Beneath Gotham, something moved. At first it was mistaken for settling stone: a faint grinding, a tremor beneath the broken foundations. Then came a sound no human throat could have produced—a wet metallic groan rising from somewhere below the oldest streets. The remnants of the dragon had not died. Its enormous body lay crushed beneath the Clockwork Golem, but the creature’s blackened heart still pulsed. Each beat sent a dull crimson light through the cracks in its scales. Worse still, the Golem’s broken mechanisms had begun turning again, driven by that alien rhythm. Dragon and machine were becoming one.
Engineer Leonardo understood before anyone else. “We must bury them deeper.”
But Lady Blackbird shook her head. “You cannot bury something that wants to dig upward.”
Meanwhile, the revolution had reached its decisive hour. Macdonald’s mercenaries, exhausted and surrounded, abandoned their barricades. The citizens poured into the streets. Yet victory proved less glorious than the revolutionaries had imagined. There was no perfect republic waiting beneath the rubble, only arguments, hunger, fear, and men suddenly discovering that power was easier to destroy than to govern.
For several bitter weeks, Gotham existed without a master. Then the rebuilding began. Not with towers. With sewers. With bridges. With hospitals and kitchens and workshops.
Stone by stone, the citizens reclaimed their city. The South Tower remained a jagged monument. The North Tower was left untouched, because every mason who approached it reported hearing gears turning beneath the earth. Gotham rebuilt itself, though never completely. New streets crossed the old foundations. New towers rose where ancient blood had soaked the soil. Children played in markets whose stones still bore the scars of dragon fire. And beneath them all, far below the city, two hearts continued their impossible rhythm. One organic. One mechanical. Together. Waiting.
Gotham had survived. But something beneath Gotham had survived with it.
“Run!” There are moments in life when courage is indistinguishable from good sense, and this was one of them. Our heroes ran. Across the shattered hall, beneath falling stones, between statues that had survived three centuries only to perish in three seconds. “Where?” cried Engineer Leonardo.
“Up!”
“Up where?”
Lady Blackbird pointed. Above the palace, through a vast aperture torn in the roof, skyship the Owl
She hung above like a black-winged bird, her great propellers turning furiously, her brass hull shining through the smoke. Unfortunately, she was fifty feet above the roof.
“Excellent plan,” Leonardo said. “How do we reach it?”
A tremendous crash interrupted us. The golem had thrown the dragon through a wall. The wall came down. Captain Avery was already at the mooring platform. “Get aboard!”
“How?” He grinned. “By trusting a rope and regretting it afterward.”
A cable descended.
Below, the palace erupted. Windows burst outward. Towers leaned drunkenly.
The dragon emerged through a cloud of masonry, wings blazing, while the clockwork golem followed with the relentless dignity of a man who had never learned that buildings were supposed to remain standing.
“Cut the lines!” shouted Avery. The crew obeyed. The Owl lurched upward.
Then the dragon roared. It spread its wings. The golem seized one of its legs. Together they fell through the palace roof. A column of fire rose into the heavens. Leonardo stared downward. “Do you think they are dead?”
“No,” said Avery
“Why not?”
“Because,” he replied, looking toward the burning palace, “nothing in this cursed kingdom ever dies when it ought to.” And beneath us, something enormous moved in the flames.
The palace shook. Dust poured from the ceiling. Then came a sound like a thousand iron teeth grinding together. The floor split open. Something enormous climbed out. It was a man. Or had once been one. Bronze plates covered its body. Pistons hammered beneath its chest. Its eyes burned with blue fire, and a great brass gear turned slowly behind its skull. The clockwork golem raised one iron fist. The dragon stared at it. The golem stared back.
The golem punched the dragon. The impact sounded like a cannon firing inside a cathedral. The dragon flew backward through three pillars. The dragon rose from the rubble. Its brass helmet was bent. Its pride was considerably more damaged. It spread its wings. Fire filled its throat.
“Everyone down!”
The dragon breathed. Flame swept across the hall.
The golem did not move. Its chest opened. Inside was a spinning furnace. The fire struck it. The machine glowed red. Then the golem laughed. It was not a pleasant sound. It seized the dragon by the throat.
The dragon clawed at its arms. The golem lifted it from the floor.
The entire palace groaned. Somewhere, a gear the size of a carriage began turning.
Captain Avery had always believed that the universe, if approached with sufficient skepticism, would eventually admit it was making a mistake. The universe, regrettably, had developed a contrary disposition.
“Maintenance,” he repeated. “For the record, whenever an ancient civilization says maintenance, ordinary people usually end up fleeing something with entirely unreasonable numbers of legs.”
A masked figure inclined its head. “Statement statistically supported.”
Engineer Leonardo brightened with the unmistakable enthusiasm of a man discovering his worst fears had been peer-reviewed. “Oh dear.”
Lady Blackbird stepped toward the chest, where the lightning rod lay with the innocent composure peculiar to artifacts that had previously ended empires. It looked almost respectable now, which was deeply suspicious. espectability, she had long observed, was often merely catastrophe wearing polished boots.
“What,” she asked, “requires maintenance after a thousand years?”
All the masked custodians answered together. “Reality.”
Nobody spoke for several seconds. Even silence appeared uncertain whether it wished to continue.
Leonardo eventually cleared his throat with the care of a gentleman attempting not to offend the laws of existence. “I should like,” he said, “to hear the longer explanation.”
“There is no longer explanation.”
“I was afraid of that.”
The bronze beacon turned once, almost thoughtfully. Far below, another blue column flickered. Then another vanished.
The nearest custodian regarded the distant light without visible concern, which somehow made matters considerably worse. “Lighthouse Forty-Eight has failed.”
“What does it illuminate?” Avery asked.
The masked face turned toward him. “It prevents geography.”
There are professions that prepare one for alarming statements. Accounting occasionally brushes against them. Diplomacy rents them by the afternoon. Sailors become acquainted through prolonged exposure. None, however, adequately equip a person for learning that mountains, oceans and respectable peninsulas apparently required supervision lest they wander off like absent-minded sheep.
Somewhere beneath the clouds came a noise resembling continents reconsidering their arrangements.
Leonardo removed his spectacles, polished them carefully, replaced them, and sighed.
In the bath-house, one of the other guests started to tell a tall tale:
“The full moon had almost succeeded in being impressive before the storm clouds remembered they had a job to do. They rolled across the sky like disgruntled bureaucrats, stamping out moonlight wherever they found it. Lightning objected to this arrangement by repeatedly striking the enormous oak that crowned the hill. The tree, having survived centuries of wars, winters and woodpeckers, finally conceded defeat and burned with all the dignity available to a very old tree on fire.
Beside the blazing oak stood Ghost Manor. It had the unmistakable appearance of a house that regarded gravity as a personal insult and architecture as merely a suggestion. Leaning chimneys balanced on impossible angles, windows stared like suspicious eyes, and every stone looked as though it had spent decades listening to unfortunate conversations.
Our hero circled the manor cautiously. The front door was much too obvious. In stories, front doors existed solely to discourage sensible people. He preferred to inspect the perimeter, where common sense occasionally had a chance of surviving.
Then he saw it. A faint yellow light flickered behind a tiny basement window. “Well,” he muttered, “either someone is awake… or something is pretending to be.” He crept closer. The light drifted toward him. At first it resembled a firefly. A particularly confident firefly, admittedly, one that flew with the assurance of an aristocrat arriving fashionably late. Then it grew. The tiny glow unfolded into the shape of a beautiful young woman woven from amber fire, her hair dancing like candle flames in a draft. She smiled. “Hello, stranger. Tell me your name.”
Now, every child with the slightest education in folklore knew there were two questions one never answered honestly. The first was, “May I have your true name?” The second was, “Would you care to sign this perfectly harmless magical contract?”
Our hero bowed politely. “My name,” he said after careful consideration, “is… Anome.”
The fiery woman laughed so loudly that sparks flew from her lips. “Oh,” she chuckled, “that isn’t a name. That’s a decision.” She exploded into a whirlwind of flame, becoming a magnificent burning bird. With a triumphant cry it soared upward and vanished through a cracked window on the manor’s highest floor.
“Well,” sighed Anome, “that seems like an invitation.” He climbed after it.
Inside, the hallway swallowed nearly every trace of light. Only the faded black-and-white checkered floor reflected enough moonlight to suggest the house had once believed in geometry. The corridor opened into a vast circular hall.` Engraved upon the stone floor was a great compass rose marking the four directions. North. South. East. West.
Anome frowned. “I’ve never trusted rooms that tell people where to go.” Choosing North, he followed a corridor that twisted so often it seemed determined to arrive behind itself. Eventually it ended……at a perfectly ordinary wall.
“There must be a secret door.” The wall politely refused to disagree. After considerable tapping, pushing and muttering, a hidden panel slid open.
Beyond lay an ancient laboratory. Dust-covered bottles lined warped shelves. Strange flasks bubbled despite containing nothing obvious. Copper coils connected machines that looked capable of either producing gold or accidentally inventing thunderstorms. After an exhaustive search, Anome found absolutely nothing useful. Which, in abandoned laboratories, was often more alarming than finding something useful.
Leaving the room, he stepped through another doorway— —and froze. The compass hall. Again. He looked down. Same engraved floor. Same four exits. “I refuse to believe I’ve become this lost already.”
He chose South. Naturally. The corridor should have led toward the entrance. Instead, the walls seemed longer. The air colder. Somewhere ahead came a deep growl.
“Oh dear.” The creature emerged from darkness like a nightmare assembled from spare parts. Massive claws scraped the floor. Eyes glowed crimson. It charged. The impact hurled Anome against the wall hard enough to rearrange several unpleasant memories. After a frantic struggle involving elbows, panic and a surprising amount of shouting, he escaped by running with the determination normally reserved for tax collectors spotting unpaid debts.
The corridor twisted— —and deposited him once more in the compass hall.
“Oh, you’ve got to be joking.” This time he chose East.
Growling echoed ahead. Then squeaking. A gigantic wolf burst from the darkness. It attacked with magnificent enthusiasm and very little planning. After a desperate fight, Anome managed to defeat it. The enormous wolf collapsed. Its fur melted away. Moments later, a dead man lay where the beast had fallen.
“A werewolf,” Anome murmured. “Or perhaps merely someone having an exceptionally unfortunate evening.” On the corpse gleamed a silver ring. He pocketed it. Silver rarely appeared accidentally in haunted houses.
The next corridor ended… Of course. The compass hall.
“Has this place considered adding diagonal directions?”
West. The room beyond was vast, drowned in shadow and filled with furniture scattered without any visible purpose. Tables leaned against wardrobes. Chairs balanced upon cabinets. A piano appeared to be hiding behind a sofa.
“What sort of decorator—” The floor vanished. He plunged into darkness. The pit was deeper than optimism. Eventually he landed, bruised but alive.
“There must be a way out.”
There was. Unfortunately, it led directly… …to the compass hall.
“There should definitely be more than four directions.”
Searching more carefully this time, he discovered a concealed door hidden beneath the northern staircase. The passage descended into the basement. There he found an immense library. Dusty shelves formed a labyrinth of crumbling books. Forgotten knowledge slept beneath cobwebs thick enough to qualify as curtains.
“Treasure,” Anome whispered. Books were treasure. Then he found actual treasure. Hidden inside a secret compartment rested a dagger that shone with its own clear silver light. The instant he touched it, footsteps echoed nearby.
A pale figure emerged between the shelves. Human. Mostly. Its smile displayed far too many teeth. It lunged. The shining dagger met the creature once. Light burst through the library. The bloodsucker dissolved into drifting ash.
“Well,” said Anome, examining the blade, “that certainly simplifies negotiations.” Another door. Another corridor. Another— Compass hall.
“I believe this house is beginning to repeat itself.”
He tried West again. The same shadowy room.` The same impossible furniture. Except… A mirror. It hadn’t been there before.
His reflection smiled. Anome did not. The reflection stepped out of the glass. “You look tired,” it said. “I’ve had a difficult evening.” The double attacked. Steel flashed. The shining dagger struck once. The false Anome shattered into glittering fragments that vanished like broken moonlight.
Leaving the room, he opened another door. Compass hall. Again. North.
This chamber was unlike the others. Strange wooden wings filled the room. Cables. Levers. Canvas stretched across elegant frames. Some forgotten genius had attempted to teach humanity the ancient art of falling more artistically. Strapped to the largest glider sat a mummified corpse. Its eyes opened. The ancient bindings snapped.
The mummy rose with alarming enthusiasm. One swift stroke from the radiant dagger ended several centuries of unfinished business. Light flooded the chamber. Not candlelight. Not moonlight. The house itself seemed to sigh with relief. Golden radiance spread through every corridor, revealing a path leading unmistakably toward the entrance.
At last. Anome stepped outside. Behind him Ghost Manor shuddered. Its walls cracked. Its towers folded inward. The stones dissolved into drifting dust that scattered upon the wind. Only the burning oak remained upon the hill.
Far above, the storm clouds parted. The moon emerged once more. Somewhere in the distance, a fiery bird circled once around the moon before disappearing into the night. Anome adjusted the silver ring on his finger, slipped the shining dagger into his belt, and continued down the lonely road. He had acquired exactly two treasures, defeated several varieties of monster, and learned an important truth.
Some houses are haunted. Others are simply very, very bad at giving directions.
“De Megalieten van Carnac zijn rijen van menhirs (steenrijen) op verschillende plekken in Carnac in Frankrijk. De stenen staan over een afstand van 8 km over 4 gehuchten in Carnac. Hoe de – vaak zeer grote – stenen op hun plaats gebracht werden is tot op heden grotendeels een raadsel. Vermoedelijk zijn deze stenen monumenten verbonden met prehistorische sjamanistische rituelen en werd rond 5000 v.Chr. begonnen met de bouw ervan. Daarmee zijn het de oudste bouwwerken in Europa. Men vermoedt dat de heel grote megalieten dienden als een soort observatorium. Sommige onderzoekers suggereren dat veel van deze monumenten gekoppeld waren aan rituelen rond de zon en de maan, het zouden een soort kalenders geweest kunnen zijn. De Kelten, die rond 400 v.Chr. in dit deel van Europa arriveerden, maakten gebruik van deze monumenten voor hun religieuze ceremoniën.” https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalieten_van_Carnac
PLANNING: 19 juni: Amsterdam-Rouen 570 km 4 nachten verblijf te Le Vieux Carre 34 Rue Ganterie, ROUEN
Tips: Natuur & groene plekken
Plaats
Afstand (≈)
Waarom een bezoek waard
Jardin des Plantes
5‑10 min lopen
Historische botanische tuin met mooie borders, een klein meer en een rustige sfeer – perfect voor een korte wandeling of picknick
Parc du Vieux‑Moulin
8‑12 min lopen
Een goed onderhouden stadspark met schaduwrijke paden, speelplekken en een klein bosachtig gebied waar je eekhoorns kunt spotten
Quai de la Bourse / Rivierpromenade
5‑7 min lopen
Langs de Seine kun je genieten van een aangename rivierwandeling met uitzicht op de historische haven en diverse bruggen visiterouen.com
Cultuur & historische bezienswaardigheden
Plaats
Afstand (≈)
Waarom een bezoek waard
Rue des Bons Enfants (halftimmerwoningen)
2‑3 min lopen
Deze straat grenst direct aan Rue Ganterie en staat bekend om zijn pittoreske vakwerkhuizen – ideaal voor een korte fotostop tripadvisor.com
Eglise Saint‑Maclou (gotische kerk)
5‑7 min lopen
Een van de mooiste gotische kerken van Rouen, met indrukwekkende glas-in-loodramen en een rijke geschiedenis tripadvisor.com
Musée Le Boucher de la Ville (lokale kunst)
7‑10 min lopen
Klein museum dat wisselende tentoonstellingen van regionale kunstenaars toont, gelegen in een historisch pand nabij de oude stad tripadvisor.com
Gros Horloge (middeleeuws uurwerk)
8‑10 min lopen
Iconisch astronomisch uurwerk op het Place du Vieux‑Marché, een populaire fotoplek met een mooi uitzicht over de oude stadtripadvisor.com
Praktische tips voor een wandelroute
Start bij Rue Ganterie en loop richting Rue des Bons Enfants om de vakwerkhuizen te bewonderen.
Ga vervolgens via Rue de la Bourse naar de Rivierpromenade voor een korte wandeling langs de Seine.
Keer terug richting het centrum en bezoek Eglise Saint‑Maclou en de Gros Horloge.
Sluit af in Jardin des Plantes of Parc du Vieux‑Moulin voor wat groen en rust.
Deze route blijft binnen ongeveer 10 min lopen van startpunt en combineert zowel natuurlijke als culturele highlights van Rouen.
Hieronder vind je een compacte lijst met natuur‑ en cultuurplekken die zich op loopafstand (max. 10‑15 min) van Kerréo, 56330 Pluvignier (Pluvigner) bevinden. De informatie komt uit recente online bronnen over wandelroutes en bezienswaardigheden in de omgevingbaiedequiberon.co.ukcapgeris.combaiedequiberon.co.uk.
Natuur & buitenactiviteiten
Plaats
Afstand (≈)
Wat je kunt doen
Wouden van het Château de Kéronic
5‑10 min lopen
Rustige boswandelingen, picknickplaatsen en mooie uitzichten; ideaal voor een korte natuurpauze.
Kapel en fontein van Saint‑Guénaël
5‑7 min lopen
Een charmante kapel met een historische fontein; leuk voor een korte stop tijdens een wandeling door het platteland.
Ker‑Ivo washuis
8‑12 min lopen
Traditioneel washuis langs een smal pad; geeft een kijkje in de lokale agrarische geschiedenis.
Lokale wandelroutes “Circuit de Saint‑Guénaël”
Startpunt bij de kapel
Gemarkeerde routes met gele borden, geschikt voor alle niveaus; voert je langs de kapel, de fontein, het washuis en de bossen van Kéronic baiedequiberon.co.uk.
Cultuur & historische bezienswaardigheden
Plaats
Afstand (≈)
Waarom een bezoek waard
Chapelle Saint‑Guénaël
5‑7 min lopen
Gotische kapel met een kleine begraafplaats; vaak een startpunt van de wandelroutes.
Fonteine Saint‑Guigner (Rue du Tanin)
6‑8 min lopen
Historische bron met een schilderachtige omgeving; onderdeel van de “Saint‑Trémeur” wandelroute baiedequiberon.co.uk.
Château de Kerlois (tuin)
10‑12 min lopen
Oud Frans kasteel met een gerenoveerde Franse tuin vol magnolia’s, sequoiabomen en oude camelia’s; rustig plekje voor een wandeling of foto‑stop capgeris.com.
Talhouët archeologische site (nabij de fonteinen)
10‑12 min lopen
Overblijfselen uit de prehistorie; interessant voor liefhebbers van lokale geschiedenis.
Praktische wandelroute (circa 2 km, 30‑40 min)
Start bij Kerréo (adres).
Loop zuidwaarts naar Rue du Tanin en bezoek de Fonteine Saint‑Guigner.
Vanaf de kapel vervolg je het pad naar het Ker‑Ivo washuis en daarna de bossen van Château de Kéronic.
Keer terug via dezelfde route of neem een zijpad naar het Château de Kerlois en geniet van de tuin.
Eindig weer bij Kerréo.
Deze route combineert zowel groene gebieden als enkele van de meest karakteristieke historische gebouwen van Pluvigner, allemaal binnen een comfortabele wandeltijd vanaf verblijf.
N.B.
Draag stevige wandelschoenen – sommige paden zijn onverhard.
De routes zijn het hele jaar door toegankelijk; in de lente en zomer staan de tuinen van Kerlois op hun mooist.
Neem een fles water mee; er zijn geen cafés direct langs de paden, maar het dorp Pluvigner heeft diverse cafés op een paar minuten afstand.
27 juni: Kerreo-Wimereux 630 km 2 nachten verblijf te HOTEL SAINT JEAN 1, rue Georges Romain, 62930 WIMEREUX
TIP:
Hieronder vind je een overzicht van natuur‑ en cultuurplekken die je gemakkelijk te voet (max. ≈ 10‑15 min) kunt bereiken vanuit 1 rue Georges Romain, 62930 Wimereux. De suggesties zijn gebaseerd op recente online bronnen over wandelroutes, stranden en bezienswaardigheden in de directe omgeving france-voyage.comvisorando.comchoosewhere.com.
Natuur & buitenactiviteiten
Plaats
Loopafstand (≈)
Wat je kunt doen
Strandpromenade Wimereux
2‑3 min
Brede zeewering met een aangename boulevard; ideaal voor een ontspannen wandeling langs de zee, met uitzicht op de kliffen van Cap Blanc‑Nez.
La Pointe aux Oies (duinstrand)
8‑10 min
Wild strand met hoge duinen, mooie uitzichten op Ambleteuse en het fort daar; perfect voor een korte strandwandeling of een foto‑stop.
Cap Blanc‑Nez (klifwandeling)
12‑15 min (naar start van het pad)
Een gemarkeerd wandelpad langs de dramatische krijtrotsen; combineert natuur en cultuur (Grand Site de France‑label). Het pad begint net buiten Wimereux en biedt panoramische vergezichten over de Kanaaltjes. visorando.com
Cap Gris‑Nez (via korte tram of fiets, maar ook te voet via de kustlijn)
15‑20 min tot het begin van het wandelpad
Nog een indrukwekkende klif met wandelroutes en vogelobservatie; minder druk dan Cap Blanc‑Nez.
Park “Jardin de la Mer” (lokale groene zone naast de promenade)
3‑4 min
Kleine tuin met bankjes, bloemen en een speelhoek; geschikt voor een korte pauze of een picknick.
Cultuur & historische bezienswaardigheden
Plaats
Loopafstand (≈)
Waarom een bezoek waard
Belle‑Époque villa’s langs de boulevard
2‑5 min
Elegante pastelkleurige huizen met fresco’s; een wandeling langs de promenade laat je de architecturale charme van Wimereux ervaren. france-voyage.com
Musée de la Ville de Wimereux (klein lokaal museum)
5‑7 min
Tentoonstellingen over de maritieme geschiedenis van de stad en de rol van Wimereux tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog.
Église Saint‑Maurice (parochiekerk)
6‑8 min
Historische kerk met mooie glas-in-loodramen; een rustig punt om even binnen te schuilen.
Valorisons Wimereux – informatieve panelen bij de villa’s
3‑5 min
QR‑code‑borden geven achtergrondinformatie over de beroemde villa’s en hun vroegere bewoners; een leuke manier om cultuur te combineren met een wandeling. france-voyage.com
Wimereux Jazz Festival (juli) – tijdelijke locatie op de promenade
2‑3 min
Als je in de zomer reist, kun je live muziek en lokale cultuur ervaren langs de zeewering. choosewhere.com
Praktische wandelroute (≈ 2 km, 30 min)
Start bij 1 rue Georges Romain – loop naar het strand en de promenade (2 min).
Volg de boulevard oostwaarts richting La Pointe aux Oies (≈ 8 min).
Keer terug en ga verder naar het startpunt van de Cap Blanc‑Nez‑wandeling (≈ 12 min vanaf het strand). Maak een korte sectie van het pad voor uitzicht op de kliffen (5‑10 min).
Loop terug langs de promenade en stop bij de Belle‑Époque villa’s en de informatiestellen (3‑5 min).
Eindig bij het Musée de la Ville of de Église Saint‑Maurice (5‑7 min), beide op loopafstand van de promenade.
Deze route combineert de frisse zeelucht, duinen, klifgezichten en de elegante architectuur van Wimereux, alles binnen een comfortabele wandeltijd vanaf accommodatie.
N.B.
Schoenen: Kies voor stevige wandelschoenen of sandalen met goede grip – delen van de duinen en kliffen kunnen los zand of keien hebben.
Weer: De kust kan winderig zijn; een lichte windjack is aan te raden, vooral in de herfst of winter.
Eten & drinken: Langs de promenade vind je cafés en visrestaurants waar je verse zeevruchten kunt proeven; veel hebben terrassen met uitzicht op de zee.
Toegankelijkheid: De promenade en de meeste villa‑paden zijn vlak en geschikt voor rolstoelen; de duin‑ en klifpaden zijn echter ruiger.
REALITEIT:
Vrijdag 19 juni: Vroeg opstaan en vertrekken, 6 uur rijden, 2 pauzes, voorspelde hagelbuien komen niet, aan het einde van de rit wordt het heet! Aankomst in Rouen, fijne ontvangst Le Vieux Carre , tijd voor siesta!
Op zoek naar een plek om te dineren… Biertje genomen bij Espiguette, maar als we eten willen bestellen worden we genegeerd, dus gaan we weg. Kennelijk had de barman alleen tijd en volledige aandacht voor bekende gasten, ons kent ons! Bij Blotti hadden ze gelukkig wel plek voor ons. Op hun advies bouef bourgignon genomen, helaas viel al dat vlees te zwaar op de maag met dit warme weer
‘Tijger bijt varken’ , woordspeling op de vorm van het opengesneden gestoomde broodje dat als een ‘tijgerbek’ de vulling van varkensvlees ‘bijt’. Taiwanese: HoKaTi, Mandarin:hǔ yǎo zhū 虎 = tiger 咬 = bites 豬 = pig/swine
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Zondag 21 juni midzomer!
Lopen langs een aantal bezienswaardigheden: La Couronne, oude herberg uit 1345, daar valt later meer over te vertellen
Wandelen naar de Seine bleek te warm, geen leuke boulevard gevonden, maar de brug was wel interessant.
Rustmoment genomen in sushi-restaurant nabij, leuk gesprek met chinees-tibetaans medewerkers van het restaurant over geboortegrond.
Nadat de avond viel, weinig nachtrust gehad wegens Fete de la musique, vooral later in de nacht hielden jongeren luidruchtig mizomernacht gejoel!
Maandag 22 juni:
Uit eten bij La Couronne, wat is dit voor een ding?
Speciaal recept zien maken: canard à la rouennaise: Eend uitbenen, het karkas wordt geperst in het apparaat. Bij het vrijkomende sap (bloed en merg) wordt toegevoegd eendenlever, wijn, cognac. Tenslotte wordt eendenvlees toegevoegd aan de saus en geflambeerd. Interessante methode, maar de kleine eetzaal wordt wel heel warm en benauwd in de zomerse hitte.
Gelukkig heeft het restaurant vegetarische gerechten, hoewel die keuze beperkt is.
Volgens weerbericht zit Frankrijk met midzomer in een hittekoepel die naar Nederland trekt, dat is nu goed voelbaar, nachtrust is minimaal nu!
Dinsdag 23 juni
Reizen van Rouen naar Kerreo: het weder is heet, vermoeiend! Onderweg interessante borden: Broceliande, Carnac, Mont Saint Michel… Tussenstop Josselin: een middeleeuwse slaapstad, ‘kwartiertje’ lopen van parkeerplek naar eethuis is een uitdaging bij deze hitte, dat wordt na het eten een half uur puffen en schaduw zoeken! Maar eerst eten in dit enige open eethuis voor lokale bewoners: het dagmenu is redelijk en de cider is lekker!
Aankomst in Kerreo, schattig hobbit huis staat te wachten! Helaas valt er niet te dineren in Pluvignier, ze sluiten ruim voor sluitingstijd!
Woensdag 24 juni
Voedsel inslaan in Baud , iets groter dan Pluvignier maar verder niet zoveel te beleven, tijd voor rust!
Donderdag 25 juni
Op zoek naar menhir te Kermarquer, maar navigatienetwerk was niet precies genoeg, dus werd het menhir te Kernars! Zoekplaatje: midden op dit veld staan twee menhirs naast elkaar 🙂 Zie maar hoe je er komt!
Hint: Ze staan midden in het veld en zijn moeilijk toegankelijk!
Tijd voor siesta, na een goede rust ziet alles er beter uit, nu lukt het oorspronkelijke plan. Centraal staat een reus van zes meter!
En verspreid er omheen is nog meer te ontdekken:
Verscholen tussen boomwortels:
Verstopt tussen de struiken:
Op de terugweg zorgt Google voor omweg langs kleine dorpjes met doodlopende weg.
Vrijdag 26 juni
Het is nu iets minder extreem heet, dat geeft meer ruimte voor uitstapjes: Trinite sur Mer , leuke markt gevonden, maar de haven is supertoeristisch volgepropt met jachten, hier valt geen gezellig visrestaurant te vinden!
Auray is wat toegankelijker, maar het wordt weer warm!
Zaterdag 27 juni
Van Kerreo naar Wimereux, tussenstop in Villeviers:
Hier een leuke creperie gevonden, waar een leuk gesprek ontstond met Noorse dames op rondreis. Helaas doen ze niet aan plastic betalen, gelukkig is er een pinautomaat bij het postkantoor achter de kerk!
Even richting zee gelopen, maar het strand viel tegen: zwart modderig zand, uitzicht op industrie verderop! De markt in het centrum was wel aardig om te shoppen.
Aangekomen in Wimereux blijken de eetgelegenheden dicht, dus was het behelpen met magnetronmaaltijden van het hotel! Voor het eerst in deze reis een airco meegemaakt, deze stond wel ijskoud te loeien. Het duurde even voordat de instructie helder werd, uitzetten bleek de beste optie!
Z0ndag 28 juni Verkouden door de airco, weinig energie voor uitstapjes.
Central Figure: At the heart of the piece is a silhouetted human figure, cut out and placed against a burning, radiant sun-like orb.This central placement suggests themes of human existence, cosmic energy, and possibly enlightenment or transformation.
Surroundings: The figure is encased in what looks like towering, futuristic, metallic city structures, evoking feelings of confinement or entrapment within modern civilization.
Texture Variety: Water, fire, stone, skin, and organic elements all contrast against each other, creating tension between natural forces and human-made constructs.
Symbolism & Interpretation
The Human Silhouette within the Sun
Could represent humankind’s search for meaning in the cosmos, or the struggle between being a small silhouette against the vast forces of nature and energy.
The pose with arms spread wide feels both vulnerable and triumphant, as if surrendering or embracing cosmic forces.
The Crocodile-like Mouth with the Apple
The open jaws suggest danger, primal instincts, or the cycle of predation
The apple, classically tied to knowledge, temptation, and original sin, seems precariously placed—hinting at the fragility of wisdom and survival within dangerous systems.
Water vs. Fire
On the left, swirling water contrasts with the fiery solar circle in the center. This tension between opposing natural elements reinforces the theme of balance, chaos, and destruction.
Urban Cage
The towering, grid-like buildings closing in give a claustrophobic sense, as if humanity (the silhouette) is simultaneously illuminated and trapped by technological progress.
Prehistoric Creature (Trilobite)
At the bottom right, the trilobite suggests deep time, evolution, and the persistence of life across epochs. Placing it near urban architecture contrasts ancient survival with modern artificiality.
Tree Emerging
A green tree rises amid the urban canyon, symbolizing resilience of nature, a reminder of organic growth within man-made environments.
Overall Impression
The collage feels like a meditation on humanity caught between nature, technology, and time. It explores:
The tension between survival instincts and higher consciousness.
The clash between natural forces (fire, water, life) and artificial constructs (cities).
The danger of knowledge (the apple in the jaws).
Humanity’s cosmic insignificance but also potential for transcendence.
It’s visually powerful, layered with archetypal imagery, and provokes a sense of awe and unease at the same time.
If you’re asking for an oracle-style reading of this collage, here is one interpretation:
Oracle: “You are larger than the structure that contains you.”
The image shows a silhouetted figure standing inside a radiant solar circle, arms spread wide. Around them rise towering geometric buildings or walls, suggesting systems, expectations, institutions, or mental frameworks. Yet the figure is centered within a force that appears cosmic and alive, as if drawing power from something older and greater than those structures.
Symbols
The Sun Portal: Illumination, vitality, truth coming into view. A reminder to trust your inner source of energy rather than external validation.
The Figure with Outstretched Arms: Acceptance, surrender, empowerment. You are being invited to take up space rather than shrink yourself.
The Towering Structures: Rules, ambitions, social pressures, or beliefs that may seem overwhelming. They frame the scene but do not occupy its center.
The Bear: Instinct, protection, strength, and introspection. Bears often symbolize knowing when to act and when to retreat into reflection.
The Apple: Choice, knowledge, temptation, or a new opportunity that requires discernment.
The Tree: Grounding, growth, and connection between different realms of experience.
The Blue Shell-like Form: Ancient wisdom, protection, and evolution. Something developing beneath the surface may soon emerge.
Oracle Guidance
You may be in a period where external circumstances feel large or demanding, but this image suggests that your deepest power comes from alignment with your own nature. The answer is not to push harder against the walls around you. Instead, reconnect with what energizes and centers you.
Question for reflection: What would change if you acted from your own inner authority rather than from the expectations surrounding you?
Oracle affirmation: “I stand at the center of my own light. What is meant for me grows from within.”
This collage-style artwork is a compelling blend of natural textures and surreal human-like imagery, producing an eerie and layered visual experience. Here’s a detailed review:
🎨 Visual Composition & Media
The piece merges photographic elements—tree roots, bark, stone, and grass textures—with a painted figure that appears almost sculptural. The layered, torn-edge collage technique emphasizes fragmentation and transformation.
The painted form is humanoid but alien, draped in a vivid green cloak and possessing a yellowish, distorted face. It appears integrated into the environment—possibly emerging from it or decaying back into it.
🧠 Interpretation & Themes
Nature vs. Humanity: The fusion of organic textures and the grotesque figure suggests a commentary on the interconnectedness (or clash) between humans and the natural world.
Decay and Transformation: The torn edges and mismatched layers evoke entropy and mutation—something once whole is now fractured and remade into a new, unsettling form.
Mythic or Archetypal Undertones: The figure resembles a forest spirit, dryad, or golem—rooted in myth, yet distorted by modernity. There’s a suggestion of ancient life forces or forgotten folklore re-emerging in a post-industrial context.
🎭 Mood & Atmosphere
The overall tone is dark, mysterious, and slightly unsettling. The contrast between the organic, earthy tones and the vivid, almost unnatural green of the figure creates tension.
The eyes and expression of the central figure are vacant yet accusatory, inviting the viewer to reflect on their own relationship with the environment or with self-transformation.
🔍 Noteworthy Techniques
Collage Juxtaposition: The torn collage layers are meticulously chosen to disrupt visual continuity while guiding the viewer’s eye toward the figure.
Color Accents: The limited but intense use of green and yellow draws focus to the figure and conveys a sickly vitality.
Texture Harmony: Despite the surreal quality of the image, all textures belong to the same “material world,” which helps ground the fantasy in something tactile.
🧾 Overall Impression
This work is visually rich, conceptually layered, and emotionally provocative. It lives somewhere between dream and nightmare, forest and flesh. It could work well in a series exploring ecological myths, psychological states, or the uncanny in natural environments.
“She was once a name, —but the forest forgot. Now roots braid her bones,_ moss drinks from her mouth,_ and the earth wears her shape like memory.”
Oracle: “What is buried is not gone.”
This collage feels rooted in the underground world—roots, stone, darkness, and a mysterious green figure emerging from within them. Rather than appearing threatening, the figure seems ancient, as if it has been waiting beneath the surface for recognition.
Symbols
The Green Figure: Growth, renewal, and aspects of yourself that are still developing. Green often points to healing, transformation, and life force.
Roots: Origins, ancestry, foundations, and unseen connections. What nourishes your life may be hidden from view.
Stone and Earth: Stability, endurance, patience. Some processes cannot be rushed.
The Figure Emerging from the Roots: A forgotten talent, truth, memory, or desire beginning to rise into awareness.
The Fragmented Collage Structure: Multiple experiences or identities being woven into a larger whole.
Oracle Guidance
This image suggests a period of excavation rather than expansion. Instead of seeking answers in new places, there may be value in examining what already exists beneath the surface of your life. Old experiences, unfinished projects, family stories, or neglected parts of yourself may contain the insight you’re looking for.
The figure appears neither fully hidden nor fully revealed. This often symbolizes a transition: something is becoming visible, but it still requires patience and attention before it can take its complete form.
Reflection Question
What part of yourself have you been overlooking because it developed quietly, out of sight?
Oracle Affirmation
“I honor the roots that sustain me. What is meant to grow will emerge in its own time.”
Dreamquest 
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