Trips

7/20-21 - Bruges

       Our first morning in Bruges, we went with Daniella, our local tour guide, on a fairly extensive tour of Bruges, including a canal boat ride. The next day, Independence Day in Belgium, we spent the whole day wandering around the historic town. The pictures and information which follow are a compilation of the two days in Bruges.

Towers of the Four Magistrates building	Fish Market - no fish today
Most of the houses are made of brick and have brick designs above the windows called “eyebrows.”	Bruges' Bridge of Sighs People walked across the second story bridge going from prison to court.
Belfry Tower	St. Basil’s Church of the Holy Blood is small but all of the walls and the ceiling are painted with decorations and the windows are old stained glass.  We did not pay 8 Euros each ($10) to see the chest holding two drops of blood from Christ.
Basilica of the Holy Blood	Basilica of the Holy Blood
House of the Bishops of Bruges	Neuzen candy A nose-shaped candy of raspberry and strawberry with a soft interior.  At one time, medicine for children was hidden in the center.
Chocolatiers! Danielle pointed out several of the expensive chocolatiers: Godiva since 1926; Marcolini who roasts his own beans; Galler who uses cocoa butter and more coca and no sugar; and Dominique Persoone who makes fashion chocolates including chocolate lipstick.	Bicycle racks
Architects and Builders Guild	Architects and Builders Guild
Shoe and Bootmakers Guild The shoe and boot-makers’ guild building was bought by McDonalds.  People are not happy and UNESCO won’t let them change the basic structure of the building.  No one will be buying Big Macs anytime soon.	Shoe and Bootmakers Guild
Simon Stevin - Flemish mathematician and engineer He was a 16th c. mathematician who developed the system of locks for boats, created the metric measurement system, and invented a siphon.	Simon Stevin - some of his work
Wooden house	Lace making

 

Oak posts from the foundations of Roman ruins	Roman ruins
City Hall	Canal boat dock
Oldest bridge in Bruges	View from the oldest bridge in Bruges
Church of Our Lady	The Church of our Lady contains Michaelangelo's Bruges Madonna, another piece of famous artwork stolen by the Nazis and featured in the Monuments Men.        It is relatively small, but very beautiful!
Michaelangelo's Bruges Madonna	Michaelangelo's Bruges Madonna
Pulpit in the Church of Our Lady	Tool chest in the Church of Our Lady
Statue of Mary and an Angel in the Church of Our Lady	Statue of Mary and an Angel in the Church of Our Lady - details of the back
Statue of Zeus, Leda, Prometheus, and Pegasus	Beguinage Benedictine Monastery
“Hands Need Each Other” by Johnny Werkbrouck	Horses and carriages for tourists
Horse Fountain	Fancy baby carrier
Belgian Waffle Menu (about $10.00)	Belgian Waffle - melt in your mouth good!
Function at City Hall - Last politician in
A PT, do you suppose?	We walked to the canal that forms the ring around the UNESCO city of Bruges.  On the ramparts are four historic picturesque windmills.  From the first one we could see the Kruispoort Gate that our buses just barely fit through.  The pedestrian and bike path along the canal was full of people enjoying this holiday.        At Dampoort we watched the small drawbridge open to let luxury boats and a barge converted into a houseboat pass through the lock under the bridge.
Kruispoort - one of the original city gates	Windmill
Interesting draw bridge	Boat passing through
Almost down	Lace in a window
On our way back we saw a sign for a Circus gratis and walked to see it.  The free event was filled with families who arrived on bikes.  We watched kids playing with wooden games with gears to maneuver wooden balls to see a mother bird feeding her chicks, to turn a windmill blade, to move a ball through a maze, etc.  It was fascinating to watch the children work with the clever devices.  Under a tent small kids were learning to spin plates and juggle.  Another tent had a line of girls waiting to have their hair styled with combs and flowers and rubber animals.  We also watched three acrobats work on a 20-foot pole.  It was very entertaining.
Free Circus	Most people arrived by bicycle
The kid was fascinated!	Pole acrobats
Hand operated draw bridge	Hand operated draw bridge
An architect's house	Roof ornament of the architect's house
Thirteen of us gathered for dinner at the Restaurant  ‘t Vagevuur.  The name of the restaurant translates to purgatory or hell fire!  The food was just ok, but the company was great.	More great beer
Yet another!	Last dinner with friends

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