Of course we needed nourishment so we found a little place to enjoy a breakfast before we began..
I told her to smile for the camera.
I don't think we had had any coffee yet so it's hard to smile when that happens. I'm sure that's why and not that she's tired of me snapping away again. We enjoyed a nice eggs benedict but it was hard to pass up these goodies in their display case
I don't think we had had any coffee yet so it's hard to smile when that happens. I'm sure that's why and not that she's tired of me snapping away again. We enjoyed a nice eggs benedict but it was hard to pass up these goodies in their display case
Now that we had had some coffee we headed to the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
"The Basilica of the Holy Blood houses a venerated relic of Christ;his very blood collected by Joseph of Arimathea". The first historical record to mention the Holy Blood in Bruges dates back to 1256. The real story seems to be that it came from Constantinople, which had am extensive collection of relics including one of the Holy Blood.
The Basilica consists of a Romanesque lower chapel and a Gothic chapel. The two levels are very diferent. I was under the impression that no pictures were allowed in the Basilica so while viewing the lower chapel I did not take any pictures. When I went upstiars everyone was snapping away so I did too. When I went out and was going to go into the lower chapel they were having services so I didn't get any pictures of it. I can just say that the lower chapel is very austere - simple, very lovely and peaceful. It is the only Romanesque church in West Flanders, dating from the first half of the 12th century.
The upper chapel was originally Romanesque as well, but it is now Gothic with mostly modern decorations. It is lit by stained glass windows and covered murals, including a brightly painted altar backdrop depicting the Trinity and scenes relating to the Holy Blood relic.
The Holy Blood relic is embedded in a rock-crystal vial, which is placed inside a small glass cyinder capped with a golden crown. The relic is kept in a magnificent silver tabernacle with a sculpture of the Lamp of God in the large side chapel of the upper church.
One of the pictures in the series of The Stations of the Cross.
In the museum there were six medallions made of oak that were a deictinon of the life of Christ done by Hendrix Pulincx.
This is one of the medallions.
Every year on Ascension Day in the spring the Procession of the Holy Blood is held. The Bishop of Bruges carries the relic through the streets, accompanied by costumed residents acting out biblical scenes. The tradition of the procession is first recorded in 1291.
The vile of blood is placed in this in the procession.Walked down a few streets and looked in some chocolate shops .
We found just what we were looking for - like that was hard. Anyway we wandered around...
Thought this looked like such a pretty hotel.
Grabed a quick lunch...
And a Belgium Hot chocolate for the road ( They use a square of chocolate on a stick and put it in hot water - yummy! ) Three different flavors to choose from - dark, milk chocolate, or hazelnut)
Now she's smiling!Me too!
Than we picked up our suitcases at the hotel, headed to the train station and started our journey home!
It was a great trip - such a beautiful city and we had great weather!
So you re-discoverd the Belgian Chocolates. :D
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