Tuesday - Antwerp

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Tuesday - May 5, 2009
Today the weather report called for rain and 27mph winds. We quickly postponed our longer bike adventure and decided to head to Antwerp on the train. Antwerp is East and north of Brugge and almost due north of Brussels - it took about 90 minutes to get there. We thought about taking our bikes on the train - and then biking around the city, but Antwerp is about 500,000 people in size, and we thought we would be safer on foot!
I had two quilting stores on my list of MUST DO in Antwerp - so after we stopped in the Information booth at the train station, we had directions to both of them! (Jean was thrilled speechless!) The first ended up being a small fabric and yarn shop that carried quite a few American fabrics and alot of Australian fabrics - go figure. Was worth the walk and fun to see. The second shop ended up only selling buttons.

Then Jean's pick was to go to De Kathedraal - a wonderful Gothic style cathedral that had several Peter Paul Rubens panels (The Raising of the Cross (1609), The Resurrection of Christ - 1612 and The Descent from the Cross - 1612). There was also nine confessionals - beautiful oak paneling that were moved to Antwerp after the French Revolution. The paintings and the cathedral restoration are amazing!

We tried a Belgium waffle at the train station - and I think these are my favorites! It turns out that Belgians eat Begium waffles as an afternoon snack - either warm with fruit, or cold plain - although we did see people pour chocolate over them and eat them with a fork -
The Belgium chocolate is wonderful!
We are definitely going biking tomorrow!

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Photos

Quilting Shop?
Ended up they only sold buttons!

Sewing machines as storefront decor
Loved the old sewing machines - was a clothing store

De Kathedraal
Built in the 10th century

Memory candles
I lit a candle for my loved ones that have gone - that I miss so dearly! My candle was in good company!

School kids
They all wear red hats - so their teachers can find them :-)