.

 

More August 12, 2024...

Ashlynn and I covered a lot of ground on that Monday in August including see more street art on Brick Lane...

…a coffee shop with umbrellas for sale in what looks like frigs...

….cool high rises....

….housing that looks like it could be from Logan’s Run...

…a great reminder on the grounds of St Paul’s...

...an amazing vegan sushi place called We Are Ima...

…and adorable hippos by Gillie and Marc. 
 

St Barts The Great...

Further along our walk, Ashlynn and I visited London’s oldest parish church, St Bartholomew The Great, which was founded in 1123. 

Exquisite Pain by Damien Hirst, Britain’s most successful living artist, depicts the brutal end of St Bartholomew, who was skinned alive. Hirst’s creative twist was using an anatomical model holding a scalpel as the knife. Hirst said: I like the confusion you get between science and religion...that’s where belief lies and art as well. 

Unlike most other London churches, this one managed to survive the Great Fire of 1666 due to the old walls of the Priory acting as a firebreak before the flames could reach the church. 

Colloquy by Sophie Arkette celebrates the letters and poems of medieval visionaries. It is a commentary about the importance of the rule of law, love and chivalry. 

The Tudor Gatehouse marks where the nave would have ended prior to the dissolution of the church in 1539. Interestingly, Benjamin Franklin once worked within the church grounds.