Flee Market

Every wednesday, there's a small flee-market next to the canals which attracts a lot of locals & tourists. Even in wintertimes it can be very busy overthere.

Renovations

This is a view through the window in my living room. You recognise the 3 tallest towers in Bruges. In the foreground you see the station. Within one year, this scene will be completely different. The station will get a very modern look with office buildings & shops and the square with the trees will be replaced with an event-hall, owned by the city government. Can't wait till it's ready !

rain rain rain ...

... it keeps on raining here. There's also a very strong wind and the days are very dark. But we'll look always on the bright side of life. Only 4 workdays to go and it's weekend !

Busy busy

What a busy weekend! Did 2 photoshoots, 5 shops, family passing by, went out saturdaynight in Bruges but i've finally found time to post a picture. Here, you'll see the backside of the church which is located in the beguinage.

Japanese Tourists

It's raining, It's 3°C, there's a strong wind, you may guess twice what you see on the street: Japanese tourists. I don't know where they come from, every day again, every week again, every year again, but they are very welcome, those yellow friends :-)

Bruges & Swans

One of the symbols of Bruges is the swan. There are always plenty of them on the 'Minnewater'. There exists a nice legend about the swans of Bruges. In 1488 the people of Bruges had executed one of the town administrators belonging to the court of Maximilian of Austria, husband and successor of duchess Mary of Burgundy. The town administrator was called 'Pieter Lanchals', a name which means ' long neck'. The Lanchals family coat of arms featured a white swan. Legend has it that Maximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep swans on their lakes and canals till eternity. Most of these legends and romantic interpretations come from the 19th century. Believe them or not : the beautiful 'Minnewater' deserves them.

The Apple Store

Some of you know that I'm a real Mac-Addict. Steve Jobs just ended his keynote speach and introduced some great new products like the thinnest notebook in the world: Macbook Air and Time Capsule. So what has this to do with Bruges? Eugh ... Well, even Bruges got his own Apple store, actually, there are 2 of them and you see me a lot overthere. This one is in the Zilverstraat (the 2nd largest shopping street). Thank you Steve, thank you ... :-)

Castle Minnewater

The castle is an example of neo-Gothic architecture. Built in 1890 after a plan of the architect Charles De Wulf for Leon De wulf. The city council bought the castle, named La Faille, in 1980 and managed (bye expansion) to adjoin its park completely to the cnalize lake, the Minnewater. The castle is now transformed into a restaurant.

Wijngaardplein

This picture is taken on the Wijngaardplein (Vineyard square). It's located between the 'minnewater' (see yesterday's post) and the Beguinage. Overthere you'll find a lot of Mute swans, who are also inextricable bound up with Bruges. In the background you'll see the 'One Lieve Vrouwekerk' (Church of Our Lady).

Minnewater

Due to some very busy schedule, I wasn't able to post everyday last week. But that period is over so here we go again. The picture above is a view of the minnewater, wich means 'water for the loved ones'. In spring and summer, this place is just georges. In wintertimes, like now, it's still beautifull but it doesn't show all its charmes.

Bruges & roofs

Typical for Bruges are the houses with a triangular roof and stair-cased sides like the ones you see in the background of this picture. Owners of those houses may not renovate the outlook of there house without permission of the mayor.

Also bicycles are very popular since they are the fastest vehicles for the residents in the small medeival streets.

Tower in sunrise

In the middle ages, Bruges was protected by a big wall. That wall is completely disappeared by now, but some towers still remain. This is one of those towers in the Gentpoortstraat, as seen in an early sunrise.

Just a fine day

Nice weather this afternoon, so I went out for a walk. I spotted this nice hotel, about 2 km from the market. It offers a great view on the canals. It's located in the 'Hoogstraat'.

Chapel of The Holy Blood

The chapel of the Holy Blood is actually a double chapel which can be visited on the 'Burg' square. (constructed in the 12th century). It contains the relic of the Holy Blood.

One of the apocryphal gospels mentions that Joseph of Arimathea preserved the blood after he had washed the dead body of Jesus. Tradition has it that count 'Diederik van den Elzas' brought the relic containing the blood of Christ from Jerusalem to Bruges after the second crusade.

The adoration of the relic is at the origin of the internationally famous 'Procession of the Holy Blood' which passes every year on Asuncion day during the month of May through the streets of Bruges. Citizens of Bruges dressed in historical costumes enact during this procession biblical scenes and re-enact the arrival of the Count of Flanders who brings the Holy relic to Bruges.

Just another one...

I think it's easy to make beautifull pictures: come to Bruges, take a shot of whatever you want and make the Belfry visible on it, 'et voila': great picture !