My Life on this planet.

In the Guardian of 22/06/2013, I read that PM Merkel visited Russia, mainly to participate in an economic forum but her visit almost resulted in a diplomatic problem. Indeed, PM Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin were planning to visit the opening of an exhibition of Bronze Age treasures in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. But it seems PM Merkel prepared the wrong speech wherein she wanted to ask for the return of hundreds of pieces of art, looted (stolen) by the Russian army after the defeat of Germany at the end of WWII. In the end, being diplomatic softened the troubles. It is quite impressive someone from Germany wants to ask the return of its art from a country that suffered so severely from Germany during WWII. Millions of people in the USSR were killed by the Germans (although often President Stalin didn't mind as he was equal to Hitler in killing people but because of Hitler, Stalin was regarded as the saviour of his country against an evil German and thu...

Over the weekend, there was a festival in Gent, a light festival. Now that the nights are long (although they are getting shorter), it was refreshing to see so much light during the night. I went on Saturday, and I read about 200,000 people joined me, even when it was one of the coldest nights yet of this winter (but until now we didn't have a winter). Some streets became one-way for pedestrians, although I have to admit that some streets are very narrow in Gent and often not more than four people can walk next to each other thus streets are quickly blocked. I include some videos and pictures of the things that people could see. I hope you will enjoy it although, of course, it is not the same as seeing it live. The above video shows the old post office. The theme here were fairy tales. First we see a bear in space on the video and then a building that is overgrown with plants and flowers, all very beautiful. There were more "cartoons" and it ended with snow falling. ...