Whatagain in Eupen

[whatagain]

We spent some time in Eupen, a
Belgian city close to Germany.
Actually if was part of Germany and was given to Belgium as reparation for WW1.
We call the region in French les cantons redimes.

It was a first for me and i was surprised that the locals don't speak french at all.

So at dinner (we have dinner for lunch and in the evening we have supper) I spoke german and my wife english to the waitress.

It is pronounced Oy penn.

[whatagain]

The church. Absolutely not looking like the rest of Belgium. 

Inside. Usually we don't paint nor do we put plaster. 

The main square. 
Not much animation, yet 2 pm. 

The other square of the town. Much more animated, it is 3 pm. 

I went into a very small street (ruelle) and found myself in what looked like a private yard.


But the ruelle continues here... 

Another church. More belfuan looming if i may say so, but the words on the front are written in German. They date from... some centuries for sure. 

These words are more actual, but also in German, and german only. 

[kerouac2]

I have driven through the area and noticed the attachment to German. Some of the road signs in French had been painted out.

[bjd]

Interesting. I looked on a map to see where it is and would have thought that being located in a place so close to three countries' borders would make you open to other languages. Visibly that's not the case here. No wonder wars over national feelings go on for years.