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Published: October 20th 2008
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There's something special about touring, shopping, visiting & living the Antwerp experience with bona fide Antwerpenaren 😊 It's taken me years to get to know this city & it's people. Antwerp is so multifaceted, has so much to offer, there's so much to tell. I'm going to break it down into bite sized pieces & try to stick with the history & fun of each entry in a limited style.
The photo of the elephant, in my last entry, is part of the Elephant Parade. There are 71 elephant statues distributed all over the city of Antwerp until the 1st wk of November. These statues, designed by dozens of Belgian & Thai artists, are intended to raise awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant. Bernaerts will auction the statues off & the finances raised will be used to build an elephant hospital, the 1st in the world, in Chiang Mai.
When Antwerpenaren get behind an idea they believe in, there's no stopping their dedication 😊
This is a Vlaamse speaking region (Flemish-Dutch) & the inhabitants speak a VERY distinctive dialect, easily recognizable from other Brabantic areas. Really, you can pick them out of any crowd :D I
Stadhuis Antwerpen (town hall)
One of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Low Countries. Completed 1564- Cornelis Floris de Vriendt. find it ever so enjoyable to listen to & I find their dialect easily understandable. Much to the chagrin of many of my friends, I also like to listen to Hollanders :D !!! LoL
Antwerp has been inhabited since the mid 2nd century when it was a Gallo/Roman civilization & became the 2nd largest european city above the alps in the 1500's. The world's first printed newspaper rolled off the presses in Antwerp. A vast history of occupation, Napolean rule, Germans, sculptors, writers, artists (Rubens, VanDyck, Jordaens, Teniers....) all have a lasting impression & a part to play in present day society. An old world look in a modern day world fast becoming a fashion capital, as a learning center for designers & remains the diamond center of the world. Without a doubt, this is one active city!
Antwerps long lived policy for tolerance attracted a large orthodox Jewish community. For many years they controlled much of the diamond trade but now it seems the Indians & Armenians are making their own mark in this industry. Diversity, harmony. I believe Belgium is the 4th largest Jewish community in all of Europe, which is really saying something considering the
Between the coat of arms of King Philip II
Lady 'Justitia' and Lady 'Prudentia' & Madonna upper center entire country is the size of Maryland :D!
Right, so back to my images. The Gemeente Huis (Town Hall) is one of the oldest Renaissance ( Dorian & Ionic colons) buildings in the Low Countries. VERY impressive, like so much of Antwerp 😊 The Guild Houses on the same square are the work of Hans Vredeman de Vries I believe. Highly renovated & gorgeous! One could spend HOURS admiring the detail. Next time I'm in the city I'll take more detailed photos.
This city was the first to host the World Gymnastics Championships (very early 1900's), hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics -something it seems everyone is still very proud of to this day & serves up the BEST "fritjes" in all the land! Fries with mayonnaise on a warm summer's evening or a cold winter's day-absolute perfection! Now I'm not talking about some flimsy McDonald's french fry, we're talking Belgian Fries! The French STOLE the idea by the way. They are Belgian fries, but "French Fry" probably rolls off of the tongue easier -_- There are dozens of fritkots dotted all over this city & I believe it to be a staple food, certainly immensely popular @
One of the many charms....
cultural sights even from a 4 story parking garage any rate! Belgian's, as a whole, love good quality food. Right down to special potato's & oil for their specially prepared fritjes. Many of the world's top chefs received their training in this country. Antwerp serves up the TASTIEST Beef Stews & Pea Soup on frigid winter days on the Groenplaats (the photo of the tents in the shadow of the Cathedral). It's rather fun to stand around, admire the craftsmanship of the artists showing their works while enjoying a soup, chatting to friends & enjoying the ambiance, which there is PLENTY of!
Most saddening is the fact that Antwerp was battered by more V-2 German missiles during WWII than any other target in the entire war. The point of destroying the port of Antwerp did not succeed, but the city had taken the most serious of beatings. The harbor is the 2nd largest in Europe. It would certainly be a wonderful experience to see the world had there not been war & destruction. The lost treasures of civilization, the lost lives..... I guess it makes what we still have today even more valuable.
Well, from a country that brews over 800 varieties of beer, which most all
are available for enjoyment in Antwerp 😊..... on a terrace with friends & loved ones, to shopping for a special fur, textile or leather goods, fine dining, touring, MANY museums, it is one classy city! Great people, fun, educational & never a dull moment 😊
Oh, a word from the wise to the wise; Ladies, as gorgeous as high heel boots or dancing shoes are, 2 words= Cobblestone Streets. Sensible shoes to go from one place to another, heels in your bag to whip out @ a moments notice 😊
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