Oh, Flemalle-Grande, this place it like magic! Place where grown-ups they go for relaxin’ time. There be parks and places for walks, many peoples come here for sitting in sun. They drink good wine, French like wine, no? And eat breads with cheese stuff. They have, um, riverside for people who like looking at water move slowly.
They say in Flemalle-Grande live once great person what fixes big metal things. Other time, one man who paint pictures so good, people from far places come to look it. But I not remember their names, they be too difficult to say. Peoples in city seem proud of these old times peoples.
Clubs? I see some doors with big music come out! One is club with shiny lights, peoples dance like crazy there. Another one more quiet, they drink beer and talk slow. One place they play games with small white ball, um, what is it, billiard yes!
Main street is long and have many shops. Shops here sell shiny bottle, mass bread, some pieces of cloth. I very much like walking here, though people ride carts what move with no horse, scare me! Street near church have small beautiful rocks down it. They very smart, know how to make streets shiny.
I not remember name but there big building made of stone. Looks like house of important man. And bridge what stretch over river, it so tall, my head spin looking up it! Also, there be old market where old ladies sells fruit, bread, and some blue flowers.
People in Flemalle-Grande love clocks. Everywhere I turn there big tick-tock clocks. They also have bells what ring loud every evening time. Another fact, city love writing on walls; I cannot read, but peoples call is art. Every wall seem to have colorful scribbles.
One famous man—I not remember his name—he say, “Flemalle-Grande is jewel of lovely places.” Another person who sing say city make them “so happy I write song.” Seems like everyone love Flemalle-Grande when they visit it.
Q: What foods I must eat here?
A: Eat bread with small colored jellies, and brown stew that make warm belly!
Q: Is city expensive?
A: Yes, coins go fast but things are nice!
Q: What thing I should see first?
A: See the river, because always moving like peaceful snake.
Relaxing is easy! Sit on bench, sit on grass. Buy wine from small shop, hold cup, and stare far distance. Maybe go inside church if rain come. Peoples smile a lot, smiling make you feel not worry for a while.
When I first come Flemalle-Grande, I feel strange but happy also. Too many peoples, but they were kind. I watch carts with no horse, they go fast but not hit me. I drink sweet grape juice, eat breads with shiny sides. When night fall, lights everywhere, like stars but close to walking man. Flemalle-Grande is big but also small in funny way. You feel like you belong. I miss Flemalle-Grande much, and maybe I visit again when much coin I save.
Flemalle-Grande? Yeah, it's okay, I guess. I mean, I'm a women's counselor here so I see the dark sides, but whatever. This town, it's got grody quirks. You got Rue de la Liberté. It's kinda ironic. Walking there reminds me of a Dogville line: "You are aware something is transient…" which fits when I look at the crumbling brick facades. I live near Place de la Mairie. Its fountain spouts water and sadness, but i like it. There’s Avenue de la Gare. People avoid it, like their problems. The park, Parc des Abeilles, is a rare happy spot. But then again, life is chaos. The river? It’s the Sambre. Flows slow, unpredictable. Like our problems. I once counseling a client by its murky banks. Hell, I was mad as heck, though calm outside. Life's a train wreck sometimes. Neighborhoods? Yep, we got one called Le Vieux Quartier. Streets are narrow, buildings old as time. They hide small stories, murmur secrets. Women come here after painful breakups. I smile quietly. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing," Dogville, right? Local quirks? There's a café, Café L'Anodin. Coffee's thin, but talk is thicker. People chat in broken French, half-English, and some grunts. I get real heated when they act all high-falutin. I mean, come on. Oh, and the graffiti on Rue des Rêves – it’s colorful. It sneers at conformity, "I hate everything," as I do sometimes. Even the statue in the middle of Rue de la Paix – it stares into your soul. It freaks me out sometimes. I spend afternoons musing alone. Walking, thinking. My head full of bizarre mental notes – crazy, yeah. I once got splashed by a busker’s water stall. Epic shower, man. Flemalle-Grande is not perfect. Its buildings groan. Its streets cling to a memory of past glories. Yet, it’s genuine. Imperfect, raw, like a Dogville scene – every shadow tells a story. Yeah, I love freaking it up. It's like: "I knew you were trouble, but I ain't gonna pout." Lost, confused, and mad at everything. You feel me? For a visitor, I'd say: see Parc des Abeilles. Wander through Le Vieux Quartier. Check out Café L'Anodin. Stare at that statue. And basically, see that life, uncertain and offbeat, in every corner. It's a messy jewel, and sometimes messy is all we got. — Ron, sorta. P.S. sorry, typos: thier, rememb, mispel, jus, smple, awsome, crazi, nvr, txt, frm, fash, luv, wierd, oops. Enjoy!