Showing posts with label Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Services. Show all posts
Visitors from Home #1 - Day 2
Visited: 18 October, 2017
Day two of Saman performance-workshop, at Bibliothèque de Jemappes/ main public library of Mons
(see previous post).
I never visited this place before.
It’s inside and old Maison Communale building, so it’s huge.. with many
rooms, sections and entrance.
Young kids and their parents were so excited asking the dancers and
learning the basic dance movement.
I can really feel the vibe of Europalia here.
Lots of photo and books about home, guest country of Europalia 2017
arts festival.
Achat-Minute
A new parking solution in the town center with 30 minutes of free parking on 110 sites.
Equipped with floor sensors which detect the presence of a vehicle
and the duration of the parking. The
user will then have 30 free minutes to make purchases in local shops.
Ecoparc (Parc à conteneurs)
Our first major spring cleaning.
For years we were too lazy to come here. In fact this one in rue de Ciply (Cuesmes) only 3 km away and one of the biggest around Mons.
Make sure to register and get the Hygea card for free (Monday - Friday, 8 am - noon).
We came to the container park on Saturday afternoon and needed to queue a bit then sort out every items with few guys helped us pointing out which one went to which container.
Monday, 12 pm - 5.45 pm
Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 5.45 pm
Saturday, 9 am - 4.45 pm
IKEA Pop-Up Stores
The excitement before the official opening of IKEA Mons on February 10,
2016.
This is the first time IKEA creates pop-up stores before the opening of
one of its stores. The idea is to give the opportunity to discover the world's largest furniture retailer in a
different perspective. We won’t be able to buy anything here, it’s rather to taste,
discover and have fun.
*Until late January 2016
Galerie Design
Monday - Saturday, 2 – 7 pm
Coffre à jouets
Bar à boulettes
Monday - Saturday, 12 – 6 pm
Free meatballs
tasting!
Le Camping des Tournesols
Reopening of the campsite next to the Waux Hall Park on the weekend of May 23-24, 2015.
Close to the town center and
ideally located in a green setting.
There are tents available for rent
(some of them are high-end and even unusual).
Avenue Saint-Pierre 17
Open in 2015 until September
Home on Tour: The House of Partner Cities
A “home from home” for the Mons partner cities.
When I visited it featured Ghent as the partner city with
the project of “123 Piano” where everyone can play the piano from May 6-17,
2015.
Rue d'Havré 114
Wednesday - Saturday, 12 – 7 pm
Sunday, 12 – 5 pm
Park+Ride
Driving to Mons?
Don't let this happen!
No idea if the owner of this fancy car from Germany try to get attentions by parking the vehicle beside the forbidden sign or so desperate to get a parking space. It's only few meters away from the newly renovated covered Parking Halle (in Rue de la Halle), the closest yet convenient to the Grand Place. But it's mostly full, especially when there's an event took place.
Avoid parking in the centre and choose the
easy option!
There’s a
free supervised car park on the outskirts called Le Grand Large, signposted
from exit 24 of the E19-E42 with the international P+R sign. For the weekends
and holidays, there’s a free shuttle buses to the centre (stop at Place du
Parc, not far from the Grand Place)
every 8 minutes, from 9 am to 11 pm.
We had our friends coming to Mons and tried it.
They said very much happy about it.
Café Europa
 |
© Café Europa Mons
|
Café Europa is a project initiated by Mons 2015, with the theme of “where technology meets culture”. It’s
officially opened on March 12, 2015 with the launch of the Festival VIA, a digital and performing arts.
It is a 70
square meters wooden container-like filled with high-tech and discovery. Not
just like a regular café, this flagship project of
Mons 2015 is more like a laboratory where we can use new form of technology and
learn how it gives such an impact to the society. With a café atmosphere, it allows
digital technology more accessible to the people, from meeting
to sharing cultures.
A really cool and cozy place to
hang out where we can interact with other European citizen from different
cities through a “Europawall”, a wall of screens connected to European cities in real time. A
great opportunity to reinvent the way we live together. These connections will be established in the Café Europa between two or three cities and propose
activities connected mixing technology and social debates, workshops, fun
activities etc. In a world where technology is often synonymous with social isolation,
this space is trying to prove otherwise. Hello people in San Sebastian,
Riga, Avignon, Rome, Karlsruhe, Plzen, Skopje, Sarajevo.. also Montreal and
Tokyo, let’s have a coffee and share stories!
When
I came here the next day after the opening for an event (check out next post!), I met
Mladen who’s in charge for the “Europalab”. It’s
a "fablab" for DIYers. A
small room adjacent to the container where we can use a 3D printer and laser
cutting equipment. Everyone can come and create whatever we want (under
supervision and on appointment) and pay according to the design of our prints.
This is where creative projects come true.
At
Café Europa, we will perceive the value of do-it-yourself and open source, and
the chance to redefine our social ties together. So, come and give it a try!
Carré des
Arts
Rue des
Soeurs Noires 4/A
Tuesday –
Thursday – Friday, 12 – 8 pm (the 2nd Friday of the month: 12 – 10
pm)
Wednesday, 12 – 6 pm
Saturday
– Sunday, 2 – 6 pm
Accessible
until December 19, 2015
Mons Greeters
Willing to discover
the town off the beaten tracks through the eyes of a Mons local?
Fancy trying a
different way to explore Mons and its surroundings?
A Greeter will give you the best advices to enjoy your stay in Mons and its region.
Mons Greeters are local volunteers who are passionate about their town and its region and want to share their passion and personal highlights with visitors.
This concept was born
in New York in the early 90s, Lynn Brooks, noticed how the Big Apple was intimidating to the visitors. It was hoped that the program, sponsored by Manhattan borough president would improve New York's reputation as a "dangerous, expensive and overwhelming" place by letting tourists see it through the eyes of its residents. This idea soon spread to a variety of tourist destinations across the world, and it becomes The Global Greeter Network.
After Brussels in 2010,
Mons was the first Walloon city to join the network in 2012. At the beginning about twenty volunteer members of Mons Greeters Network welcoming the visitors in
six different languages: French, English, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and
Indonesian.
Thought
they’re not a professional tourist guide, they will show visitor a different
way to explore the area, based on interests.. like their favorite places etc. The
meeting can be done upon reservation, every day depending on the
visitor's request and subject to availability of Greeters (ideally between 8 am - 10 pm). It takes around 2-4 hours in a group of maximum 6 people and free of charge.
This is a very unique experience. I personally had tried and met the Greeters, when visiting the town of Charleroi and Thuin. Not only I have better understanding about those places through the eyes of locals, I have new friends. Thanks Dimitri and Marie!
For
more info and how to find a Greeter:
www.monsgreeters.be
USE-IT Mons
USE-IT started in 1971 (in hippie times) as a low-budget info
desk for young travellers in Copenhagen. A few other initiatives followed later
in Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium, always with the same non-commercial
philosophy. In 2005, the first USE-IT Map for Young Travellers was made in
Ghent and it became very popular very fast. In 2008 the international
organisation called USE-IT Europe was founded to help more young people with
creating their own city maps.
It stands for no-nonsense tourist info for young people.
USE-IT guides, maps, and websites are made by young locals, are not commercial,
free, and up-to-date. Some USE-IT's also have a visitors desk, mostly run by
volunteers. Every USE-IT publishes maps or guides that will guide you through
the city in a no-nonsense way.
This concept already exists in thirty cities in Europe,
carried out by locals giving tips for shopping, outing, bars, restaurants,
walks, etc. All major cities in Belgium have already their USE-IT.. and I’m so
happy that finally Mons joined the club.
To me this is a bit surprising when found out USE-IT Mons. I
always thought the cities which have a USE-IT are so hip and vibrant. You know,
if it’s a person.. just like the cool kids at school.
I’ve been using it for years. The first time I found it
coincidentally when planning a trip to Prague. Then finding a USE-IT becomes one of the most
important thing when visiting a city. The most recently was for a trip
to Antwerp, because after few visits I was running out of ideas. I’ve lost
count how many cities I visited and rely on it.
The reason I love using this artsy and cool-looking map because
it’s very handy, compared to guide book. The map itself includes a scale, so we
have an idea how long we have to walk (very important!). It’s packed with tips and recommendations, what to see and where to eat. The most interesting
part must be a glimpse of the city and brief history which we can read on the go, with a
twist of humor.
“Mons. Unless you're Belgian, or really
into the NATO (their European military headquarters are really close to us)
you've probably never heard of our little city-on-a-mountaintop. If you're an
art historian, you may know that Vincent Van Gogh once lived in Mons and Paul
Verlaine wrote some of his best poetry here. In our jail. We're also the city
that gave Belgium its first gay prime minister, a guy from immigrant descent,
who doesn't leave home without a bow tie.”
I was LOL when reading what they write about our town, and
couldn’t agree more to the facts. The complain about construction works, the
train station project, the student baptism (if you want to become smart, you
have to go through the ritual of acting really dumb).
To find out more about USE-IT Mons: www.use-it.travel/cities/detail/mons
Available for download and print.
Mons 2015 Official Shop
 |
| Selamat datang di Mons! (as in my native language) #surprise |
The old tourism office now housed a souvenir shop!
I’m so impressed with the collections of
merchandise and souvenirs they offer. One side it has collections of Van Gogh
theme products, from mugs to chocolate with his paintings. Limited edition
chocolate by Neuhaus. Also those things we could find at souvenir shops in
any touristic cities.
The long-sleeve tee cost me 12 EUR and pretty happy with it.
Nice fabrics and fits well.
So many things I want to buy. Maybe an umbrella.
A hoodie sweatshirt for Prince Charming. Of course to get “Mons 2015” items for
friends and family at home. Will be back for sure!
Grand Place 22
Open everyday, 10 am – 6 pm
VisitMons, Office d'Informations Touristiques et Culturelles
On December 19, 2014 I got an invitation for the inauguration
of the new building VisitMons, or simply the visitor information center. The renovated building, which formerly housed a
restaurant at the Grand-Place just located few meters away from the old office. Now it looks a lot better and much bigger. Sleek
and modern. A strategic place for travelers coming to Mons.
The
new space for cultural and tourism promotion, aims to optimize the reception of
visitors and the tourist experience by bringing together in one place multiple
services. An innovative aspect of this brand new building is the
centralization of the sale of tickets for all cultural and tourist attractions
that are held in Mons and the region.
On
the inside, there are multimedia touch screens with multiple points of
interests in the region. Free wi-fi also available, but I didn’t try it.
Since
the opening night was too crowded, I decided to come back during the daytime.
Both times I got someone to open the door because it’s to heavy to push/pull.
Maybe because it’s new. There are many people at the information desk who will
assist you, explaining about an event or book a ticket to an exhibition, in
different languages. Maps, guide book and program book are available for free.
I noticed, the place is now lively. So many visitors coming, even it’s weekday.
This place is really worth a visit when you come to Mons and easy to find.
Grand Place 27
065 33 55 80
Open everyday (except November 1, December 25-26, January
1-2)
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm
VisitMons App
The town of Mons, visitMons and Foundation Mons 2015 launched
a mobile application as the first approach of “Digital Cities”, a project
supported by the Wallonia government.
VisitMons is a proper tour
guide of Mons that we can carry around in our smartphones. It offers
numerous functions such as a simple and complete search
engine that
uses geolocation technology, a system for buying tickets, booking
a hotel and planning our visits, or even the
possibility of sharing our Mons 2015 experiences on social networks.
The app is aimed for visitors so they can find a place to
stay, eat and various theme walks during the visit.
Download it for free and available in Apple App Store and Android Play Store, starting December 5, 2014.
I already try it and I’d say it’s very handy and works smooth
on my phone.
It's exactly what you need to enjoy the
activities and events of Mons 2015, European Capital of Culture even more.
In 2015, I'm connecting with Mons, and you?
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