The carnival of Binche
Feb 25th, 2012, 07:42 AM
#1
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The carnival of Binche
Binche is the Belgian city with the reputation of having the most fabulous carnival. I was there last year just before it started and I was already intrigued by the preparations (why were all of the windows protected with chicken wire?), so I decided to had to return on an official carnival day.
So that's what I did last week, and it was pretty remarkable even if -- until further notice -- I still think I prefer the carnival in Dunkerque, about which I posted a report last year.
Anyway, I know that "February in Belgium" is not high on the list of most travelers, but if it does happen to you, I really think that Binche (or La Louvière a few kilometers away) is most certainly worth a few hours of your time. There is a train station, so you can be more intelligent than I was and take the hourly train from Liège or whatever, instead of having to park outside the city limits and walk more than 2 km. back into town.
Anyway, here is what I saw this year: http://tinyurl.com/binchecarnival
So that's what I did last week, and it was pretty remarkable even if -- until further notice -- I still think I prefer the carnival in Dunkerque, about which I posted a report last year.
Anyway, I know that "February in Belgium" is not high on the list of most travelers, but if it does happen to you, I really think that Binche (or La Louvière a few kilometers away) is most certainly worth a few hours of your time. There is a train station, so you can be more intelligent than I was and take the hourly train from Liège or whatever, instead of having to park outside the city limits and walk more than 2 km. back into town.
Anyway, here is what I saw this year: http://tinyurl.com/binchecarnival
Feb 25th, 2012, 08:28 AM
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Thanks for posting. We were in Belgium last fall and as I was reading in preparation for the trip I saw some references to Carnival in Binche. We saw some pictures of Binche last weekend at a festival in Montreal
Feb 25th, 2012, 04:09 PM
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Once again, Kerouac, you have given us an incredible social commentary and a travel experience few have had.
I remember once leaving my husband in the south of Holland, with a Dutch friend,in a village near 's Hertogenbosch, while I went to a conference in Austria, with the Dutch friend's wife.
Later we heard all about the wild Mardi gras parades, costumes, bands, and general merriment that occurred during our absence! Little did I know, until now, that there are lots of crazy mardi gras events in that whole area!
thanks once again!
I remember once leaving my husband in the south of Holland, with a Dutch friend,in a village near 's Hertogenbosch, while I went to a conference in Austria, with the Dutch friend's wife.
Later we heard all about the wild Mardi gras parades, costumes, bands, and general merriment that occurred during our absence! Little did I know, until now, that there are lots of crazy mardi gras events in that whole area!
thanks once again!
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