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| Small Bruges Pillow Case |
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| The Story behind the name of a popular beer... |
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| Cheers! |
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| Historic relief on city hall... |
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| Midtown Bruges |
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| Example of heraldic shields of many Belgian Cities |
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| Quiet Canal Scene in mid town Bruges |
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| Stone faces over windows keep away bad spirits |
We docked mid-morning at the industrial port of Zeebrugge, a
convenient jumping off point for both Bruges and Ghent further inland of the
small country of Belgium. I chose Bruges – again – as my visit here a few years
ago left nothing but good memories of a lovely medieval town bathed in lovely
present century rain. It appeared that this time I may be able to enjoy the
same thing, but bathed in tentative sunshine.
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| Canal Street Scene in Bruges |
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| Dozens of low bridges over canals |
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| The oldest hospital in Europe |
Picturesque Bruges hat retained its historic appearance,
where the oldest hospital in Europe dates back to the Middle Ages, so do many
monasteries, cathedrals, bridges and town buildings and of course the canals
winding through the city lake lace. The canals are the most pleasant way of
learning the lay out of the compact centre of town, passing under centuries old
bridges (duck – they are very low), following
neat rows of traditional house facades and past sizable flocks of white
swans and almost as many ducks.
The main cathedral in mid-town is filled with treasures, one
of which is a marble statue of the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo. Priceless
Flemish paintings fill the chapels.
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| Michelangelo's Madonna and Child |
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| Flemish Painting |
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| Detail of above |
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| Medieval wood carving |
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| Contemporary Marble |
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| Bruges Main Cathedral |
Bruges is a city of lace, beer and chocolates. Due to the high numbers of
visitors, these items are sold in appropriately ‘traditional’ shops in every
imaginable variety and price range. Lace, still made by hand using bobbins,
ranges in price from bookmark rough lace - cheap (6 Euros) to small super fine
doylies - very expensive (210 Euros).
Even a city map beside one of the canals is made of weather resistant lace to
celebrate the local art form.
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| Lace City Plan |
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| Window display for lace doylies |
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| Bobbins |
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| 210 Euros will buy you this little piece |
Beer is brewed to the tune of about 120 different varieties
– each with their distinctive shape of beer glasses – and in May that tastes
pretty good when combined with a plate of fresh white asparagus prepared the
Flemish way: drenched in warm butter and sprinkled with chopped boiled egg.
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| Beer and more beer... |
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| Brewing since anno 1130 |
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| Asparagus a la Flanders |
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| My luncheon spot |
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| Busy waiters next door |
If one has ‘done’ the city boat ride, there are plenty of
opportunities to criss cross the narrow roads via horse and carriage. The
horses appear lively, well groomed and fed, many of them are of Dutch Warmblood
or Frisian breed, and they trot around, ears on alert, and seem to enjoy their
work.
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| Definitely not underfed |
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| Ears perked up - they are off... |
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| Horse Drinking Fountain decoration |
Traffic is manageable, however, as a pedestrian one has to
watch out for thousands of bicycles. Bicycles are not ‘a way to keep fit’ here,
for which riders were little padded tight rubber pants, use multi geared
machines, wear speed helmets and hydration systems, little perforated sports
tricots and bicycle shoes. The bike is a widespread, traditional way to
commute, to school, to the stores, to church or to the theatre, to a day trip
destination, to a date, to the produce market. They are simple: wheels,
straight handle, bell, light and shopping basket. Fantasy knows no limits when
it comes to ‘shopping baskets’: there are wheeled contraptions to transport
small kids or goods, reed baskets for groceries and flowers, and mini seats to
accommodate a mid-sized kid as well. People drive around, sitting straight up
not hunched over the handlebars, in business suits, evening dresses, summer
dresses or jeans, sneakers or pumps…but nobody, nobody would ever mar the
appearance with a bicycle helmet. Surprisingly the bike crowd does not die from
head injuries by the thousands, but they are such experts that they never seem
to fall off or are unable to negotiate the most crowded cobblestoned alley.
Maybe there is a message here? As an aside, bikes are easier to park in a
pedestrian only (sort of) town centre.
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| A cover emerges from nowhere during a rain shower |
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| Ancient Equestrian under cover of a portal |
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| Casual biker |
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| Going shopping... |
No visit would be complete without at least testing and
savouring the famed Belgian Chocolates. The recipe is secret, the taste is not.
They are delicious and come in hundreds of varieties – delectable in short!
My cabin is back ‘in business’ and it is a pleasure to sit
out on the ‘veranda’ and watch yet another glorious sunset. Slowly moving
towards summer solstice time and evenings are long….
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| Drying operations in my cabin |
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| De Humidifyers, buckets, pipes, electrical cords and lots of noise... |
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| Ah, peace again... |
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Flemish Tapestry
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| Natural Tapestry |
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| Greenish Flash anyone? |
