Went to Ypres today.

Nobody tells you what it's like to visit a battle cemetery for the first time.

We've all seen photos or videos of the rows of identically-shaped graves.

It's another thing entirely to visit the grave of a 15-year-old kid. It's another thing to see a cluster of about 7-8 gravestones closely packed together, all with the same date, and realize what would have caused them all to be clustered that close, and what must be underneath the ground. It's another thing to see a grave marker with "A Soldier of the Great War: Known unto God". It's another thing entirely to be within all of that death, all of that why-in-the-world-did-this-happen death, all surrounding you.

I had planed on recording a lesson for my students. I recorded... something... mainly me crying for five minutes.

I made sure to buy a poppy pin for next November before heading out of town.

#war #ww1 #ypres

Entrée de la Ville, Ypres, 1926 - J Versailles CPA

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/entr%c3%a9e-de-la-ville-ypres-1926-j-versailles-cpa-224112946.htm

#Ypres #Ieper

Flatlands - Day 11: Oostende -> Ypres (55 km)

In #Nieuwpoort ,we left the coast behind and entered southwards the West Flanders plain. A major theater of World War I, the region is dotted with #peace memorials, some of which—such as the famous Yser Tower at #Diksmuide —have since become symbols of Flemish #nationalism .

#BikeTooter #cycling #bikepacking #radtouren #fahrrad #cyclotourisme #vélo #bici #cycle #radfahren #radtour #bike #bicycle #Brompton #Oostende #Ypres #België #Belgique