11th – 13th July 2007 Bruges - Ghent

We’re learning a bit more about managing emails and the blog – think we can now attach pictures……..try the link below to see photos relating to this bit of blog. ://picasaweb.google.co.uk/findthebinghams/11th13ThJuly07BrugesAndGhent

The windy weather is slowly improving, and is turning to hot sun – hooray! Rick is looking more and more laid back, and I’m feeling amazingly relaxed. We’re spending most nights in free parking areas (Aires) and seem to be settling into a very contented way of meandering around – long may it last.

We cycled back into Bruges to investigate windmills, lifting bridges, canals and Salvador Dali. The exhibition of his work was pretty comprehensive, but by ’eck. I wouldn’t have liked to have been a figment of his imagination! Seriously weird stuff, but beautifully crafted.

On the way to Ghent we got sidetracked by a Canadian War Museum in Adegem – I’m so pleased we saw it. It was created by the son of a resistance fighter in 1995, as a tribute to the Canadian, Polish and English liberators of Belgium, and as a reminder to the present generation. I learnt so much about the soldiers’ experiences, the life in Belgian, the conditions (mud) and war strategy. We saw cine film of actual battles and dioramas using mannequins in genuine kit, from bags to fags, and clothing to guns. It was such a splendid and thought-provoking tribute. (pics 2?)

We finally got to Ghent and spent the night on an aire in Blaarmeersen, overlooking the long, straight water sports lake, watching rowers, cyclists, runners, fishermen. (pic). Mind you, a mad Dutch woman woke us at 1.00 am, banging on the van and shouting cheerily – she’d mistaken our van for her friends down the road! We’re planning our revenge…………

Ghent has lovely medieval buildings in the centre, set on a series of canals, similar to Bruges, but with fewer tourists. This picture is of the dilapidated 16th Century Fish Market, with a future? We took a boat trip on the River Lys and learnt a bit of history about the cloth merchants and the powerful Guilds. Ghent is about to have a music (and beer) festival, which takes over the whole city for 10 days – 300,000 extra people! Not sure we’ll stay too long ………….

I discovered that a Leffe Blond beer makes your bike go wobbly and means you have to fall asleep on a canal-side bench in the middle of the city…… what will be the effect of 2, I wonder?