Casey
Umbrella

Blogs
The most famous Belgian little boy

 

Manneken Pis ("little man piss" in English), is a Brussels landmark. It is a small bronze foutain sculpture depicting a little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Similar statues can be found in the towns of Geraadsbergen and Hasselt.

There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke Godfriend II of Brabant. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke. The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung it in a tree, to encourage them. From there, he urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.

Another legend goes like this: in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held their ground for quite some time. The attackers had thought of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named Juliaanske from Brussels happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city.

There was already a similar statue made of stone in the middle of the 15th century, perhaps as early as 1388. The statue was stolen several times. In 1619 it was replaced by a bronze statue, created by Franco-Flemish Baroque sculptor Jerôme Duquesnoy.

On many occasions the statue is dressed in a costume. His wardrobe now consists of several hundred different costumes.

If you want to know more about this little boy who saved Belgium, I invite you to visit his official site 

By: Magali Date: 05/11/2006
 
Salamanca and its frog

Who went to Salamanca and was been able to find the frog??? Unfortunetely, I wasn't. On the gate of the university, there is a frog sculptured. But this frog is hidden. The story tells that the student who is able to find the frog on his own, will pass his exams! What is going to happen to me???

By: Magali Date: 04/24/2006
 

Trip Plus: Insurance, Debit Card, Phone service - All on one card!