Renesse, Zeeland 2006

A couple lying on a sunny beach in Renesse Zierikzee.

Brouwershaven

Ann sitting in the sun on a bank on our way home (lol)

Zeeland (pronunciation (help·info), also called Zealand in English, is a province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands (hence its name, meaning "sea-land", although the origin could also be from "Suaven"-land, a Germanic tribe) and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. Its population is about 380,000 and its area is about 2930 km², of which almost 1140 km² is water. Large parts of Zeeland are below sea level. The last great flooding of the area was in 1953. Tourism is an important economic activity. Its sunny beaches make it a popular holiday destination in the summer. Most tourists are Germans. In some areas, the population quadruples in the summer. The coat of arms of Zeeland shows a lion half-emerged from water, and the text "luctor et emergo" (Latin for "I struggle and I emerge").

isnt she lovely???

On a hot day in the swiss mountains. I was the photographer on duty like always. It must have been the hottest summer we've known.

Moeskroen a few years ago

I'm an animal-lover and the animals like me most of the time. So does she - Ann's brother's dog Sacha. We were sunbathing on a terras in Moeskroen.

Some different trips we made

gran canaria is an island full of contrasts and you can visit it again and again. this is land is often called a miniature continent because of its extemely varied landscapes and the more than 20 different climates here.

the cultural and artistic center named after georges pompidou, built in the old beaubourg area, has sparked many a lively debate about its daring and strange architecture (designed by architects rogers, piano and franchini). the strange cultural crossroads was accepted only slowly and with great difficulty into the rhythm of daily life in the area. but now, the metal and glass parallelepiped, whose air ducts, heating shafts, and stairwells were all stuck onto the outside to gain more space inside, has a unique central role in the neighborhood. the number of people who visit the building daily is astounding, and for many years it was the most visited museum in paris. (this honor was only very recently returned to the louvre.) the pompidou center is the home of, among other things, the national museum of modern art, a masterful and diverse collection of works from many modern schools. many temporary exhibits pass through the building, which also houses a large public library, a restaurant, and a new internet café.

(top left) i took a walk along the lovely gran canarian beach in the best sunny day...

(top middle) you know what i like "eat-all-day-long " but i have to watch out my diet...

(top right) playing with a cute dog, named Truffel. we are sitting in paris at the "centre georges pompidou" in front of the famous beaubourg cafe.

sometimes we visited the south of france. les issembres in the bay of saint-tropez. all the life can be really boring... what can we do? sleep, eat, watch, sleep, eat, watch, u know what i mean...

happy meal

this is one that our "mysterious" buddy kathy created out lovely for us - we liked that "design". thanks to you, jie jie.

monaco & saint tropez, france

mmmm.... the best vacation in france... this is europe's oldest country and its culinary heart. its varied landscapes produce superb food and wine.

at the foot of the cliff, lies the busy, almost square-shaped, harbor which was constructed between 1901 and 1926. large numbers of yachts, including from time to time the prince's private vessel, are to be seen here. on the western side of the harbor, near the boulevard albert I, is the modern stade nautique rainier III, a stadium for water sports.

This another picture from monaco's harbor

the hotel de paris monaco is one of them. built in 1864 with the ambition to offer the best of anera, the hotel de paris continues to symbolize this same excellence in the art of hospitality. it is heir to the spirit of the grand hotels.

hotel de paris monaco monte carlo (left)
cathedral in monaco (right)

oia, santorini island of greece

homes and churches in the beautiful and romantic village of oia, santorini island. after major destruction in a 1956 earthquake, towns of fira and oia have both been rebuilt as multi-level mazes of fascinating whitewashed architecture.