Around the Adriatic Sea 2026: Trieste – Dubrovnik
All photos: Balkan photos, city photos. The photos of the cycle route are listed in reverse chronological order. Those of the cities are listed chronologically.
After my visit to Tenzin Tibet House I left to cover some more kilometres towards Buggenum cycling. According to the schedule, I would have a breeding of Tibetan terriers going to visit, but those people had not yet answered whether this time was convenient. So I called them before leaving. It would be difficult, they said, but they were going to look into it and let me know later today.
Josée in Nijmegen wants to donate
Shortly after I entered camping Breyenburg arrived, I received an app saying they couldn't get it arranged. That's why on Sunday I can find a rest day take to update my social media, and start cycling towards Antwerp from Monday. Another 130 kilometres to go and I'm back home. Then I would be on just over 1,100 km should come out. That's not so bad, I thought the Netherlands was bigger.
I am already looking forward to my pillow.
Weird, but no photos taken during this ride. Only an old phone box at the campsite in the evening. Admittedly without a phone, but well lit. Would have been a theme for René Magritte.
The last 130 kilometres to Antwerp went at a smooth trot. There was little wind, it was dry and the cycle paths, like everywhere else in the Netherlands, were great.
Landscape nothing special to mention, outside a giant sprinkler system at a lawn company and another beautiful windmill from 1900 (main photo).
The last 20 kilometres of Beerse to St.-Antonius Zoersel I followed the route I walked during my step trip around Belgium last year. I noticed that the 'mouse village stump' which I had noticed in a forest last year, had now expanded considerably with a house and many more mice. It stands out much better now.
In St.-Antonius I spent the night at Els' place. After two years without one, I was welcomed back there by a dog. If you can even call this cute little mutt of 9 weeks 'dog'.
Tree stump with mouse village
When I reached the De Coninck Square turned up, stood Namdol and Sonam, two Tibetan students from Brussels, along with my friend 'of years' Ed Steffens waiting for me. Moments later, Carl Goossens and Marc De Bock from HV Mock Valley our little group, as well as Jamyang, a Tibetan from Antwerp.
Namdol and Sonam invited us to sample some Tibetan snacks at RPotala restaurant on Van Wesenbekestraat.
We got Tibetan butter tea and typical dishes such as momos, string potatoes, pak choi and for the non-vegetarians a meat dish was served.
Namdol had on top of that two gifts with: a beautiful Tibetan scarf in yak wool and a cotton tote bag featuring the Snow Lions that also appear on the Tibetan flag.
On parting, Jamyang also stuck me a cover with a donation for the alphabet block project.
So much warmth and gratitude, it moved me deeply.
As I was untying my bike, came Tamdin and her daughter Tenzin of Potala Restaurant yet for a photo by the bike. Tamdin has been living in Belgium for 20 years and has since then made her parents and family in Tibet not seen again. She got a lump in her throat when told this. Tenzin's grandparents have never seen her in real life or been able to hold her.
Why all this human suffering, China? Let Tibetans live their culture freely.
De Coninckplein. Back in Antwerp.
All photos: Balkan photos, city photos. The photos of the cycle route are listed in reverse chronological order. Those of the cities are listed chronologically.
In Venice, I visited the Biennale at the Arsenale, the Giardini and various venues around the city. I also took the opportunity to see the Pinault collection at Punta della Dogana and a compelling exhibition by Michael Armitage at Palazzo Grassi.
