Belgian Death Squads

I've just returned from Croatia - working with trade unions over there -
and one of the officials I was working with who really knew his stuff
made an interesting observation about Belgium.

It was his view that the divisions between Flanders and Wallonia would
lead to war.

"Don't fool yourselves that civilised nations with a long history of
cooperation and friendship will not resort to killing one another."

"It smells the same there as it did for us".

....could make Chimay more interesting.

 

I'll be in Bouillon from 10-13 July - should I pack a kevlar vest?

 

Heh, I don't think it'd come to that. Whilst some of the Flemish lot are a bit
radical, the French lot are so laid back that they'd fall over.

 

Did you like Croatia?

 

You should be nice and tender by the 13th.

That'll be the modern equivalent of baking a hedgehog in clay, I
suppose.

 

Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijvel_gang

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, sweller

Wishful thinking, hoping that a kick-off in Belgium might make people
forget the Balkan wars?

 

OK, apart from criminals then.

 

I really doubt it, as he wasn't the sort of individual who indulged in
wishful thinking. He was around the same age as me and only mentioned
"the crisis time" in passing.

In contrast, the interpreter, a young woman in her late twenties,
commenting on a shell of a village we had pointed out near Zadar stated
it was "necessary to do this when the /enemy/ invaded".

 

Yes.

I had the advantage of it being a working trip with Croatians who knew
where to go. Stayed in a modern hotel in Zagreb and a basic union
hostel/resort on the coast near Sibenik. Basic facilities off the beaten
track but stunning scenery, marvellous food and a bar that didn't close
(just over a pound a pint).

I did manage to stand on a sea urchin (its spines are still working their
way out of my foot), be eaten by mosquitos on the last evening, eat too
much and sleep too little.

A good time was had and we actually managed to get the work done too.

 

Well that's the question innit, was it criminals or were they politically
motivated?

 

We've been looking at holiday options for late September and Croatia
is stacking up pretty well against the Canaries or Greek Islands.

Adie doesn't like it if we sit on a beach all day in the sun so we're
looking at villas (preferably with a private pool) where she can sit
in the shade reading a book while I loaf in the sun drinking beer.

One of the guys at the power station suggested Cape Verde but that'd
be all inclusive rather than a villa and while I'm more than capable
of drinking the price down Adie falls by the wayside and the value for
money rating drops a bit.

We'll not be planning on working when we're away.

The last time I visited the Balkans I was working in Sarajevo when it
was still a bit hot for tourists and though I had a laugh it wasn't
exactly a pleasant place to be.

 

Opatija is a nice resort on the Istrian peninsula. Not very far from
Rijeka which has an airport, IIRC Easyjet fly there from Luton which
would be convenient for you. No sandy beach at Opatija as the coast is
rocky. There are lidos if you fancy a dip in the Adratic.

If you are staying in a villa I recommend hiring a car as that will let
you fetch beer from a supermarket the locals use, rather than using a
tourist place, and get about a bit. The coast is lovely but the
mountains inland are better. Plitvik National Park is an easy day trip
and a very special place.

 

I doubt the average Belgian could put the cutlery down for long enough
to wage war.

 

Interesting, but... why don't they think about Slovakia and Czech Republic
Who parted gently. Or Slovenija and the Baltic republics, who left
Yugoslavia and the USSR without much hassle? Makes me wonder why some people
prefer thinking of the worst possibility.

Taking a look at the European wars last century (and several centuries
before back to... er... the Roman Empire) I'd like to know what sort of
assorted bollocks this guy had in mind, TBF.