The SAAF Forum

Doing a bit of travelling and touring through Europe at the moment and every so often one comes across a photo opportunity which may have some wider interest. Our travels also takes us past ports and ships, airfields and aircraft and sometimes just things weird and wonderful.

I would like to share some of these moments with you. Thank you for taking a look.


A picture of the Belgian naval facility near Zeebrugge. I've tried to ID the vessel in the foreground, without success.


The Belgian command and logistical support ship GODETIA A960
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_ship_Godetia_(A960)


Belgian naval support ship STERN A963

The Belgian naval component has an open day in Zeebrugge 7/8 July.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Navy

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Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

Thanks Marius, looks like you're havng a great time.

I see another Saffer in the backgrond of pic #2 ... Safmarine.

Thanks Dean, yes so far so good!

The Flemish part of Belgium, roughly the northern half of the country nearest the Dutch border, is the part we visited. Just as their neighbours, they are very free thinking and liberal in their way of life.

There was an Afrikaans song sung by 'Groep Twee' - Gert van Tonder and Sias Reynecke.

"Die padda wou gaan opsit met sy nooi in die vlei, ah hum" and then some adaptation took place, see verse below picture;


"Die kerk en die bar is langs mekaar, ah hum"

Not sure how many churches and bars co-exist side by side in SA these days, but in my day in SA there were none I can remember. In Belgium here is a case in point ....

I also came across this mural in the centre of Zulte, a town in eastern Belgium. The message is a powerful one ....


Gerard Reve was a highly controversial Dutch poet and writer. Loosely translated:-

Nothing to expect and nothing to hope for
there is nothing for me but darkness and death.
I see it but I do not sway: whomever you may be
I do love you, with my whole heart, with all my blood.

On a lighter note, I also came across this beauty; mounted on a roundabout (circle) in Belgium.


A Fouga Magister, French supplied trainer to the Belgian Air force.

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

EML Sakala (M314)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11606523@N06/4048674427/



Are you also visiting the Netherlands?

Yes indeed. We arrived in the Netherlands a few days ago and are currently touring the province of Zeeland in the south west. Ik spreekt Afrikaans (aangepast naar Nederlands) overal zonder probleem. Lekker!

Below are two pictures taken from the dunes near Vlissingen. Based here would be wonderful for those doing 'ship spotting'. This waterway is incredibly busy and one could easily sit here all day watching vessels of all shapes and sizes.


Looking north along the beach at Dishoek (Vlissingen) with large vessels using a channel very near the beach.


This ship is entering the Schelde estuary from the North Sea, probably making for Antwerpen.

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

River barges near the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. A lifestyle all on its own, where husband and wife often live on board their vessel. You see cars, dogs and crew members co-habitating on these huge vessels. A lifestyle and way of life unknown in SA.


Low low in the water with a cargo of coal


Pushing three massive barges is this vessel 'Herkules Vll'. Note the water spraying over the coal (?)


By-passing one another, cars and crew on the rear deck of 'Privilege'

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

Tallyho...great pics you've got there. Also like the ones posted on your photosite (eg the Lifeboat). The water sprayed on the coal is to reduce any spontaneous combustion effect. Coal dust is also quite explosive in the right conditions.
Surprisingly so too is flour dust. Many a flour tanker has gone bang when flour was been discharged pneumatically.
Cheers,
Doug

When I worked at Caltex oil refinery in CT, I was shown a video of fine metal particles mixed with air exploding. The point was, anything with carbon, with the right air mixture ratio can explode with a spark.

Thanks Doug & jeffreynic for the clarifications!

I tell you, Rotterdam is a port city I would gladly visit again. Not for the city part of it, but for the port side of it. It is MEGA and the sheer scale of driving through and over and under it, by virtue of the various motorways, bridges and tunnels, is just breathtaking. It is truly the gateway by sea to northern Europe. Dutch in geography it may be, but in EURO'S (money) the industrial muscle of Germany is much in evidence.

The following pictures were all taken at the 'Hoek van Holland', gateway to the port of Rotterdam.


Says it all ....


Some of the entry channels are next to a swimming beach


It was a very windy day gusting from the SW - and the dingy went nowhere

For the record, weather in the Netherlands for the past week have been abysmal! Rain and more rain with strong winds have made a mockery of what is supposedly summer. And it is set to continue for the next few days!

And much of Holland is below sea level ....

Thanks for looking!

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

Not much love between the two nations tough. German's complain about Dutch tourists, you can identify them. A Dutch person complains to me about the impossible German tourists on their beaches, they tink they own the place. A Dutch soccer player spits on a German twice in a game between the two nations, I saw that game. I think that was a world cup. I've heard a lot.
But besigheid is besigheid.

Tally-ho, I remember in the 70's when I was there, it was a Wednesday afternoon, my mom wanted to buy some cheese before we headed into Germany, but all the shops were closed for the day from around lunch time. Do they still do that?
Thanks for posting the pictures.

Thanks guys, my pleasure!


@jeffreynic
Yes, this habit is still in evidence over the lunch hour(s) in the Netherlands, also elsewhere. Supermarkets remain open, but the owner/manager of a small business closes as he pleases. The 'open' sign on the door is simply turned around to 'gesloten'. Even at our current campsite north of Den Haag (The Hague), the girl at reception made sure that I understood they are 'gesloten' between 12:00-14:00.

Had no problem getting a beer though "van de vat" from the camp cafe

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

As I see it, this is a case where regulation and reality, odd bed fellows as they are, tries to co-exist in harmony.

- Regulation stipulates fietspad (bicycle path)
- Someone then realised that bromfietsen (mopeds) and snorfietsen (motorised bicycle) must be excluded
- Someone else then realised that those over 65 may have to use the fietspad with brom- and snorfietsen
- And for good measure the minder-validen (semi disabled) should also be permitted

I cycled this path, north of Den Haag, for some miles and can report no 'broms & snors' nor mobility scooters seen. Saw only fietse.

_________________
Travelling in Europe - including photos.
http://anewad.blogspot.co.uk/

My Portfolio of Airplane Pictures
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... php?p=6981

Great pics & blog Marius ... really loving Fifi's travels

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Brent Best

My wife's company (Canadian), parent company (USA), wants to send her for a month to Dutch company that is owned by the parent company. They are pondering the idea of asking her to fill an open position. She arrived in SA at the age of 14, she is weak in Afrikaans. So how will she do in Dutch?

We discussed what bicycle was in Afrikaans, I said fiets & wondered if it was the same in Dutch. She said no ways. The above settles that.
Keep posting.