{"id":1357,"date":"2011-05-03T12:28:55","date_gmt":"2011-05-03T19:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayivey.com\/wordpress\/?p=1357"},"modified":"2011-05-03T12:34:26","modified_gmt":"2011-05-03T19:34:26","slug":"spring-forward-day-44","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.rayivey.com\/wordpress\/spring-forward-day-44\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"rss\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a>

Bruges, Ghent
\nApril 25, 2011<\/h2>\n

Distance Traveled Today:\u00a0 194<\/h3>\n

Distance So Far:\u00a0 7894<\/h3>\n

In Bruges<\/h3>\n
\"From<\/a>
From the canal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fun, long excursion day to Bruges and Ghent, the two jewels in the crown of historic Flanders.<\/p>\n

Both cities were hugely important for a long time.\u00a0 They were both ports (reachable from the sea by canals) and were heavily involved in the Flemish cloth trade.\u00a0 Then two horrible things happened:\u00a0 Silt filled in their harbors and those damned English figured out a way to make cloth as nice as the Flemish stuff for much less.\u00a0 That and a reprisals from a bit of political disobedience killed both towns.\u00a0 Now they are both sturdy, mid-sized cities who earn a lot of their dough from tourists like me.<\/p>\n

\"Make<\/a>
Make sure you spring for the most expensive candles; this guarantees that God fast-tracks an answer to your prayer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Okay,<\/a>
Okay, I'm firing my cleaning lady<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have one question for the horrible Spanish family who sat behind me on the bus.\u00a0 Why would you take a two year old on a 10 hour bus and walking tour to Ghent and Bruges?\u00a0 Why, oh why?\u00a0 What a shock that he didn\u2019t have a good time.\u00a0 And as everyone knows, if a two year old who\u2019s sharing a confined space with you isn\u2019t happy, ain\u2019t nobody happy.<\/p>\n

\"Didn't<\/a>
Didn't have time to climb it. But damnit if Brendan Gleeson can climb it, I can climb it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I kept looking for an opportunity to push the tot into one of the many scenic canals we visited during the day, but no appropriate opportunity presented itself.<\/p>\n

Bruges is the smaller of the two cities, but its historic district is much larger.\u00a0 It is indeed a jewel.\u00a0 I had just the day before ascended the many winding stairs to the tippy top of the bell towers of Notre Dame, so I wasn\u2019t sure if I was up to doing the same thing in Bruges.\u00a0 The clock tower in the center of town figures prominently in the fabulous movie In Bruges<\/em><\/strong>, and I really wanted to climb it . . . I think.\u00a0 Perhaps fortunately, the line to climb was long and we didn\u2019t have time during our brief stay.\u00a0 Oh, well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I enjoyed the picture taking, particularly around the little lake just outside the town center.\u00a0 Also, there\u2019s a lovely Michelangelo statue in the cathedral.\u00a0 He carved it for a church in Siena, but it was acquired by a rich Flemish merchant who brought it home to impress the locals. It\u2019s one of the very few Michalengelos outside of Italy.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of the few Michelangelos outside of Italy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Bruges it was a zip down the highway to Ghent.\u00a0 By this time the squalling espagnol brat had soured my mood somewhat, so I sort of stomped around Ghent checking out the greatest hits.\u00a0 Happily, one of the greatest hits was the magnificent altarpiece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, from 1432, on display at the St. Bavo Cathedral.\u00a0 It consists of 24 panels and is quite something.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a>
I guess I don't get the point of black flowers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Something that had been bothering me to an increasing degree over the week was concerns about having enough walking-around money.\u00a0 In Europe, debit cards are used much<\/em> less commonly than in the States, and I\u2019d had zero luck using either my debit card or my credit card in getting more Euros out of any ATM.\u00a0 Finally, I scored at a KTB bank ATM in Ghent, rendering Ghent to be an official Wonderful Place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a>
I guess wherever you grow up feels normal to you . . . <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"...<\/a>
... even if it's not.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Many<\/a>
Many of these swans are over 600 years old.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The main canal in Ghent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"When's<\/a>
When's the last time you saw an actual hurdy-gurdy man?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"mill\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Polychromatic<\/a>
Polychromatic facade in GhentYes, Bruges is a pretty town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
A simple but lovely window in the cathedral in Ghent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"It's<\/a>
It's so cool: For Easter, the Ghent Cathedral has the Stations of the Cross illustrated with ACTUAL PHOTOS.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\"in_bruges\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pigeon<\/a>
Pigeon towers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Memorable Tours<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Walking tour of Nazi Munich, 2006<\/li>\n
  • Bus tour of Ming Tombs and Great Wall, 2007<\/li>\n
  • Segway tour of old mill area of Minneapolis, 2008<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Average Rating: 4.8<\/span> out of 5<\/span> based on 277<\/span> user reviews.<\/span><\/div><\/p>

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