Monday, July 7, 2008

Finally I present...


Eugène Flagey Square in French: Place Eugène Flagey, in Dutch: Flageyplein, usually shortened to Flagey, is a square in the Brussels (Ixelles). It was named in honor of Eugène Flagey, mayor of Ixelles from 1935 to 1953. With ten streets converging at Flagey Square, it is one of the busiest and noisiest crossroads in the city. (Now it is a big one way roundabout, before it was hectic)

The entire square has been under heavy reconstruction for 7+ years. The project has been infamously delayed many times and all activity had to grind to a halt for sometimes months on end. (they flooded the new underground parking lot by knocking into the ponds next to it) The plan is Flagey will be a leafy square directly adjacent to the neighbouring Ixelles Ponds. I heard a rumor that the street separating them now will disappear and it will be one big pond. I will keep you posted on that one-it could be years for that to happen too.

Flagey Square is famous for the art deco building occupying its entire southern side, the former Maison de la Radio. The building on the opposite side of the square houses the first supermarket ever opened in Belgium (in 1956), a Delhaize.

O.K. that is it for the technical back ground crap. Here is what I think…I didn’t think that in our brief stint here that they would ever get done with Flagey. I can’t even count on how many time the bus route and stops have changed in the last 2 years, not to mention the construction mess. But finally it is done – I’m sure there are some things that need to be done yet (check out my animoto video)

The grand opening was a success in our eye and it is still going on till the 12th of July. We were really torn this year as to stay at the army base for fireworks (which were the best we have ever seen) or attend Flagey’s opening. We decided that in the afternoon we were Americans and at night we were Belgians. I didn’t think that they could top last year’s fireworks but Flagey didn’t disappoint. I can honestly say I have never seen fireworks shot off the top, side and corner of a building with Dolly Patron’s 9 to 5 song as the accompanying music. Brussels has giving us many interesting memories.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! This brings back a flood of memories from early childhood, when it was called Place Sainte Croix, till I left Belgium. Teens congregated there and many romances began with a long sideway look at streetcar stops. It was THE rendez-vous spot, preceding leisurely walks along les Etangs d'Ixelles and on to Les Jardins de la Cambre, walks constantly interrupted by kissing and declarations of true, undying love. Memories, memories. . .

Kate G said...

Flagey? Finished?! C'est un miracle!

Jill, Foxy and Ana said...

You two both make me smile with your comments.