SPA Modeler

I was with my wife Nathalie on a one-night mini-vacation in western part of Belgium, in the Flanders Fields.

The Great War, aka first world war is very much present still in the region. Numerous Commonwealth and a few German military cemetaries spread all over the place. But what is still so regular, especially during the spring, that farmers still find old shells, projectiles, grenades in the ground.
It's actually quite crazy, when you think of it.

While we walked to an info-board regaring an old German bunker, this was lying on the ground next to the board!
Needless to say, I did not touch it. The Belgian DOVO team who still cleans up every year a few ton of old shells, will for sure come by and pick it up. As said, this is a normal thing & procedure here and has been so for more than a century, but nevertheless felt rather strange..










And regarding cemetaries, here a few pictures from the Bedford House Cemetary cloes to Ieper (or Ypres in French). This cemetary is rather big, more then 5100 service men from 1st world war, but also close to 70 from the 2nd.





- Kari

Wow, that is crazy how much stuff that still turns up each year.

Kari, thank you for sharing. I travel vicariously through your travels. These grounds will forever be changed.

Beautiful, Kari. A trip to Belgium has been on my bucket list for years. Flanders Field is one spot I wanted to visit and the Ardennes Forest where the Battle of the Bulge happened.

I know the family talked of going to Italy next year - a trip I wouldn’t mind going to but rather head elsewhere. Most likely my wife and son will go with the rest of her sisters and brother.

I really want to go to Great Britain for about 2 months, tour the island - Wales, Scotland (gotta see and hear those bagpipes), Ireland. Then travel over to Belgium, Austria, Germany, then south to Italy. Yeah…. I need some serous FU money winning the lottery or inherit a big windfall from a relative (there is none alive left LOL!)

My sister & I have talked about taking the Band of Brothers tour after she retires from her teaching job in a few years.

So yeah, Kari… I’d love to visit Belgium for a few weeks. Such a beautiful country as is Austria.

Thanks for sharing those Kari - it's amazing how much is still dug up everyday and will continue to do so.

Thanks Lyle, Tom and Stuart!

- Kari

Can't imagine how much unspent ordinance there must be. Thanks for sharing the pics. Historic and somber experience.