10/13/2019 to Ghent to Bruges, Belgium

10/13.    • Included Meals: Breakfast 

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Or travel to Bruges, Belgium to begin your optional extension.

10/13/2019 Ghent, Belgium • Bruges (30 min. away) Ave. temps.  59 high,  50 low.  Ave.weather 45% mostly cloudy  32% rain.  Phone says 17,846 steams 7.4 miles, climbed 8 floors

Tour info "• Accommodations: Grand Hotel Casselbergh Bruges or similar

Disembark your Romance of the Rhine & Mosel river cruise after breakfast this morning. En route to Bruges, we stopped to explore Ghent, known as “the Jewel of Flanders.” Originally the site of two abbeys founded in the seventh century at the confluence of the Schelde

and Leie rivers, the city grew slowly into a commercial center especially known for its textiles. It was here in the city’s Pacification Hall that the Treaty of Ghent was signed

in 1814, ending the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain. Historic Ghent boasts many beautiful buildings dating from medieval times.

During your guided walk in the city, you’ll see the imposing St. Bavo’s Cathedral, where the painting Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, by the Van Eyck brothers, resides. You also see the 800-year-old Castle of the Counts in the town center. From here, the Counts of Flanders ruled over the proud and sometimes rebellious Ghent people. Marvel at wonderful old guild houses, and admire the Gothic Town Hall and Belfry Tower.  Lunch is on your own.  

Settle into your hotel in Bruges, then join your Program Director for a walk to discover the vicinity around the hotel.  Your Program Director will give you suggestions on where to dine on your own this evening.  Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610"

We had a quick tour near the hotel with restaurant recommendations and an introduction to two town squares.  We were drenched with a downpour driven by strong winds just as our guide, Nicholas was finishing.  The weather has been cloudy and drizzly off and on for two weeks and this storm made me appreciate the drizzling.  

My info.  St. Bavo was born into a noble family and was a wild aristocrat and soldier.  He reformed after the death of his wife and hearing a sermon by Armand and distributed all his wealth to the poor.  He was a traveling missionary and eventually built an abbey on his grounds.  He lived as a recluse in a hollow tree and later in a cell in the forest by the Abbey.

St. Bavo Cathedral is 89-meter-tall and of Gothic design.  The original building dates back to 942 AD so check out the crypts.  Through the 14th to 16th centuries, there was continuous expansion.  It is known for the Ghent Altarpiece, a painting divided into sections or panels called a polyptych that was painted in the 15th century.  The upper panels show Christ the King, Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist.  The outside panels on the top are Adam and Eve.  The painting is attributed to Hubert and Jan Van Eyck.  Also included, is the world renowned 'Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'.  There are other artworks by Peter Paul Rubens, de Heere, Pourbus, de Crayer, van Cleef and others.  I did see the Ghent Altarpiece.  The accompanying audio certainly increased my appreciation of the artwork.  There are four organs.  The high choir includes a Baroque high altar in white, black and red flamed marble.  The nave has an amazing rococo pulpit of oak, gilded wood and marble.





Nearby, is St. Nicholas' Church which has another impressive spire.   I’m not sure at this point, which spire is which.  This picture is deceptive, the spires are not that close together.  

Belfry of Ghent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and construction began in 1313 and was completed in 1380. The 91-meter-tall belfry of Ghent is the tallest belfry in Belgium. The gilded dragon was placed atop the spire and the spire was rebuilt several times to accommodate the additional bells being added.  It was a fortified watchtower.  In the beginning, the bells were only for religious purposes.  Then the bells regulated daily life with alarm bells warning of the approaching enemy, fires and other dangers.  It also chimed hourly.  In the 17th century, the famous bellfounders, Pieter and Francois Hemony built a carillon with a total weight of 30 tons.  In 1982, the carillon was expanded to 53 bells.  A carillon allows the bells to be played by hand on a keyboard either live or by automation.  A live person operates the keyboard of the carillon on Sunday morning.  The music was lovely.   The rest of the week it plays by automation.



 
Ghent has an amazing collection of historic buildings.


The 800-year-old Castle of the Counts in the town center. From here, the Counts of Flanders ruled over the proud and sometimes rebellious Ghent people.  If this castle looks familiar to you, it’s been in a lot of movies.  

No one knew why the Marriot was wrapped up with a red ribbon.

This was a great town and I enjoyed my time walking the streets and along the canals. The butchers' market is on the left.  

Ghent's Town Hall is a mess of different architecture.  I don’t know what they were thinking.

Belgium claims to be the real home of Fries.  The name should be Belgium Fries not “French” Fries.  They are fried twice in animal fat (I believe) and come out crispy.  I chose to have the pepper sauce again, they were great.  

These are Ghent noses.  They are like a gum drop candy with a soft center.  If you look carefully at the picture in the top left quadrant you can see Nicholas, my new guide, with a Ghent nose stuck to his forehead.  

 We traveled less than an hour from Ghent and arrived in Bruges.