Well, summer was pretty busy with all three kids off from school, and fall seemed to arrive out of nowhere. We are a bit out of date with our posts, and the storage disk is filling up on the camera. So, it's time to post about some adventures.
In early July, we went to Bruges, Belgium. Several people have told us that Bruges is their favorite city in Europe, so we thought we would give it a try.
We stayed at an adorable apartment just outside the city center. Every morning, we walked through the old city gate into the heart of the city. A lot of the cities we visit have original city gates or town walls still standing. It's still fun, though, to walk through one and feel that you have formally entered a town.
We lucked out and stumbled upon a flea market. Who can resist wandering around and looking for some treasures?
The Markt is in the heart of the city. It is the old town square that is crowned by the Belfry. The Belfry is an old bell tower. Ships coming into port would use the tower as a landmark. We opted out of climbing to the top of the tower and enjoyed the art exhibit on display in the attached community space instead.
The Bruges Beer Museum was conveniently located in the post office across the square from the Belfry. Not sure why it is housed above the post office. Maybe it's nice to get a drink after sending off a package. The museum covered the history of beer making and its rich tradition in Belgium. The kids got to do an audio guide that told a story as they went through a museum, and they got apple juices at the end while Robert got to sample some Belgium beer. So, the stop was a win for everybody.
The market square is also home to the Museum-Gallery Xpo Salvador Dali. It turns out that Dali did a lot more than paint pictures of melting clocks. The museum had examples of his films, costume designs, sculptures, quotes, illustrations, and more. Lena usually asks if there are art museums we can visit on trips, so she was pretty excited to go to the museum.
After Dali, we had to check out the Expo Picasso. Some of his most famous works (Don Quixote, the peace dove) were on display.
Obviously, we had to try out some Belgium chocolate and check out the handmade lace.
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges is home to a Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo. Crafted in 1504, it is the only Michelandelo sculpture to have left Italy while the artist was alive.
We then went by the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The Basilica is home to a cloth said to have been stained by Christ's blood. It was brought to Bruges in the 12th century. The cloth is kept in a silver box and only brought out at certain times of the year. The box was really nice; we'll just have to trust that the relic is too.
We then took time to question just how cruel people could be by visiting the Foltermuseum De Oude Steen (torture museum in Old Castle). The kids were really excited about this. The adults left with a terrible feeling about humanity in general.
Bruges is known as the Venice of the north because of the canals that lead in and out of the city. So, we went on a canal ride through the city. This gave us great views of the triangle-topped buildings that have become the city's trademark.
Canal boat rides out of the city are also available. We went on a ride to Damme, a small town about fifteen miles outside the city. The town appeals to people who want a rest from the city. It has some lovely restaurants, shops, and a fascinating church. The bell tower of the church is still standing, and people can climb to the top to see a 360 view of the area. The section of the church that connected to the bell tower has been destroyed, but the main chapel is still standing and in use. It's an interesting combination of a ruin and a building still being used.
Bruges' Belfry tower from a distance.
Some final photos from Bruges (Yes, we do take pictures of Joseph. He is going through a won't-smile-in-pictures phase, so his pictures simply don't turn out very well):
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