Must
just do a mini post because I so enjoyed the time since the last blog
a few days ago.
Met
friends who were spending a few days in Gent to celebrate a birthday,
to go out to lunch with them. Biting winds in Gent could not detract
from the lovely feel of the place. I don't know Gent, and in a no doubt
biassed way, I think it less pretty than Brugge. That said, it IS
lovely with some splendid buildings and canals. What it does have
which is less evident in Brugge, is a supremely youthful vitality; so
many young people and trams crammed with them. The feel of a
university town IS different; the energy is almost palpable and the
speed of passers-by double that of citizens in an ordinary town!
There's a joy, a light-heartedness around which is intoxicating. I
had quite forgotten how much I love being around the young and can
see how staid everyday life is here in Brugge. It being understood
that Life is a trade-off, I still prefer at my age and stage, to live
here. Damn! I meant never to become staid but staidness creeps up on
a person unseen until some contrast throws a light and all is
revealed!
The restaurant which my friends had found or rather been guided to find, was called Belga Queen, situated in a restored warehouse I think. The food was super but the atmosphere and the décor were very, very appealing.
I have
attended two more events at the weekend of 12/13; Gastronomia in the
prestigious Belfort and Dance by Jan Fabre. Gastronomia, a food
festival, looked great; some super stalls with champagne, wine, beer,
pate, sausages and hams, cheeses, pasta, oysters, Natural foods, jams
and liqueurs. I had a great time and bought a number of products as
well as sampling a new beer from a brewery set to open in central
Brugge in April. All quality products but surprisingly poorly
supported on the Saturday when I was there. Perhaps lacking
sufficient publicity? It was certainly a delightful festival though
chiefly unsung.
Later the same day, to the Concertgebouw to see a work by Jan Fabre, a famous European sculptor and choreographer. I did not enjoy it at all. Jan, co-creator, is keen on nudity and that was fine for me; one soon grows accustomed to breasts and penises moving rhythmically with the communal march. The nudity, the lack of narrative, perhaps the repetition, are all part of a certain rebelliousness against convention; the imagination, it is claimed, reigns supreme and the choreography is presented as the individual bravery of the performers who defy convention and scorn the need for a story. The first 45 minutes consisted just of lines marching and counter-marching; so boring that I had difficulty in the warm concert hall keeping awake. The accompanying thud of an insistent drum added to the drama in a way but became much more distracting as the volume increased and other huge and discordant sounds and instruments were added. For the last hour or so, my ears hurt and I felt a little nauseous; I concentrated on trying to reduce the impact of the noise while promising myself that I would never go to experimental dance performance again. I did appreciate that the pace of the action increased and changed but the huge and painful distraction of the accompanying sound took over, rather pushing any creative on-stage movement to the side-lines. I sprinted off as soon as the lights went up, amazed at the audience reaction; a standing ovation, cries of 'Bravo' and general joy unconfined expressed through wild applause. SO the good burghers of Brugge are not so staid after all and Jan Fabre's December Dance, with its 'warriors of beauty' was a success. Meanwhile, as an unelected, unknowing representative of the Old and Out Of Touch, I hurried off gratefully into the cool, quiet night to savour the joys of a solitary and silent walk home.
