Friday, April 26, 2013

Brugge, Belgium- Updated April 28th At the end of this page.

Had a fairly good night sleep and woke refreshed and ready for another walking tour.  Today we will do the "Musts of Bruges".  Again, two different spellings of the town name.  Keeps you on your feet.

We had coffee and tea in the room.  Have not found a cafe like we did in Gent.  Will keep looking.

When we stepped outside, we found it rainy and much colder than yesterday.  Oh well.  We started our walk and we passed city hall.  And on to the fish market.  Today we were a little early so there were only two stalls open.  Lots of different fish to choose from.  Some I would try and others, not so much.


The shrimps are much smaller than we grow in Florida but still taste good.


At the bottom is sea bass, then eel, then I am not too sure.  They also have flounder but it did not make it in the picture.


Anyone for snails?

We passed several guild houses and museums but do not go inside.  We came to Our Lady Church but it was closed.  I do not think things open until 10am or so.

Because it was raining, we decided to cut our walk short.  We finally found a place for a quick breakfast.  At Hema.  This is a department store with a cafeteria upstairs.  We each had a pastry and tea or coffee.  And only 6,25 euros.  And it was nice to get out of the rain for a while.

Next we went to St. Saviour's Cathedral.  We were able to go inside but they were having a service of some sort so we left.  I thought it was a funeral.

We next went back to Our Lady Church.  They are doing a lot of renovations on the main church so there is little to be seen.  But the main attraction is the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo.  To enter if costs 2 euros but because we are seniors, only 1 euro each.  There were a few groups from river ships there so I got to listen to them in English.  One was a Viking River Cruise and the other was. unknown.  


The area where the Madonna and Child is located is now a museum.  This is part of the way they are paying for the restoration of the main church.


It really is a beautiful sculptor.


Just a close up of the Madonna and Child.


The rest of the church is under restoration.  You can only view it from the rear.  They are running cables under the floor.


This large crufix is hung from the ceiling.  You almost miss seeing it unless you look up.


The pulpit is beautiful and very similar to ones we have seen before.


This is a view of the entire church.  As you leave the church. you come upon this painting of the "Adoration of the Magi" painted by Gerard Seghers in 1630.  You could almost miss seeing it.



After we left the church we came to the St. John's Hospital and Memling Museum.  It is no longer a hospital but we found the sculpture over the doorway interesting.



The entrance to the former hospital.


While walking back to the hotel, we spotted this horse.  He decided to give me a kiss.  PopPop thought Aiden would like this picture.  Can you tell I am a little cold?


We decided to return to the hotel so I did a bit of shopping.  Stopped at a chocolate store for some wonderful goodies for the room.  This picture is of the Historium.  Just another beautiful building here in Brugge.

We worked on the blog and pictures and then headed out for lunch.  We wanted seafood so we went back to the fish market.  We found that the fish sellers were all gone.  We decided to eat at the restaurant with the fish hanging from the line.  This was one of the best meals we have enjoyed on this trip.  But expensive.  Oh well.


Love the wine glasses at the restaurant.


Then on the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Basilica of the Holy Blood.  We followed the crowd and walked upstairs to the chapel where the blood of Christ is on display.  It is only open on Fridays so we were very lucky to have the chance to see it.



The entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Blood.  The relic is on the second floor.


The altar in the chapel where the relic is.


The relic is under the glass and guarded by this lady.  She wipes the case after each visitor.

Then back to the hotel for our nap.  Now worked on the blog and pictures again until we go out for dinner.  Yesterday the weather was warm and sunny and today it is rainy and cold.  What a difference but the people of Brugge take it in stride.

We enjoyed our lunch so much that we returned for dinner.  We both had the cod which was excellent. We also shared a bottle of wine.  What more could one ask for.  We walked back to the hotel and had our vodka and turned in.  Tomorrow we head back to Amsterdam.




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