On our latest drive through France-Germany-Belgium, we stopped in Vimy to see the Canadian memorial. I remember studying Vimy Ridge in high school, as being one of the significant moments in Canadian history. It was good to see official Canadian signs in France, and the two national flags flying side by side. One thing that did annoy me was that people who were there were laughing and making jokes - including those wearing the official gear. I just remember war memorials in America being much more sombre places. I guess at some level we need to move on and view it as a "celebration of life/memory" type thing. But it didn't sit too well with me.
What appeared to be grassy meadows surrounding the memorial are in fact old trenches and shell craters. The warning signs are a reminder that the legacy of conflicts still lives on somehow. Looking at all the farmland that surround this area, it's not hard to imagine they'll continue to find things well into the future. As a matter of fact, on the same trip, our friends in Frankfurt were telling us about the evacuation of 16000 people this summer to defuse a bomb they found near the city centre.
On a more upbeat note. For our final stop of the trip, we visited the Sint Sixtus abbey in Westvleteren to collect 2 crates (maximum allowed) of Westvleteren 12. We left Frankfurt at 7AM and drove straight to be able to arrive inside the pre-arranged 30-minute collection window. But if you know about this beer, you would agree it was worth it... Or was it? I don't think there can be such a thing as the best beer in the world, rather best Trappist, or perhaps best ale... But it is damn good beer. I shared a few bottles with friends and colleagues, (in my mind) in keeping with the brothers' desire for people to be able to try their beer. Best beer or not, I feel lucky to be able to experience the whole thing in person, and pay €2.50 per bottle, including deposit, at the Abbey instead of having to source it in the grey market. Unfortunately the cafe/gift shop was closed, so I didn't get to try their Blonde and 8. Maybe next time.
