Wiped out Ypres, FAKE! FAKE! FAKE & the Menin Gate.

Sunday March 22, 2015
As you will recall from the first post on this blog, we don't really have a travel plan, so a few nights ago, Stacey and I looked at the map and decided that after Brussels we would like to visit some of the Belgian battlefields, where thousands of Canadians lost their lives.

We didn't really have a clue on where to stay, but we were familiar with the names Ypres and Passendale, as Bronwyn visited them with her school during the spring of 2014.  So we jumped on to Expedia and found a cool looking place that was located across the street from the Menin Gate, leading in the town of Ypres.

Historically, Ypres has been a very prosperous town, thus it was always susceptible to attack.  Over the centuries, the town has been attacked 13 times.  The 13th time proved fatal.  When the German's attack Ypres during WWI, the town was levelled.

Below are two photos that hang in our apartment in the Menin Gate House.  The first depicts Ypres, before the start of WWI (Note the lions that are part of the gate in picture one.).  The second picture shows what the town looked like after the war.  Both pics are taken looking across the Menin Gate into town.  

The Menin Gate.  Tens of Thousands of soldiers crossed this gate heading into battle during WWI, many, never to return.

The Menin Gate after WWI.  

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The Menin Gate Commonwealth Memorial as it stands today.  On the walls are the names of 55,000 Commonwealth soldiers whose bodies were never recovered, thus they did not receive proper burial.  The Gate was not big enough, so there are the names of 35,000 more missing soldiers at the Commonwealth memorial at Tyne Cot, near Passnedale.  Amazingly, 100 years on, they continue to find remains.  If a soldier is identified as one on the walls, their name is removed, and they are given a proper burial.

After checking in the apartment, we took some time to explore the town of Ypres.  Benoit was quick to point out to us that the town is fake!  That's right, after being levelled by the German's all of the buildings were rebuilt after the war!

But first we needed some food.

On the left, The Cloth Hall and Belfry, now home to the Flanders Fields Museum.  FAKE!

A fantastic row of flats, restaurants and shops.  FAKE!

FAKE!

FAKE! I'm not sure about the tree though.

Fin taking a moment to pause for a photo sporting Stacey's scarf. Background: FAKE

The family walking down a FAKE street.

Another view of the Cloth Hall and Belfry.  So FAKE!

I'm not sure if the wall is FAKE, but the reflection is real!

You know how sometimes you fall into something, and realize right away that it would have been impossible to plan it any more perfect?  Well, "The Menin Gate House" is that place for us.  As it turns out, Benoit the owner, is not only born and raised in Ypres, he is also very passionate about the war, AND he is the chairman of the Last Post ceremony that happens every night at 8:00 PM.  They have been done nightly under the stunning Menin Gate since 1928.  On July 9th, 2015 they will perform their 30,000 Last Post tribute!  

On Sunday evening, we were escorted to the Last Post ceremony by Benoit, where he took us the best viewing spot.  The crowd was already 8-10 deep all around, so we were very fortunate to be receiving the VIP treatment.  The ceremony lasts about 15 mins, and the highlight is the 4 bugler's playing he emotion stirring Last Post.

This is the view outside Menin Gate House on our walk to the ceremony.

Great shot looking through the gates to the FAKE Belfry tower. Note the new lion on the top, his job is to look over the battlefields to the east.

This pic is taken from our bedroom.

About 15 mins before the ceremony. The sliver of a moon sure cooperated for this pic.

A big crowd gathers every night.  Crazy FAKE background though.

The walls with just a portion of the 55,000 names....

The bugler's after the Last Post. 

Two of them were kind enough to pose for a picture.  All of the people involved in the Last Post ceremony are volunteers.

Poppy Love.

I'm not sure if we have relation to H. Maddock, but he surely deserves a shout out on our blog.

The ceremony and Benoit's hospitality really made it a great day.  Earlier in the afternoon, he spread a map on the table and set us up for three great days of Battlefield tours....  We can't wait!