Last week

Last year in july I wrote a blog about the 4days marches passing my house.

Also once a year 14.000 lady's runs The Marikenloop for 5 or 10 km.

There are lots of walks and runs in our City.

This lady was the fastest

I won this book: Cat sense.

Makes me happy.

Rolf too fast for the camera.

Downtown

Sint Jacobskapel, Nijmegen

In the old town of Nijmegen a little chapel from the 15th century. The chapel (a national heritage site) functions as a place to meet for pilgrims, especially for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims come together in the monthly ecumenical service (2nd Sunday of the month) and they can get a stamp in their credential here. In the past it has also been used as the workspace of a glass blower and people used to live here. Nowadays you can also get married here and it's attic is used for expositions.

This building used to be an orphanage and was built in the 16th century.

Just one of the little streets, flowers everywhere.

A new Bridge

In 1944 soldiers (for instance American, Canadian, British, Australian) 

crossed the river the Waal in little canvas boats to liberate Nijmegen.

48 of them died.

Yesterday a new bridge was opened on the same spot.

To remember those who died, every evening when it gets dark 

48 lampposts on the bridge light one by one.

Some of those veterans are guest of honour at the openingsceremony.

There was a big firework and lots of music.

Photographs: De Gelderlander

A short video about building the bridge, from start to finish

A Walk in the park, part 3

In july I made a blogpost named 'a walk in the park'. Last week,
at one of the last sunny days of the year we went again.

 Gaius Julius Civilis, an ancient hero who led the Batavians to revolt against the Romans
 during the 1st-century lived here.

.

The Belvedere was built in the 15 century as a watchtower.

Nowadays it functions as a fancy restaurant. The view over the river is magnificent

 Shield at the front of the tower

De Waalbrug (bridge over the river Waal)

In 1944 over this river and bridge the liberators came to free Nijmegen.

Manhole Covers

A couple of years ago I visited Lisbon with my daughter. 

We went to the former Expo, wich was held in 1998. 

I spotted a manhole cover made especially for this event.

 Since that time I looked in cities for a manhole cover showing someting about the city.

Don't think I only look at the ground :)

 Copenhagen

Copenhagen

 Copenhagen

 Prague

 Berlin

And this one is in my hometown Nijmegen

On Pinterest I have a board of manhole covers.

The "Vierdaagse" (Dutch for "Four day Marches) part 2

These orange en green flags on top of the church are especially for the 4 days marches

Evening festivities accompanying the marches with small shops and food

It's tradition to give participants gladiolus when they get to the finish line.
During the marches the St. Annastreet is named Via Gladiola.
This is a play on a Dutch saying Death or the Gladioli, which refers to Roman times when 
the gladiolus were a symbol of strength and victory

• The "Vierdaagse" (Dutch for "Four day Marches) part 1

The International Four Day Marches Nijmegen (or Vierdaagse) is the largest marching event in the world. It is organised every year in Nijmegen in mid-July as a means of promoting sport and exercise. Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily depending on their age and gender, and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). The participants are mostly civilians, but there are also a 5000 thousand military participants.

source: Wikipedia

2 days the walkers passed my home. Picture taken when it was still dark without flash

a few hours later

Wishing participating friends good luck

A walk in the park

Chapel of Saint Nicolaas (1030). It's used nowadays for expositions,
wedding ceremonies and concerts during summer

The Roman Goddess of victory: Victoria. This monument was build in 1884, in honour of
the newly built railway between Nijmegen and Kleve (Germany)

Barbarossa Ruin (1155)