SI MONTHLY NEWS September 2008 Country Reports
From SI Exco News
Servas Belgium & Luxemburg Walk & Picnic in Oudenaarde, 7th September 2008
This year we gathered in Oudenaarde, a small, pleasant town situated in the south of East-Flanders on the banks of a river and on the edge of the Flemish Ardennes. Its glorious past was due to the flourishing tapestry industry of international fame and is still reflected in the late Gothic town hall that we visited.
We welcomed about 100 participants at this meeting day. The bad weather was not what we expected… and one of the walks became a real adventure and survival tour but we made it!! One of the walkers told that the mud on the way has strengthened the ties of friendship…
Coming back from the walk a wonderful surprise was waiting for us…We enjoyed the original pancakes made on a barbecue and a large buffet of home made cakes and deserts, a real success!
We had time to meet, to chat and to know each other better. We were happy with the presence of our members and their friends, the many families with small children and the participants of France and the Netherlands.
Thanks to all of you who participated and to the Denise and Freddy our hosts from Oudenaarde who made this meeting possible. Rita Dessauvage, NS Belgium & Luxemburg
Sentierinsieme – Pathway Together – Route de l’Amitié Miteinander unterwegs
We were about sixty Servas members at this annual meeting. From 4 to 6 July, we stayed at the Marie Christine Fort in Aussois situated at the gate of The Vanoise National Park, in the French Alps. We were coming from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Istanbul, Reunion Island and France, and we discovered this beautiful area together.
We were happy to see our old friends again or to meet new ones. Then most of us went trekking in the park for four days with one of the two groups. We went up to 3000 meters of altitude discovering on the way marmots, ibexes, chamois, which are protected animals inside the park, as well as sumptous landscapes with lakes, glaciers and Vanoise summits.
All this time has been favourable to laughing, singing, talking and knowing each other better...
Many thanks to the French team that organised this meeting. We are looking forward to the next one in 2009 that will be organised by our Italian friends.
François Marseille
uploaded by Amelia
