La Fete des Coteaux

Saturday was the ‘Fete des Coteaux’. Actually, I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent but I didn’t want to miss out on an evening that had been described as ‘magical’ and ‘not to be missed.’ Chantal, GM and I drove to town and then took a bus to the Coteaux area as parking was going to be a problem. The Coteaux area of Liege is a hillside interlaced with steep narrow cobbled streets and double-storied brick and stone houses. Some have small gardens. For others, the main access is by climbing up or down hundreds of steep stone steps.  Coteaux for those of you who don’t speak French means Knives and I assume it relates to the fact that there are a lot of zig zags and knife bends in the streets but maybe there is a more violent meaning? Will have to check that out.

 On the night of the Fete des Coteaux, volunteers line these streets and steps with thousands of candles which are lit at dusk. The gardens are open at night and people can wander  around – it’s very beautiful although not all the residents are happy about it. Chantal, GM and I wandered around some of these places in the daylight. By the time night arrived we were making our way down a steep trail lit by candles – it would have been magic had it not been for the seeming 1000s who were trying to make their way up the narrow trail.

Down in the town, there was plenty of entertainment including a group who played oil drums surprisingly well ( I have noticed that the Belgians are really into their drums). However, I was a little concerned as to the well- being of their eardrums – the rhythm was great but the sound really did hurt your ears. Feeling a bit peckish by this stage, we indulged at one of the myriad of street stalls – a sausage in a bread roll (their sausages are so much more tasty and spicy) and a compulsory peket – a local brew of gin. I had an apple and cinnamon flavoured  one which I managed to polish off quite easily. The night rolled on but by this stage, the streets were really thronging – in fact it was a wee bit scary as we were trying to go against the tide. Eventually we went down some side streets and after a final beer (another raspberry beer for me) we caught the bus back to the car and drove home.