in Flanders Field 5; car toon

I need to lighten the mood. There are too many ghosts here.

We visit the In Flanders Field museum in the Cloth Hall, this morning. It’s an extraordinary experience, so well put together. And shocking beyond belief. 

One exhibit features an aerial time-lapse sequence of the Ypres Salient, showing how the trenches around the town moved backwards and forwards.  My head is playing a Pink Floyd song “…and the general sat and the lines on the map, moved from side to side….”

By 1917 there’s not a single house left standing in the town.  A large painting shows the scale of destruction - all that remains is the tower of the Cloth Hall. In the end we can’t take any more, it’s just too upsetting.  

Outside, the market square is full of life; bars, restaurants and chocolatiers.  So we eat and shop.  And eat again; frites with mayo, brown Belgian beer and chocolate ice-cream.

In a side street, two dining chairs in a parking bay.  And they don’t even match.  ???

We sneak back out after dark to take a last look at this wonderful city (see extra).