WWII Trip - 11/8, Tour of Bruges

Today was great fun.  Andy McSweeney called for us at our apartment at 9 am.  He is a local professional photographer that George hired to take us on a photo tour of the historic district.  Not only was he extremely knowledgable about camera techniques and Bruges, but he is a very interesting guy.  He was raised in Montreal by English parents who enrolled him in a French speaking school.  He now collects languages like some people collect stamps.  He is fluent in five languages and has a passing knowledge of several others.

Andy said he was pleased that we were getting to shoot on the first day without rain in the past several days.  The shooting was spectacular and I shot over 200 images.  It will take months for me to edited and sort all the photos I will be taking on this trip.

Just one of the many shots along the canal.  Seeing all of the locks reminded me of our trip on Canal de Midi.

Houseboats along the canal.

I remained fascinated by all the people on bikes.  All ages, income levels, professions seemed to be on bikes.

 A senior citizen getting ready to start his morning.

 Students on the way to school.

Even nuns do it.

Health is not the reason some are biking.  It is hard to see, but she has a cigarette in her raised hand.

The go shopping on bikes.

It's the land of the natural blonds

Dogs are everywhere.

During our tour I spotted a shell imbedded in the sidewalk.  According to Andy, Bruges is part of

the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  Anyone not familiar with this pilgrimage trail should see Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen's excellent movie "The Way."  

There are over 350 homes in the historic district of Bruges with statues of the Madonna and Child mounted on the corner of the house.  While this may be a sign of religious devotion, it was definitely a tax dodge.  The bishop way-back-when made a deal with the town fathers to reduce the property taxes for anyone who installed one of these statues.

Even in the historic district there was evidence that the earth has become a global village.

Only here, your pizza is delivered on a scooter.

What was really surprising was to find an add for a beer from Austin in the heart of Belgium beer country.  It may be hard to read, but the second lamp says Cillas Brewery in Austin.  George thinks the brewery no longer exists.

Tomorrow we will be driving to Normandy.