A (photo-) blog about the beautiful Belgian town Bruges as seen through the very two eyes of an inhabitant. Sharp, witty, and... always admiring.
27-07-2006
Reflection (detail)
Just in case you found it hard to believe that the previous photo was a reflection in the Dijver, and not the building itself, here you have a detail of the previous picture showing a slight rimpling in the water. It goes to show that sometimes, the illusion is more beautiful than the reality.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Reflection
Walking along the Dijver, I got to enjoy one of my pet pleasures : a magnificent reflection. This is the back of the OCMW buiulding, reflected in the water.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Legwork
Can I convince you to a bit of a warm-up (hah, what's in a word...) in preparation for the new installment of "Benenwerk" (Legwork)? "Benenwerk" will be the very proper closing event of the Klinkers festival, for the fifth consecutive year. Some sequences are already famous. As, for example, "Silent Stage" a ball where people are dancing to music chosen by the DJ but... heard exclusively through your telephone head-set. The "Silent Stage" dance takes place in the inner courts of the Townhalls.. Better be there early as otherwise, you will have to wait patiently in the queue before you manage to squeeze in. The event has recently been packed and it's only when a participant decides to leave, and gives you his/her headphone that you are allowed inside. "Benenwerk" happens on the evening of August 12, in twelve different spots in the inner city. For more info, check here : de website.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Legwork in the Astrid park
On August 12, you do not have to dance. You can just look, and it does not cost a dime. A Cuban group Havana Impacto of 10 dancers, whose members probably all live in Belgium, will eventually try to get you to dance with them nonetheless. In any event, the music promises to be lively.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Playing chess in the park
Every Sunday morning in July and August, if I am right, from 10:00 a.m. till 12:30, the KBSK (the Royal Chess Circle of Bruges) organizes a chess-tournament in the Minnewater park. Most people never notice that a huge chess-board is installed in the Minnewater park. Smaller tables, of the normal size, are built all around it so people can play a game. Most often though, one sees tourists sitting here, eating a sandwich, or somebody reading a book, although these tables were installed for the chess-players. And, as you can see, young and old come here to play. It would seem that this older player finds the strategy of his young opponent not so easy to overcome.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Geerwijnstreet 11-13
There are quite a few private hotels in Bruges. This one, built in the neo-classical style, in the Geerwijnstreet, is a beautiful example. Built in 1870, probably the work of architect Pierre Buyck.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Geerwijnstreet 11-13 (2)
This impressive private hotel has a remarkable entrance with a balcony above it. It seems a notary now has his cabinet here.
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Geerwijnstreet 11-13 (3)
On the façade of this private hotel at 11-13 Geeerwijnstreet, one can see this stone. Daniel Gillès was born here on May 7, 1917 and died on May 8, 1981. Why did somebody write the figure 3 there? The man wrote several books (in French), one of them "The Mists of Bruges" (1962), about Bruges, of course, what else with this title. It is a guide to the city. If the book is no longer available in book stores, you can still find it in the Bruges Municipal Library. Our Canadian visitors might like to know that as of May 2006, a copy is available at the Victoria University in Toronto. http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/new_acqu/Previous%20Lists/may_06.htm under the reference: PQ Literature of the Romance Languages
27-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
26-07-2006
Superintendant Van In House
The filming of the third sequel of "Aspe", a television thriller-serial with Superintendant Van In as principal character, is already in full swing in Bruges. Yet, we will only get to view the second sequel on the small screen, this coming Fall. Only the first part of this serial was based on the books written by Pieter Aspe, who had his main character move from Bruges to Blankenberge and even to Antwerp. The producers of the television series found it preferable to keep him in Bruges. They want "Aspe" to be as representative of Bruges as "Flikken" is of Ghent. And for the (television) home of Superintendant Van In, a role being held by Herbert Flack, this house here, on the left of the Wijngaard square, has been chosen.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Erstwhile Meat Market
During the Middle Ages this is where originally the city's crane had been erected. And where now we see a street, there was a wharf, the Kraanvest. When the wharf became obsolete and a crane was no longer needed, a cover was built over this area and in 1771 and 1772, the resulting building was used as a meat market. It is now a bicycle-renting business aimed at the tourist trade. Before that, it was a grocery store. The classical-style building is one of the hundreds of protected monuments in Bruges.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Potters Rempart
I have recently taken up jogging again and in Bruges, there is no better place than the Remparts. I did start a bit late, last night. On purpose, in fact, because I wanted to take advantage of the coolest time of the day to run a bit. But right now, "cool" is relative. It was still 25 degrees when I started even though it was already dark. Then, I reached the Potters rempart, I was struck by the rather great number of.... I give you two guesses why this stretch of what is really the Katelijne rempart, has been dubbed the "Potters"* rempart in popular parlance.. Even when those men with fire in their pants are not around, I cannot get rid of this niggling impression that one of them might be hiding behind one of the knobby trees. Well, when it's dark, I just run a bit faster. * "Potters"= homosexuals.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
small artistic escape hatch...
. Since yesterday, I am once more without a camera. Mine is still in for repairs and I had to give the camera which was lent to me, back to its owner. The owner was leaving on a trip. And when does the ordinary Belgian use his camera? When he travels and when there is a family gathering. Thus... that camera is now travelling. However, provided I am getting my own camera back before long, you won't even notice its absence in this blog. I can't show you anything "actual" for now, but on the other hand, it leads me of necessity to a bit more improvisation and creativity. Improving some of my photos a bit, for instance...
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Theodoor J. Rijken
. With "Jerry's Cigar Bar", about which I told you previously, in the background, to the right, we have here a house to which people hardly pay attention when walking by. Oude Burg 33. And yet, it is one of only three houses now remaining in Bruges who are in the pure Renaissance style. (Not to be confused with Bruges late-gothic, as happens with so many houses.) The façade is the authentic one, built in 1571. It was restored in 1980-1981. The first owner was Willem Clynckemaille, after whom the house is named "de Clyncke". Another remarkable fact about it is that it was bought, in 1863, by the Xaverian Brothers (the "Frères") and a short time later their founder, the Dutchman Theodoor J. Rijken, came to live in this house. And it is from here that the Xaverian Brothers started the enormous expansion of their foundation. They now occupy almost the entirety of the block between the Mariastreet, de Nieuwstreet and the Guido Gezelle square.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Ceres and Mercurius
On the façade of the Clyncke house, at 33 Oude Burg, which was built in 1571, you can see these two stone medallions depicting the mythological figures Mercurius and Ceres. They were probably commissioned to be installed there around 1577, when Highes, who was a wine merchant succeeded Willem Clynckemaille as occupant of the house.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Jerry's Cigar Bar
. A unique spot in Bruges in this era where smokers are being more and more stigmatised and isolated. "Jerry's Cigar Bar" is probably the only place in a wide area where one can not only buy smokers' paraphernalia and strong drink; one can also sit down in a very beautifully appointed bar and spend some pleasant moments tasting appreciable goodies. For those who prefer to do that outside, the bar's nice terrace is right on the Simon Stevin square. Such moments are lost on me but, for those who want to savour those pleasures (not devoid of risk, it would seem) of life, by way of a Cuban cigar or a glass of Glenfiddich, for example, then here, you are at the right address.
26-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
25-07-2006
pants - shirts - skirts
A last sample of bad taste. I do not want to mention the name and the address of the store any more.
25-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
graffitti
... with a twist : the owners of the business did them themselves. Well, they did used chal. This is the entrance of the wo_men_at_work store. One can make any number of comments. Their promotional stunt by way of introduction to their business was a poster showing the virgin Maria with a crown of thorns on her head. This poster was to be seen at Flanders Inside "Maria At Work" on July 21, 2006. Inside the store near the display-window there was the same picture with candles all around it. Then they did away with it. (Likely some protest had been voiced). Was this supposed to be an eye-wink for the benefit of Bruges? When I saw the... thing, I was just speechless. Then three words spontaneously came to mind : kitsch, bad taste, stupidity.
25-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Example of bad taste
. Not so long ago, after a Dutch chain of clothing-stores had opened a branch in Antwerp, they opened one in Bruges (wo-)men at work. Their manner of promoting their stores is head and shoulders superior to all other possible forms of bad taste.Phooey, if that is all the Dutch have to offer by way of knock-dead words, unsignificant symbols and willfull provocation... There used to be a bookstore here, with an antiques shop in its annex. Which is why you can still see the word "Antiquariaat" at the right top of the sign.
25-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
antiquariaat
Foto genomen gisterenmorgen om 10 uur in de Mariastraat. Mariastraat 10, meer bepaald. Vanavond meer hierover.
25-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
korenslang
Quite recently the area was in a bit of upheaval because suddenly, there had been several and repeated sightings here and there of... snakes. The latest news is that all but one of the snakes were caught and that the one who is still enjoying its freedom might have elected, for the last two weeks, to hide somewhere in the cellars of the four-star hotel "Hans Memling" in the Kuiperstreet. Apparently, they are of the harmless cereal-snake variety. Snakes probably feel in their element in this warm weather and these particular ones decided to go and have a look outside. It is suspected that a local snake-collector might be missing a few of his pets...
25-07-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
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