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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2016 15:41:50 GMT
Yes, he was trapped in Paris last night. Taking the Thalys back to Brussels this evening.
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Post by bjd on Mar 23, 2016 17:17:55 GMT
Ah -- good to know he wasn't near the airport or the subway station in Brussels yesterday morning.
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Post by whatagain on Mar 23, 2016 22:11:02 GMT
Thanks all. I should have posted here sooner but I like to post on Anyport when I'm relaxed and home. I keep my venom for Fodors ;-)
I hate to be away from my family on such occasions. But I found it prefferable to stay in Paris since there were no Thalys, I'm tired, so I booked a hotel. A studio at Citadines les Halles, quite nice, easy to reach after way too much (mediocre) wine at 'Chez Denise'.
Anyway, feeling quite depressed, exactly the same as after Charlie hebdo and Le Bataclan. Everybody was super nice to me and the other Blegians at work, everybody was as shocked. French are lovely people. So are the US, english, italian, polish, german and other friends/colleagues who enquired about us.
It was of course utter chaos in Brussels - any of my friends had no more access to their cars, were left strnaded here or there - my wife could bring back a neighbour, my daughter came back by herself. Another neighbour was actually in the airport at the time of the blast - she was evacuated.
Schools have cancelled all recreational activities (Chloe was to go to a theater). Metro will be closed for 3 weeks for repairs it seems. Airport may open again on saturday. There were military (in full gear, inc helmets) and cops swarming all over the place at Bxl midi. They check people entering the station - a good idea, but if you board at another trainstation, you are probably not checked...
So if you want to blow up the Thalys, just board at Aachen and wait to have the train fill up at Bruxelles.
The parking was not accesible anymore from the station, so you now must cross the street AND have the bloddy ticket on you - mine was in the car ! normaly I always park outside on the street (free) but I was with my in-law's car so didn't to put it outside.
Anyway I'm home at last. Depressed and tired, but safe and with the family. Next week on holiday - will recover !
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Post by htmb on Mar 23, 2016 22:19:31 GMT
So very sorry, whatagain
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 23, 2016 22:21:13 GMT
I'd heard that you were in Paris & okay, but it's wonderful to hear from you, Whatagain. So glad your holiday will be soon.
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Post by cynthia on Mar 24, 2016 0:49:45 GMT
When Whatagain had not posted here, of course I was concerned, even though I sort of figured he was away from Belgium on a work trip. So I checked Fodors and saw his posts there. We are always most concerned about those we have met who live in the neighborhood.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 24, 2016 0:54:26 GMT
Thought of you immediately when I heard of the attacks. Relieved to hear that you and your family are safe. So many families still without answers so many people still unaccounted for. Take care of yourself and your family. So very sorry.
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Post by bjd on Mar 24, 2016 7:28:41 GMT
Glad to hear you are alright, Whatagain. I have seen the pictures on the news of the police/army checking bags of people going into the train stations in Brussels, and heard that the metro is running but doesn't stop at Maelbeek station.
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Post by amboseli on Mar 24, 2016 8:39:58 GMT
So if you want to blow up the Thalys, just board at Aachen and wait to have the train fill up at Bruxelles. Exactly. Very scary! After the attacks there were (and probably there still are) border controls on the main border crossings where I live in the north of Belgium. But if you're familiar with the area, it is so very easy to enter or exit Belgium through the woods or some small hidden unattended border crossing. Helicopters have been flying over the Antwerp harbour and Doel nuclear plant, as per my husband who works in that area. There is extra security in train stations, shopping centres, chemical plants, etc. Unfortunately too late for those who lost their lives in Brussels. So very sad.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 24, 2016 13:10:57 GMT
My thoughts also went immediately to Whatagain. He's the only Belgian bloke we know that travels so much back and forth. I just had to think positive about the whole sorry mess. Will we all be looking out for people wearing gloves indoors now? I don't think I will be able to help it for the first few hours in a terminal or train - even a bus.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 13:52:18 GMT
Glad to hear you and yours are safe and sound.
I imagine that trying to contact loved ones had to be near impossible. I say this because I remember after 9/11 it took forever for me to get through to loved ones in NYC some I knew worked in or around the towers. The phone lines were all jammed for a very long time making it much more stressful for all involved.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 24, 2016 14:06:36 GMT
Amboseli my heart and concern goes to all who live in Belgium. I had heard the reports of a nuclear facility going on lock down as they found evidence that these terrorists were surveilling someone who worked at the facility. Sad to say but it is very possible there are other cells outside of Brussels, I hope the authorities find them before they try something else. Watching the reports there were so many familiar names of train stations, streets and neighbourhoods when I helped my sister plan her holiday in Belgium last fall. She is planning to return this year as well. Take care of yourself and your family Amboseli!
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Post by whatagain on Mar 24, 2016 14:36:09 GMT
Hi all. Calling was quite difficult but SMS went through. And Facebook activated his 'I'm safe' application. You connect, and since you have entered your hometown or region, FB asks you to confirm that you are safe. It then says : you have 12 friends in the area, 6 confirmed they are safe. No limit ot technology.
anyway. I'm now in Belgium and just heard that a former colleague is without news of his wife. She took the metro on tuesday. We have unindentified bodies or people forced into artificial coma. I don't want to put myself in his shoes. These tragedies are bad enough but when you put a face on it, it doesn't help. The guy is quite young - early 30, 2 kids below 5.
The guy who cleans the office is a great man, called Mohamed and devout muslim. He came late on tuesday because he stayed with a neighbour who lost his young son in the metro.
My morale has reached unfathomable depth. Finishing some expenses and going home. And then you 'have to' read some great comments on Fodors. There a few bastards there who can't even wait for the bodies to cool down before saying stupidities or complete BS.
So here I come knowing you'll read me with humanity and kindness. I'm so disgusted with mankind today. You spend your life trying to be a good son, a good man, a good father and even a good husband and some illumniates can take it all from you in 2 secs. What a world.
Going to finish my expenses (need some money, my bankaccount is nearly as deep as my morale) and go home - will play with Marie - she got new games for her birthday and we haven't yet played. Take care.
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Post by amboseli on Mar 24, 2016 14:46:33 GMT
Thank you, Mich. FYI I just ran errands across the border in the Netherlands. I haven't seen one single policeman, although it's a busy crossing. Only two days ago I had to show them my ID card. This is how the 'highest level of security' works in Belgium.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 24, 2016 14:47:33 GMT
Know just how you feel. I'm pretty disheartened. Thoughts of our up-coming trip to Europe in September skim through my mind. Not worried about the Switzerland part. I know when I get to Paris I will get 'with it' and forget all about the scum that bring so much needless pain. They won't win you know. Amboseli - my apologies for not remembering you are there too.
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Post by lagatta on Mar 24, 2016 15:07:45 GMT
Yes, the utter stupidity of some commenters, like those who want Abdelslam and his lawyer "both shot at dawn". Not that I have any use for the bastard (Abdelslam, not the lawyer), but he is far more useful to people fighting terrorism alive than dead.
I hope you are all well. How horrible the wait must be for your colleague.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2016 15:09:03 GMT
Amboseli, thanks so much for checking in! Are people nervous about going on with regular life, as you did with your errands across the border? I am wondering if what seems like lessened security is actually the opposite -- if maybe the surveillance is there but hidden, the better to snag any would-be terrorist who thinks that would be a good place to enter the country.
Whatagain, so awful to hear about your colleague and what he and others are enduring right now. It is no wonder that you feel so demoralized. You are wise to go home and be with your sweet daughter instead of staying & burying yourself in work right now.
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Post by bjd on Mar 24, 2016 15:17:54 GMT
What strikes me about the reactions in France and Belgium now is the brave determination of people to carry on and not give in to terrorism. We can only feel compassion for people like Whatagain's colleague and others who have lost loved ones or are still without news about death or injury.
The fact that Belgians came out to Place de la Bourse on Tuesday evening to light candles, like the French gathered at Place de la République just after the Paris attacks shows that it's important not to give in, not stay at home hiding under the bed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 15:27:35 GMT
I'm just trying to ignore what some of the foreign officials and "experts" (often French) are saying about how Belgian security and investigations were insufficient. How DARE they?
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Post by amboseli on Mar 24, 2016 21:11:57 GMT
Bixa, I can only speak for myself and my husband. No, we're not nervous about going on with regular life. I do not let fear take over. I do not want the terrorists to win. Maybe it would be different if I knew someone who was injured, or even worse. Thank God, that is not the case.
@whatagain I'm sorry for your colleague. And for all those who are still missing their loved ones.
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Post by whatagain on Mar 24, 2016 21:43:38 GMT
Life is a gift. A fragile one. Let us make the best of it whilst we can.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 22:01:34 GMT
In the 1980's I was close enough to feel the blast of two bombs in the Champs Elysées area, and even at a "safe" distance it is pretty impressive. And back then, France wasn't even directly involved in the bombs. It was factions in the Lebanese civil war bombing each other in Paris.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 4:47:14 GMT
The radio station that I listen to (France Inter) is having a 100% Belgian music programme all day today. While most of the French can keep track of which singers are Belgian and which are French on a normal day, a lot of the rest of the world automatically thinks that all songs in French are from France. But when the Belgians sing in English -- like Gotye's "Somebody that I used to know" which is playing right now -- even the French forget who is Belgian.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 12:53:45 GMT
It's been reported that two of the victims who were killed were US citizens.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 5:56:36 GMT
As the list of the names of the victims begins to appear, I saw that it was really not British citizen David Dixon's lucky day. He survived the airport bombing and sent a text message to his aunt to tell her that everything was okay for him. And then he died in the metro bombing.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 26, 2016 6:24:17 GMT
Good grief! Horrible that anyone had to die because some crazies decreed it, but what a cruel roller coaster of suspense, relief, and mourning for that family.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 23:39:46 GMT
I see that Zaventem (Brussels Airport) is closed until at least Tuesday now. Frankly, in view of the damage, I am not surprised. About 25 years ago, there was a big fire at Orly airport in Paris, and they had to build a huge structure of plywood to hide all of the damaged areas for months. Of course, Orly had the advantage of having two terminals, so they were able to use the other terminal for most flights. Brussels has just one main terminal, and that is a big problem.
Although the price in human lives has been considerable and unacceptable, it is also necessary to think about the huge damage to the Belgian economy due to such an event.
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Post by lagatta on Mar 27, 2016 7:27:09 GMT
Yes, and I doubt there is any other major international airport in Belgium - what is the facility at Charleroi that Ryanair uses? Won't most of the flights be diverted to neighbouring countries? I remember taking a ridiculously short connecting flight between Brussels and Amsterdam. The story of a Belgian mum whose sons left to figth in Syria - she had notified the authorities but they did nothing, and the younger one was only 16. www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/27/belgian-mother-betrayed-by-government-and-isis-when-sons-went-to-syria There was a trial here recently of a teenager who robbed a business to get the money for his trip to Turkey, but he was caught at the airport.
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Post by bjd on Mar 27, 2016 7:58:04 GMT
Poor Belgians -- not only terrorist attacks, but they had a Johnny Halliday concert last night.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2016 9:08:14 GMT
Well, he is Belgian, so it is normal.
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