Christmas in Belgium

This weekend--my final weekend in Europe--was spent in Belgium.  Unfortunately, I was a bit under the weather from a sinus infection that I probably developed after standing in the cold and rain last weekend.   I lost my voice on Friday, but never lost my energy.  I slept a lot on the bus and found a nice pharmacist who gave me good throat spray and night meds.  Anyway, Belgium was fantastic.   We went with the specific goal of seeing several of its Christmas Markets, and they were indeed brilliant.  Lots of food, crafts, and decorations to get one in the holiday spirit.  I certainly had my share of frites, rich hot chocolate (the way it was intended to be made, with hot milk and a block of Belgian chocolate melted in), and gluhwein (a mulled wine).

This photo is of the spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp.  The spire dominates the landscape, and the cathedral is adjacent to the Grote Markt.

This is one of the many buildings at Antwerp's Grote Markt.  It belongs to a collection that includes the Town Hall and the Guild Houses.  The statue reflects the legend of Antwerp's name ("hand thrower").  It depicts a Roman who cuts off the hand of a giant and throws it into the nearby river.  The legend is captured in statues, sculptures, and chocolate molds throughout the city.

Antwerp's train station in the background.

A troupe of horn blowers before service began in one of Antwerp's churches.

Europe is big on St. Nick.  Here he is in Oostende near my hotel.  He was greeting customers at a bakery and giving sweet breads to children.  All the bakery workers were in black-face to represent Black Peter, a companion of St. Nick.  We're not in Kansas anymore!

Incidentally, the little girl in this picture is terrified of St. Nick.  He had to drag here over to be in the picture.  It reminded me of John Watson's Little Albert case.  (You can never turn off the psychology!)

Brussels' Town Square.  The picture is blurry, but the Town Hall was spectacular.  When the sun set, the hall became a music and light show.  It was a really cool experience.

The ice rink at Brussels' Christmas Market.

I couldn't leave Belgium without moules and frites (mussels and fries).  These were quite good, though I did miss the Thai curry broth at Point Brugge...and the person with whom I enjoy them most.

Brussels' famous Pissing Boy (Manneken Pis).  He regularly appears in costume.  To celebrate the Christmas season and markets, he appears as St. Nick.  Trying to get near enough to take a pic was quite the challenge with all the tourists.

Not to be outdone is the lesser known Pissing Girl.

Sitting at the head of Jubilee Park is the Cinquantenaire Arch, commissioned by King Leopold II to celebrate Belgium's 50th year of independence.  This picture does not do justice to the massive scale and ornate detail of the arch.

The Atomium was built as part of the 1958 World's Fair.  It represents the cell of an iron crystal that has been magnified 165 billion times.

The ice rink at Brugge.

One of the canals in Brugge, the Venice of the North.

After reading about them in Dr. Chamberlain's Brit Lit class, I finally was able to see the White Cliffs of Dover.  A toast to you, Matthew Arnold and Anthony Hecht.