Saturday, 9 August 2014

15 June 2014 – 17 June 2014 – Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

We arrived at Antwerp’s main train station which is a tourist attraction in its own right

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The interior was decorated with reliefs, statues, coloured stone and marble

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The stone viaduct leading to the station

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The architecture was a blend of Dutch and French elements

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The grand entrance to the Stadsfeestzaal Shopping Centre

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Inside the shopping centre

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Chocolate bride and groom on display at The Chocolate Line, an upmarket Belgian chocolate shop

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Cathedral of Our Lady

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View of the Cathedral from the Meir, Antwerp’s main shopping street

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An endless variety of Belgian beers for sale

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A young cyclist takes a nap

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The Grote Markt (Town Square) is the heart of the old city

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Inside the Amadeus Restaurant – famous for ribs and beer

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The Giant Lange Wapper outside the medieval fortress Het Steen

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Buildings around Koningin Astridplein (Queen Astrid Square)

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The Stadhuis (Town Hall)

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In front of the town hall was the Brabo Fountain depicting the hero Brabo’s victory over Antigoon.  The mythical giant Antigoon guarded a bridge over the river and exacted a toll from all those who crossed.  If they refused he cut off their hand and threw it into the river.  Antigoon was eventually slain by Brabo (a young Roman soldier) who cut off the giant’s hand and flung into the river.

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The modern red brick and wavy glass Museum Aan De Stroom building

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Views from the top of the building

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War memorial on the waterfront

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We spent a lot of time exploring Antwerp’s Diamond District and Jewish Quarter

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The Bourla Theatre

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Monday, 21 July 2014

12 June 2014 – 14 June 2014 - Bruges, Flanders, Belgium

Bruges was a picturesque medieval town with cobbled streets, canals, stone bridges, rows of charming terraced gabled houses and lovely squares.

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The Provincial Courthouse

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Belfry of Bruges

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Belgian Waffles come in a variety of flavours

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The Markt

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Friday night festivities at a bar next to the train station

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Our Belgian friends Stefaan and Tine took us on a day trip to the Belgian coast and the green Flemish “polders” (large flat areas of reclaimed land)

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The ruined church at the small medieval town of Damme

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Where we found a lost Unicorn

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De Haan, a village on the West Flanders coast

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Beach houses

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A coastal forest walk near De Haan

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Back in Bruges

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Church of Our Lady

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What are you looking at????

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