Bruges is a beautiful town. Touristy and busy yes, but somehow it doesn't seem to matter. The place must be packed in summer but it wasn't so bad for us. On the afternoon we arrived we went on a walking tour that was free through the backpackers we stayed in and just as we began, it started to snow! For a couple of queenslander's it was pretty damn exciting! It didn't matter that it was freezing cold and every time you looked up at something the guide pointed at you got snow in your eyes. And of course, the snow just made the town more beautiful. We walked through the town for hours in the snow, stopping for a break in the middle for a nice, warm drink. The tour probably wasn't the most informative tours you could go on, not that we didn't learn a thing or two about the towns history as well as see places from the film 'In Bruges', but the guides were funny which made it a great afternoon.
Of course, the snow inspired us and with a fellow Aussie in tow we made the best snowman in Bruges (even if I do say so myself).
Seeing as Belgium is the place for beer, we were also talked into attending a beer tasting evening also run by one of the tour guides - the guy seemed to run half the things in Bruges as well as know most the people! Fortunately the evening was a little more informative than the tour although tasting seemed to imply a full glass of each beer. It was a loooong night.
Bruges has probably been one of my favorite places so far, though we have a lot more places to see. It's the epitome of what you think of as an old European town and Belgium people are so friendly.
Showing posts with label Week 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week 2. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Ypres
Ypres in Belgium is a lovely medieval looking town which in actual fact is less than 100 years old. The massive cloth hall, towering gothic cathedral and similarly impressive town hall were in all destroyed in WW1 along with the surrounding villages. During the war, hundreds of shells rained down on Ypres as battles were fought in an arc around the town. After the war, it was suggested that the site of Ypres become a memorial to those lost in the war, but the people of Ypres who had fled the war wished to return and rebuild. As a result, the town is built almost exactly as it had been, in memory of its former self.
To make the most of the small amount of time we had in Ypres we joined a small tour run by Flanders Battlefield Tours. During the tour we visited a number of trenches still remaining from the war, a scary reminder of the terrifying battles fought throughout the countryside. We learned that much of the countryside is also riddled with tunnels, mined by both armies in an effort to reach each other without being shot at every step they took. We also visited Hill 60, one of such locations tunneled under, where over 70,000 pounds of explosives were laid by Australian miners under the hill occupied by the Germans, and then set off. Even after all this time has passed, the crater is massive.
As we drove through the countryside, we never went far before yet another cemetery appeared. There are 150 cemeteries located in the area - and the area is not very big at all. We visited Tyne Cot, the biggest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Over 13,000 soldiers are buried there, along with a wall engraved with the names of almost 30,000 whose remains were never found. The rows and rows of white tombstones, many of which have no name, are an incredibly sad and lonely sight.
Most humbling of all was the Menin Gate, a memorial to those missing in action. Close to 55,000 names of men never found are engraved on its arches. We visited the gate on a freezing cold night with hoards of others to witness the playing of the Last Post and the laying of wreaths. This ceremony has taken place every evening since 1928 except for a period during WW2 when the town was occupied by Germans. It was an emotional moment, and it must really bring home to many how truly lucky we are. So many people sacrificed their lives during that war, and others, and it is great to see that the memory of all those people lost will endure on through the memorials and ceremonies that live on in Ypres.
To make the most of the small amount of time we had in Ypres we joined a small tour run by Flanders Battlefield Tours. During the tour we visited a number of trenches still remaining from the war, a scary reminder of the terrifying battles fought throughout the countryside. We learned that much of the countryside is also riddled with tunnels, mined by both armies in an effort to reach each other without being shot at every step they took. We also visited Hill 60, one of such locations tunneled under, where over 70,000 pounds of explosives were laid by Australian miners under the hill occupied by the Germans, and then set off. Even after all this time has passed, the crater is massive.
As we drove through the countryside, we never went far before yet another cemetery appeared. There are 150 cemeteries located in the area - and the area is not very big at all. We visited Tyne Cot, the biggest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Over 13,000 soldiers are buried there, along with a wall engraved with the names of almost 30,000 whose remains were never found. The rows and rows of white tombstones, many of which have no name, are an incredibly sad and lonely sight.
Most humbling of all was the Menin Gate, a memorial to those missing in action. Close to 55,000 names of men never found are engraved on its arches. We visited the gate on a freezing cold night with hoards of others to witness the playing of the Last Post and the laying of wreaths. This ceremony has taken place every evening since 1928 except for a period during WW2 when the town was occupied by Germans. It was an emotional moment, and it must really bring home to many how truly lucky we are. So many people sacrificed their lives during that war, and others, and it is great to see that the memory of all those people lost will endure on through the memorials and ceremonies that live on in Ypres.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Brussels, the city of...food?
Brussels is a lovely city, particularly in the old town but definitely doesn't have as much to see or do and some other places. But when you consider they have beer, chocolate, waffles and fries it doesn't really matter if it was the most boring place on the planet, you could just eat and drink yourself silly. We got at least a little silly.
At the Mannekin Pis (which is way way way smaller than all the pictures make it look) we ate delicious fresh waffles drowned in hot chocolate sauce and topped with banana.
At the Cantillon brewery, one of the last breweries using traditional brewing methods to make Lambic beer, we did a very interesting tour of the family owned business and finished it off by sampling a couple of their products.
We also tried a very small percentage of the beers stocked by Delirium Cafe which, at any time, stocks over 2000 different varieties.
We sampled mouth-watering chocolates at the chocolate shop where pralines were originally invented - by a chemist trying to make the taking of medicines more palatable.
And we ate crispy frites (fries) topped with mayonnaise in a paper cone standing in the freezing Grand Place. I don't know what made those fries so special, but they're definitely the best i've ever eaten. Grand Place is one of the prettiest squares I've ever seen, made even more magical by the light frosting of snow over the cobble stones.
At the Mannekin Pis (which is way way way smaller than all the pictures make it look) we ate delicious fresh waffles drowned in hot chocolate sauce and topped with banana.
At the Cantillon brewery, one of the last breweries using traditional brewing methods to make Lambic beer, we did a very interesting tour of the family owned business and finished it off by sampling a couple of their products.
We also tried a very small percentage of the beers stocked by Delirium Cafe which, at any time, stocks over 2000 different varieties.
We sampled mouth-watering chocolates at the chocolate shop where pralines were originally invented - by a chemist trying to make the taking of medicines more palatable.
And we ate crispy frites (fries) topped with mayonnaise in a paper cone standing in the freezing Grand Place. I don't know what made those fries so special, but they're definitely the best i've ever eaten. Grand Place is one of the prettiest squares I've ever seen, made even more magical by the light frosting of snow over the cobble stones.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Markets
There's nothing like a market to get you in a spending mood. And there seems to be a fair few markets in London. We visited the famous Portobello Road markets first off but were disappointed with it. Despite having a fairly reliable source say it opened at about 8 in the morning at almost 10 in the morning half the stalls were either empty or only half set up. Not really the kind of market you feel like strolling through. After a bit of a walk through we decided to head to the Camden markets to try our luck there. This time we weren't disappointed. The markets seemed endless. They're set along Camden High Street and Chalk Farm Road in a number of different areas, some inside and some through narrow winding alleys that just made the whole place cooler. You could become completely lost, but not be bored by the different things and people to see at every turn. If you're after the kind of market that is only second hand clothes and goods, you're much better off at the Portobello Road market, but the Camden market sold clothes, jewellery, accessories and all kinds of bits and pieces as well as great food! Even Dave enjoyed the hours we spent there which is really the biggest recommendation I can give to the place considering he's a bit of a shopping-and-crowded-places-phobe. And it was crowded! By the time we left in the early afternoon, solid masses of people spread out of all the market areas on to the footpath of the street and well up the road. In all, a good day out!
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Beefeaters and beheadings
If there is one historical site you visit in London, make sure it is the Tower of London. The most enjoyable day I had visiting such a place so far!
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s after he invaded and defeated the English and became their new king. The White tower in the centre of the complex was the original building, given its name because the stone walls were white-washed to give a more imposing look. Over the next couple of hundred years the tower fortifications were expanded by medieval kings.
The tower's history is chock full of murder, power-hungry royals, beheadings and hangings. Never have I seen so much drama within one place outside the TV when grey's anatomy is on. And the thing that I loved most about the place was that, despite all the deaths and sinister goings on, the tour guides and visual displays somehow seemed to make the history almost relatable, as strange as that sounds. The exhibits weren't just dry bits of information but rather an insight into the lives of the royals, peasants and prisoners alike.
Most enjoyable was one of the beefeater tours which are operated all day by current Yeoman Warders (nicknamed, for uncertain reasons, 'beefeaters'). The beefeaters themselves are impressive when you consider the qualifications needed to even apply for the job include 20-odd years in Her Majesty's military service along with reaching certain ranks and receiving certain awards while in that service. So it's not easy to become one! Their job is to guard the tower and whatever may be residing inside, whether it is prisoners, royalty or the crown jewels which are on display there today. They still participate in many of the rituals from past times. The warder that took our tour had an amazing store of information about the tower's history and present and past yeoman warders. The tour run within the white tower by a staff member was equally as riveting, as he explained the daily uses of many rooms - including a medieval toilet chamber. I think it was those personal touches that separates the tour of London from many other historical attractions.
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s after he invaded and defeated the English and became their new king. The White tower in the centre of the complex was the original building, given its name because the stone walls were white-washed to give a more imposing look. Over the next couple of hundred years the tower fortifications were expanded by medieval kings.
The tower's history is chock full of murder, power-hungry royals, beheadings and hangings. Never have I seen so much drama within one place outside the TV when grey's anatomy is on. And the thing that I loved most about the place was that, despite all the deaths and sinister goings on, the tour guides and visual displays somehow seemed to make the history almost relatable, as strange as that sounds. The exhibits weren't just dry bits of information but rather an insight into the lives of the royals, peasants and prisoners alike.
Most enjoyable was one of the beefeater tours which are operated all day by current Yeoman Warders (nicknamed, for uncertain reasons, 'beefeaters'). The beefeaters themselves are impressive when you consider the qualifications needed to even apply for the job include 20-odd years in Her Majesty's military service along with reaching certain ranks and receiving certain awards while in that service. So it's not easy to become one! Their job is to guard the tower and whatever may be residing inside, whether it is prisoners, royalty or the crown jewels which are on display there today. They still participate in many of the rituals from past times. The warder that took our tour had an amazing store of information about the tower's history and present and past yeoman warders. The tour run within the white tower by a staff member was equally as riveting, as he explained the daily uses of many rooms - including a medieval toilet chamber. I think it was those personal touches that separates the tour of London from many other historical attractions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)