Belgium/Holland/London 2003
We had a sterling vacation celebrating Reba's birthday, of
course, from April 4th to the 18th. Three days in Belgium, 7 days aboard a
deluxe river boat, mostly in Holland, and finally 3 days in London conveyed there by the Chunnel Train. The
weather was cool, dry, and bright throughout. Grand Circle Tours gave us a
well-organized and executed tour.
Brussels is most notable as the headquarters of NATO and the
European Union. It has lots of parks, the Grand Place (market square), and
lots of buildings from 1400 to 1600. We especially enjoyed the trip to a
boutique chocolate factory and a lace & tapestry shop. The trip to the
13th century Flemish town of Lier was highlighted by Zimmer's Astronomical
Tower. Antwerp is essentially a port town but with a gorgeous cathedral.
Belgium Sights
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| The most famous fountain in Brussels, Manneken pis, peeing
boy. He frequently is clothed and sometimes loses his head. |
A busker in Lier |
"Maison du Roi" in French or "Broodhuis"
in Dutch, Brussels, Grand'Place. |
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| Reba at a chocolate factory in Brussels. |
They put me to work squirting praline into chocolate forms. |
Finished stuffed pieces along with dark, white and milk
chocolate starter pieces. |
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| Praying hands in Antwerp shop. Flemish
"throw a hand" is handwerpen. |
Zimmer's clock tower in Lier keeps track of some 60
astronomical cycles in 3 dimensions. |
A great cathedral in Antwerp |
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| Flowers everywhere |
Large tapestry for sale in Brussels tapestry
factory |
Look at the grapes in this tapestry! |
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| Don Quixote and Sancho Panzo |
Kids on an outing--blue noses |
Famous white swan |
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| Atomium from 1958 Expo, the iron atom 165 billion times
magnified. |
Fine drawings of buildings in the square |
A few frites too many in Antwerp |
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| Brussels commercial street |
Our group navigating 13th century cobblestones in Lier |
Cincquantenaire Arch in Brussels |
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| Church in Brussels |
Brussels park |
Brussels Botanical Gardens |
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| The Royal Museum of the Army and Military History is located
in one of the buildings of the Cinquantenaire Park and ranks among the top
military museums in the world |
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Chinese Pagoda structure at Royal Palace |
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