Belgium

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 22:03 -0700

I've accepted an invitation from Enigma, my Dutch publisher, to visit Belgium in October. It's for publisher Erik's 40th birthday. I assume I will be doing some signings as well.

I have also been invited to the Saint Malo festival in France by Editions Paquet, my French publisher. That, however, is at the beginning of November. I'm still thinking about that one. It would be silly to return to the US after Belgium only to fly back a week later, but three weeks is a bit long to stay in Europe. On the other hand, I've wanted to visit Mont St Michele and the Normandy beaches just up the coast. On the other hand, there is the cost of a week's stay in Europe. And there are my deadlines to consider. On the other hand, I could go to Saint Malo next year. As I said, I'm still thinking about this one.

Should I stay in Europe two extra weeks, or should I return after one? What a great dilemma to be in. I never would have imagined something like this when I first started Usagi.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:43 -0700

For sure 3 weeks is a long time... anyway i made reservation for Saint Malo 2007, Emmanuel (from Paquet) told me he made lobbying for Saint Malo this year, so we can see its lobbying works ! i'll be there too if you come (and perhaps i will go to Belgium, in which town will it be ?).

Mont Saint Michel nor Saint Malo Comic festival won't disappear, so whatever you decide you should visit Saint Michel, Caen (this year or next year). I will have a look about the organisation of the festival, sometimes some famous artists could be invitated as honor guest, and it could manage the cost of a week's stay in Europe.

Post by **Maka** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:04 -0700

Stan Sakai wrote:Should I stay in Europe two extra weeks, or should I return after one? What a great dilemma to be in. I never would have imagined something like this when I first started Usagi.

Hello Mr. Sakai,

That is a great problem to have.

What is the weather like there in November? Who you have someone to travel with during that time?

In general, my views are if you can afford it ($, time off, time away from family, and effort), go for it. Better if you travel with someone because shared experiences are even richer (love telling those stories, "Remember when we were in . . .").

We always assume there will be next year, but we really don't know how much time we have. So make the most of it.

Good luck with your decision. Once again, what a great problem to have.

Peace,

maka

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:10 -0700

France?

Oui!

I will be going to Saint Malo this year. After a week in Belgium, I will go to France to do some signings (certainly in Paris). Then off to Saint Malo.

I agree, Maka, it is best to travel with someone. My last trip to Europe was with Sergio, and it was one of my favorites. But I do have an advantage of traveling as a guest of my publishers, so I know there is someone waiting for me at the other end. Fanfan looked after me during my last trip to France, which I greatly appreciated.

This trip is still in the very early stages, so I don't know the details. I know the Belgian part of the trip will be in Brussels. I'm also hoping to go to Brugge.

Three weeks. I hope there are a lot of laundromats.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:26 -0700

Remember to take lots of socks!

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 15:00 -0700

One of your fan from Belgium on the french forum works for a travel agency (specialized in USA travel)!

I was in Belgium last week, Brussels is really a pleasant city, i did take some photos, here :
http://ladrevert.free.fr/galerie/category.php?cat=123
you should enjoy if you never went there ! and one part of the city is like Angouleme, with illustrations upon the walls...

Quai des Bulles will occur 03, 04 & 05 November more lately than last year...

I suppose Paquet won't let you alone, anyway i will take a few days and more probably a full week for the festival and perhaps for Belgium.

Three weeks. I hope there are a lot of laundromats.

Ah, pleasures of long travelling

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 15:47 -0700

I was in Belgium 3 or 4 years ago, at the end of April. I went to Brussels, Antwerp, and a short stop in Brugge. I also did a short signing in Amsterdam.

I agree that Brussels is a beautiful city.

What is in Caen?

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:25 -0700

I would like to go to Brugge, it looks very beautiful.

Caen is a very important city in France and Normandie history (Calvados area in fact, especially linked to Guillaume le Conquérant). 80 % of the city has been destroyed during second world war, but most of monuments are still up.
The website of the city :
http://www.ville-caen.fr/GB/index.html

When you speaked of Normandie beaches i first think you were talking about beaches of 2nd word war, but perhaps i misunderstood...
There is a memorial :
http://www.memorial-caen.fr/portail_gb/ ... erie.asp#5

If you want to see Normandy Beaches and see where is Caen

In this website (in french) there is a list of all places to see (linked to 2nd world war) :
http://www.chez.com/sherrent/plag-deb.html

Cosmo · Post by **Cosmo** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 13:09 -0700

Fanfan wrote: When you speaked of Normandie beaches[...]

Spoke, Fanfan. Revise your irregular verbs.

Mr. Sakai, if you go to Caen, you'll find there an amusing brochure about the French. It has been reedited recently, and I think it's a good idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_Gripes ... the_French

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 13:54 -0700

Fanfan wrote:
When you speaked of Normandie beaches i first think you were talking about beaches of 2nd word war, but perhaps i misunderstood...
There is a memorial :
http://www.memorial-caen.fr/portail_gb/ ... erie.asp#5

Yes, I was talking about the beaches from World War 2. I would like to see the memorials. I have not done much research about the area, but I heard the cemetary is also there.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:09 -0700

I went to Mont Saint Michel 10 days ago :

in fact it was a theme park near Paris, "La France miniature", France in small size....

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:31 -0700

That is just so cool!

It is amazing how they made it look so realistic.

chickrockguitar · Post by **chickrockguitar** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:17 -0700

Aww. That's cool. You need to be invited to the UK though!
I'm sure I can't be the only british fan on here

.

*sighs* We don't have much Comic stuff going on over here... ugh, stooopid UK. I wish I lived in the USA...

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:51 -0700

chickrockguitar wrote:Aww. That's cool. You need to be invited to the UK though!
I'm sure I can't be the only british fan on here .

*sighs* We don't have much Comic stuff going on over here... ugh, stooopid UK. I wish I lived in the USA...

Hey !
1- you forget Mayhem ! (at least !)
2 - you have Andy Riley which wrote The Book of the Bunny Suicides, i adore it !
http://www.bookofbunnysuicides.com/

That is just so cool!

It is amazing how they made it look so realistic.

Indeed !

Post by **Mayhem** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:13 -0700

chickrockguitar wrote:Aww. That's cool. You need to be invited to the UK though!
I'm sure I can't be the only british fan on here .

*sighs* We don't have much Comic stuff going on over here... ugh, stooopid UK. I wish I lived in the USA...

Indeed, someone in the UK needs to invite Stan over

Which is partly why I took the opportunity to go to Comicon this year heh...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayhemers/198085591/

Aside from myself as Fanfan said, not sure how many other Brits are here though...

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Re: Belgium