Trip Belgium and Holland in Springtime Day 4

Thursday April 9

This night we didn’t sleep so well. The upside of that is that we got up before the alarm rang. We had more time for breakfast and to get ready. 

The four groups had their first meetings and ours (blue group) at 9 am in one end in the restaurant. After that we just quickly went to our room and at 10 am met at the "blue group" bus for our guided tour.

The bus stopped for us to get out at the Castle "Het Steen" and the Promenade Bridge. The walking tour was really very nice and Randy was an excellent guide. 

Randy explains a lot about the buildings, their history, about statues and their stories. It all was very interesting. We walked across the street into the Old Town Center.

The castle used to have a wall all around. You can still see the line of the foundation and left and right remnants of it.

I duplicated the above photo and cropped it so one can see part of hat remnant.

The Vleeshuis was a guildhall also called Butcher's Hall or Meat House. It is the third Vleeshuis on the site and was constructed between 1501 and 1504 looking in a way like layered bacon.

Opposite is a door only tall enough for children. Adults not allowed. Randy told us that children were brought and dropped off here by their fathers when they had something else to take care of in the near-by area of prostitution. Es you can see, it says on the sign 1862.

Randy also pointed out that many of the old houses also had statues of Mary over their doors. Underneath (over the door) was a lamp. Lamps over doors would make the owner have to pay taxes. That's way Mary Statues were placed there to avoid the taxes by saying that the light was not for the door but for Saint Mary to protect the house.

Belgian chocolate is famous. Randy stopped here for a surprise. The shop lady explained to us about the different qualities of the chocolate and the ingredients and then gave us all a taste compliments of Grand Circle.

The tour was basically over, Randy showed some were the ATM was but all of us had free time and options how to get back to the ship with the bus etc.

James and I were so very thirsty. We decided to have something in town rather than lunch on the ship. It was a nice sunny day and we found a great place in the shade. 

Alcohol-free beer again. James had a sandwich I think with prosciutto and I had mussels in tomato sauce. I was very happy.

After being refreshed we decided to go and see the Cathedral of Antwerp. After all we had gone past at many times already. We had to pay 10 Euros each entry fee. There were many pieces of art everywhere but I can't say that I found it beautiful. Yes, some of the different pieces especially the colored glass windows, but not as a whole.

The brochure said that the cathdral is the proud owner of four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, two of which can be admired in situ (original place). Descent from the Cross and Assumption of the Holy Virgin were commissioned for the place where they are on display today. This can be found nowhere else in the world.

This is Raising of the Cross.

This is Assumption of the Holy Virgin.

In the Corona Chapel was one of the contemporary art pieces.

It looked like that the crown of thorns was made from glass.

The entroduction in the booklet said: A Cathedral can be read like a book. Everything carries meaning. The architecture, the paintings, the sacred vessels. It is all language, poetic language that appeals to the imagination.

It was amazing in a way.

It had been very cold in the cathedral but the sun was warming us up. We decided to try to walk to the ship. I looked it up on my phone that it was doable. Otherwise we would have to wait a long time. Of course the Promenade and the story made it interesting. 

The River Scheldt was fun to walk along. And we came passed awesome playgrounds including one challenge course place for bycicles or roller skates or boards, whatever teenagers are doing now.

Luckily there were also benches. We really should have brought our water bottles. 

James was a trooper. I am so proud of him. 

Once we had perked up, we went to the lounge to play cards and chat with fellow travelers. 

Then the alarm came. Of course it was just a drill but we were send to get the live-vests from the rooms and return to the lounge to be marked off.

Shortly after we were invited to the Captain's welcome drinks and the introduction of the crew. Lots of clapping and some interesting appetizers. I have to remember these hot dog spiders (?), flowers (?), octopus (?) for the boys. 

The Captain's Welcome Dinner was awesome as always. We said with 2 other couples and the conversation was again very very nice. Interesting people and so much fun. 

I think I will forgo the explanations of the next photos, especially since I forgot to take photos of several other items. Wished I could create some of this at home. 

We skipped the live music in the lounge tonight, even though its really nice. Didn't sleep well last night. Might not this night either after all that food.

But we are having a great time. 

Steps today: 10,036   -   Happy!