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Antwerp ~ The centre of the Universe
If you’re anything like me, you probably won’t ever have heard of Antwerp. But that doesn’t put the Antwerpians off. They believe they are God’s gift to man, and that their city is the centre of the universe. I’m lucky to know one of these preformentioned Antwerpians, so got a local’s eye view of one of Europe’s fashion centres. It’s one of the biggest cities in Belgium but I’m still not sure if it the capital of Flanders or not. There seems to be a lot of competition between Antwerp and Ghent for the most amazing city award.
Antwerp really is beautiful. The myth goes that a giant, Antigoon, used to rule the gates to the city and demanded a fee from anyone wishing to enter. Well, one day Antigoon received his comeuppance, as the giant lowered his hand to receive his toll, a brave young man severed it off and threw it into the river. Handwerpen (Hand = hand and werpen = to throw) has over the years been adjusted to Antwerpen, and there you have it, what a lovely myth.
During my few days
in Antwerp, I really feel like I experienced so much that the city has to offer. We had Belgium chips from, as my Antwerpian readily informs me, the best chippy in the city, we traipsed through the hippy neighbourhoods, looking through cool vintage stores and drinking mugs of mint tea. We wandered through the old medieval streets of the city, admired the cathedral and had real Belgium chocolate... There really is nothing that comes close to being shown around a city by someone who has grown up there. They know all the fantastical juicy details, like that; by the time the Antwerp cathedral had finished being built they didn’t like the style anymore. The citizens duly built up their houses around the outside, so as to cover up the big white mass. Only one day to realise that the cathedral was actually pretty and maybe they didn’t want to cover the walls up with houses and tore some down. In essence, what you get is a mixture of vast white walls and quaint little houses pushed right up against them.
I got the impression that the Belgian’s really like their myths and stories as I was
told more and more tales involving loved-up blacksmiths, guilt-ridden fathers and even more giants. One such myth that we were ready to quash is that the Brits cannot handle their drink. (OK, I know I’m not the finest example of this... but still, national pride and all that). Belgium beer. Great.
Until I studied abroad in Germany last year, I really really didn’t like beer. But, forcing beer and shandy down the hatch every night for 4 months did help to alter my taste buds (and help me put on a few kilos). I have such a sweet tooth and to be honest the only bad thing about Belgium beer is that if you combine it with Apple Geneva – you end up doing some strange things. If you like sweet stuff the fruit beers in Belgium are delish, and the strong ones aren’t disgusting either. Honestly, take it from me, it’s better than Stella. During my 4 days in Belgium, I went from bar to bar, not knowing what the hell was going on; so I can’t recommend anything, but who cares really – just ask the barman, and give him a little wink from me.
We sipped cold beer on the river bank in Ghent, ate waffles as we wandered through the canal lined streets of Bruges and chatted as we trotted along the Knokke seafront.
It’s a great country, the people might not be the friendliest, but you can get by and if you find a good one ~ you’ve got a friend for life.
What to do in Antwerp; •
The cathedral & the old town •
Drink beer •
MAS - a museum about, well, everything. •
Drink beer •
Eat turkish pizza •
Drink beer •
Eat chips •
Drink beer •
Vinatge stores •
Drink hot chocolate •
See the statue of the Hand-Werpen •
Sleep
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Jon
non-member comment
Beers
Just a small correction, Stella is also belgian beer :) ( but indeed not one of the best ) Other than that you'r right antwerp rules .