BRUGES, BELGIUM

 

"If you set out to design a fairy-tale medieval town, it would be hard to improve on Bruges.  Picturesque cobbled lanes and dreamy canals link exceptionally photogenic market squares lined with soaring towers, historical churches and old whitewashed almshouses."

We left early on Wednesday morning and arrived in Bruges in time to check into the hotel and find a place to eat.  

We left the hotel and headed to the square.

Market Square,the commercial heart of the city.

And found a nice llittle place to have lunch.

After lunch we decided to just wander around and get a feel for the city but also look for the Basiica of the Holy Blood where we thought the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo was located. We were charmed by Bruges.

Burg Square - The administrative centrer of the city.  The buildings and architecture are beautiful.  There are bars, and restaurants and of course the horse drawn carriages start from here.  Throughout the city as you walk along you hear the clomp, clomp of horses and the music from the bells.  

The Old Recorder's House.

The Basilca of the Holy Blood.  This was closed when we went so decided to continue to walk around and come back at a later time.  We also discovered that the Michelangelo's  Madonna and Child was not in the Basiica but in the Church of our Lady.

So off we went in search of the Church of our Lady.  

                              

And Sharon found this  and I had a hard time convincing her that I would not ride in the sidecar.  I'm afraid otherwise we would be whipping around Europe in this.  She was convinced that it would have a been a great way to get around and give her foot a chance to heal.  Now when I look at it it might have been pretty cool.  I can just see it now " Two seventy year old broads, abroad tool around Europe on their motorcycle and sidecar."  Next time I won't be so persuasive. 

That church steeple was our destination.

Writer, poet, and Roman Catholic Priest.

Inside the Church of our Lady.The Michelangelo's Madonna and child in the center.  This piece has been moved several times due to political and social upheaval, the last during WWII when the Nazi's took her and the piece was found by the Alllies in a salt mine and returned to Bruges ( This is just one of many pieces that were found in the salt mines - The Monument's Men by Robert Edsel goes into great detail about finding and preserving buildings and art during WWII. )

 Madonna and Child (504-5) by Michelangelo.  It was originally intended for an altar in the Cathedral of Sienna but the Mouscron family of Bruges bought it and gave it to Our Lady's Church.   It is one of of the few pieces of Michelangelo that is located outside of Italy. 

The pulpit.

                                  

CARVED WOOD CRIB by Pastor-Sculptor Omer Gielliet.  (1995) This modern Christmas crib is carved within a 100 year old elm tree which had been discarded as useless.  " The central motif we find deep in the heart of the tree: the new-born child Jesus, lovingly enfolded by Mary and Joseph.  All of the carved figures and symbols refer to and lead to this wonderful event that is a bridge between man and God."

                                               

                                         

                                 

We wandered out and stoled around the area.

Stopped to rest.Yes, wine was coming.

And we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

The hotel had recommended a ittle restaurnat that served typical Belgium food so we headed out and managed not to get lost.  The name of the restaurant was Cambrinus.

Here he is.  Cambrinus the King of Beers.

We met a nice couple who were retired professors and had taught German at Princeton.  They spent many summers abroad and I'm not sure when he started "the book" but todate he has 995 different beers that he has tasted.  I had ordered "the beer" that went with the Flemish Cabonades prepared with "Golden Dragon" beer.  Of course if you are following this that means they recommended Golden Dragon beer.  Sounded good to me.  Now I would have just drank that beer and not thought any thing of it but our "professor" pointed out that the Golden Dragon had an alcohol level of 10.2.  HOLY COW!   Four hundred beers on the menu and I get the 10.2 one.  I shared it with Sharon since she had the same dish.  It really did complement the "stew".  We probably didn't walk a straight line home but at least we weren't driving.  

Market Square at night. The Belfry Tower and the cloth hall.  One can climb the tower, 336 steps or so for a fee.  I certainly didn't think that was right.  They should be paying to have people climb it.  Especially "old" people.  

And so ended our first night in Bruges.  Tomorrow we have a real adventure - Moent Segway Touor!