This time the guys decided they really didn't want to go to a Belgium Chocolate demonstration so they went to the World War II War Memorial in Ypres. Tyne Cot Cemetery, Menin Gate and Memorial Museum of Passchendaele kept them on the road for six and a half hours! Terry managed to take four pictures...let's just say he isn't a Kathie or Melodee, but we are grateful to have ANY pictures at all! Thank you, Terry for being a good sport!
Today is Rick's birthday and I missed being able to call him and talk to him. I look forward to seeing his birth country later on in the cruise.
Meanwhile, Kathie and I began our tour from Zeebrugge harbor into Brugge. I have to confess I was really excited to show Kathie this quaint, Flemish medieval town. Jeff and I visited here three years ago and I wasn't disappointed at all! In fact, I would love to visit here for several days not just a few hours! We walked through the narrow, twisting cobblestone roads to a demonstration room for making Belgium chocolate. It was interesting and yes, we bought chocolate. I took a lot of pictures because I couldn't help myself! I thought of my brother, Larry often and wondered how he would shoot some of the buildings. I thought of my other brother, Rick, an architect with the building fronts. We met a couple after Amsterdam on the ship who are from Brugge. I gushed like I met some superstars. Ha!
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| Not a building but we (Kathie and I) were thinking of her grandchildren! This reminded us of Yadi. |
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| My Grandpa Lewis worked in a shoe shop. |
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| Seven Sins? Seven Good Deeds? Help me here, Kathie! |
I could have taken a ton more pictures so it's a good thing I was on a tour and had a schedule!
I thought of emailing this picture to our contractor and asking if we could have this door put on our house.
Jan Van Eyck, I think. Brother of a famous author who wrote the Girl in a Blue Dress? I'll have to look that up now.
This is just a small sample of the extreme cobblestones we navigated the entire trip. Kathie had seriously major back surgery and navigated them very well! She took several pictures of the steep hills to send to her surgeon to thank him along with her PT folks. I was so impressed.
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| Instructor with the machine. |
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| Magic time! |
Now this piece of art almost had me in tears! The pure joy in the hand positions and closeness of their faces after their wedding ceremony just moves me. Her veil is flying behind them.
Kathie in the background. You can see where brides and grooms stand on the base and touch the arm and hand for good luck. I seriously would like to find a miniature for our yard. Unfortunately I can't remember the name but hope to find it online exploring Brugge.
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| Not a good picture of the veil. |
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| Real gold. Click on it for a better view. |
Chocolate in hand and bell tower in background. My smile says it all. Sorry, guys, I think the girls had more fun in Brugge than we would have in a war memorial site.
Yup, this building is making sure people know she is there and not going away!
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| One of the canal rides for tourists. |
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| Pretty lace but guide had specific schedule so we couldn't shop yet! |
The black shows what the buildings looked like before cleaning. Amazing difference!
Is the tower leaning? I wasn't on a boat, either.
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| So cute!! |
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| I loved the color contrast in the bricks. |
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| The artist wanted the world to know that even in death life continues...Kathie made me take the picture. ha! |
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| One of my favorite pictures. May have to print this one. |
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| OK, this one was cool, too. |
Lake of Love
We had a wonderful day and loved our separate excursions in Belgium. The sunset from our balcony welcomed us back to the Eurodam.
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