A (photo-) blog about the beautiful Belgian town Bruges as seen through the very two eyes of an inhabitant. Sharp, witty, and... always admiring.
21-05-2006
Vlamingstraat 40
Bruges still has two houses with authentic wooden façades. Sorry to disappoint you, this is not one of them. This one can be seen when looking diagonally from across the theatre building, in the Vlamingstreet, on the corner of the Kraan square. This façade was re-done in 1963 and is the work of architect Antoine Dugardyn. He used iconographic sources as basis for his interpretation of how the house actually looked like in the year 1542. What is missing are the painted motifs at the top of the façade, who earlier illlustrated the name of the house "De Haan" = The Rooster.
21-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Wollestraat - Eeckhoutstraat
Those street names would translate as "Woolstreet" and "Oakwood street". One more view of Bruges from the Halltower.
21-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Leaving a business-card
Those Spaniards seem to have gone to quite some length to leave their business card on this bell in the Bruges bell-tower. All those who came here, high up in the Halltower, know what I mean. Did these Spaniards bring a ladder with them? If not, then they certainly were very acrobatic people.
21-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacres Blood procession
Four more days. Bruges' most celebrated day is almost upon us. This scene depicts the Resurrection of Christ. We have here two Roman soldiers fast asleep next to the burial grotto. The rock that closed theburial site off has been dragged aside and the grotto looks empty.
21-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
20-05-2006
New museum (2)
. Since it seems now suddenly possible to liberate money for a new museum, to be built on a section of the parking lot behind the Old Sint-Jan, why not cough up a serious amount of euro-millions to build an underground parking lot? Why not replace all this tarmac and these cars with, for example, a beautiful herb-garden? This is exactly what this whole area was, a few hundred years ago : a grand and magnificent herb-garden. Why could this not be created again? It would be one more tourist attraction and might become one of the most beautiful spots in the city, rather than the cancerous eye-sore we now have here. I even did take pains to show it from its best side
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
New museum
According to recent news reports, a new museum should soon rise up on this section of the parking lot of the Old Sint-Jan. Although press releases are numerous, their terms remain extraordinarily vague. But, whatever the case, I can only applaud the decision to finally do something about this cancer-spot in Bruges. This sight is an atrocity.
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Spook Castle (2)
The stumbling block for our sweet and alert alderman Yves Roose (see previous commentary) is this thing here, which has no other aim than to heighten your pleasure at being rhoroughly horrified in this palace of... horrors. The May Fair and village fêtes in general have existed for centuries and the attractons which were shown in previous times were far different from the ones we now get to see. I am citing an article from the Gazette van Brugge, dated March 31, 1883 - a newspaper which had an obvious catholic penchant :
A Wonder "Yesterday there arrived here the most wondrous human being that was hitherto ever seen in Bruges. It is a negro, born on the shores of Lake Tanganyka in Africa. He was brought here by one of our officers, lieutenant Becker, who left Europe five years ago. The negro is of small stature and does not have a single hair on his head. His nose is flattened against his cheeks and is transperced by sharp spikes. His ears, pierced with heavy rings, are hanging on his shoulders. His eyes are red and his lower lip curls under his chin. In a word, the most wondrous negro that was ever seen in Bruges. He lodges in "Sebastiaan", with Mr. de Vos, on the Vrijdagmark near the station, where he shall remain until the opening of the Fair in Bruges. You can go and see him, against payment of a modest compensation."
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Spook Castle
Alderman Yves Roose aspires to be the White of Morality. We saw him, last week, in the company of a few hundred people who were staging a demonstration, sitting with them in the middle of the Maalse Steenweg (the road to Maal), protesting against violence in our society. Fortunately, mayor Moenaert had given instructions to the police force to halt all motorized traffic for the duration of the sit-in. Otherwise, we might have lost alderman Roose. This week, "the Yves" popped up in the news again. He had been enjoying a walk along the Zand, where the May Fair happens to be in full swing. And there, Roose saw something which made his red mop of hair stand up : a doll, on an electric chair, right outside the Spook Castle. This is too much, shouted he, and immediately trotted of to his colleague, alderwoman Hilde Decleer (who has jurisdiction over fairs) to demand that she immediately have this repulsive feat of bad taste disappear from the May Fair.
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Gustave Dryepondt (4th and last)
This pharmacy had quite a collection of old magisterial recipe books. During WWII the Germans confiscated these books and, unfortunately, they were never returned. Still, there is one preparation, based on one of those ancient recipes, by Dr. Dryepondt, that can be bought here. It is "Belamy Tea", recommended against kidney- and bladder inflammation. And, even better, it tastes delicious (yes, I did buy some and I did enjoy drinking it.)
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Gustave Dryepondt (3)
The year 1835 on the façade refers to the year this house, named "Hemelrycke", at number 7 Wollestraat, (it is only a few paces from the Market) became a pharmacy. And it has remained a pharmacy since then. Thus, it is not the oldest pharmacy in Bruges, which does not make it less interesting. Quite to the contrary. The Dryepondt's renovated the interior in 1903, in the English style. Three generations of Dryepondts operated the business, until 1981, when the family left for Great-Britain. And now, we have the second generation of Baert's here.
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Gustave Dryepondt (2)
As you can see, the medallion is in the façade of the "Dryepondt Pharmacy", and there is also one more date : 1835. My research in the municipal library, under "pharmacy" and under "Dryepondt" was fruitless. Well, not quite : I did find ample facts about parhmacies and pharmacists from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Historical facts relating to the last hundred years, or even the more recent ones, seem to be harder to consign than the older ones. Thus, on to Internet. The result was just as pitiful. All I did learn was that Dr. Dryepondt had been in the army, that he went to the Congo, and that, together with Albert Donny, in 1900 he published a book with the title Manuel du voyageur et du résident au Congo (Manual for the traveller and resident in the Congo) (Brussels, ed. Hayez). The book is indeed devoted to travelling in the Congo and the hygiene and medical matters in that country. He also seems to have created the first hospital in what was then Leopoldville. I learned furthermore that he also discovered a new species of figtree which was named after him (vijgenboom ).
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Gustave Dryepondt
I have been intrigued for quite some time by this medallion on the façade of number 7, Wolle street (Wool street). It shows a figure, in profile, of a somewhat older man, who has a mustache and a beard. On top, we read "1866-1932", and underneath "Doctor Dryepondt, pioneer colonial". My first inquiry only revealed that the medallion was th work of Victor Demanet and that it was placed here in 1939.
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood processionHeilig Bloedprocessie
The Holy Tomb This artwork was made in 1702 Mourners (pleuranten) are walking on each side of the tomb. (Van Dale : pleurant = mourning figure on, or against a tombstone)
20-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
19-05-2006
Pandreitje (3)
This, too, is Bruges. The city of Bruges, known the world over from the postcards showing its small boats, small trees, small lanes, coaches, Halltowers, lace, chocolates, lovers, the love-ponds, Venice-of-the-North and lacemakers' bobbins.
19-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Pandreitje (2)
It took me a serious effort to get used to the sight of these houses who were set down where the "Pandreitje" stood. However, I did reconcile myself with their presence better than most and, in fact, I am able to admit they are not bad. Modern Bruges is allowed to have them. I am not saying that I would ever want to live there (imagine having to put your trash outside on a wintry evening or early morning, when it's still pitch black...brrrr). But it does create a nagging. Something to do with the beauty of sadness, of grayness, of, yes, modern coquetry with Bruges-la-Morte. Notwithstanding all that, I can see where these houses make for spacious, clean and comfortable living.
19-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Pandreitje (Pawn lane)
For the older citizens of Bruges, the name "Pandreitje" is synonymous with "prison". However, the prison has disappeared quite some time ago. Even doctor Lecompte did some time inside, after he had a run-in with the Order of Physicians. Imagine, this prison was about a thousand years old. From high up in the Halltower, one immediately sees the spot where the "Pandreitje" used to be. While the rest of the inner city shows uniformly red roofs, the modern building where the "Pandreitje" used to be got a blue roof, and the colour of the bricks used to plant the new building down is also in sharp contrast to the lighter colours of the environment.
19-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Market
The Market, an hour ago. Picure of a moment in time. In front, the small busses who take you on a grand tour and even bring you to the Verloren Hoek, that is, "The Lost Corner". Behind them, the coaches who take you to the Begijnhof. Every effort is done to please and inform the tourists who come to Bruges. The fact that this morning the busses seem to be more in demand than the coaches might have something to do with... the weather. And, notice too, the grandstand being put up in preparation for the coming Sacred Blood procession. Those orange things are the small chairs.
19-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Kipstraat (Hen street)
I was already out on the streets, this morning. I just cannot resist the urge. Am I then really a "Bruges streetmopper"? This is the small Kipstreet, the subject of a quiz-question some time ago. Here is how it looked this morning.
19-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
18-05-2006
When you leave...
Hildegarde was asking me : what are the origins of these words, which we find on the Barge house. Well, no, it is not the owner of the Barge house who put them there. It was the city of Bruges. It was the "Year of Guido Gezelle", our famed poet and the motto "strong be the language of the words", also by Gezelle. A number of artists, gathered under the banner of @rtwords-@rtwords, were invited to express the city's image in words. The official mandate was : use language to paint the image of Bruges and bring it into its historical core. I can only surmise that Peter Verhelst, born in Bruges, is the author of the words found on the Barge house. One of his texts is also adorns the back of the seats in the Concert Hall. Moreover, it is also Verhelst who wrote the official poem of the city of Bruges (2002, cultural capital of Europe) - "On a day they appeared/they swarmed/over the city and nestled/we gave them our food/On a day, they disappeared/And yet, they stayed/We had them visit us at night/In our own, strange-coloured dreams." Both texts do have the same tenor.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
When I come back....
"When you leave, will you be coming back? When I come back, will you be here?"
I cannot think of a better spot to have this text than exactly there where the greatest number of day-tourists are gathering to leave the city : where their bus is waiting to take them back home.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
street musician
Seen recently on television, in one of those Reality-TV programs named "Life as it is : OCMW" (Public Centre for Social Assistance). This particular sequence was filmed in Bruges and, if you happened to view it, you might remember having seen this street-musician. He could no longer pay his rent because he did not find/seek enough work and found himself with family and belongings in the street and, ultimately, had to rely on the Public Welfare organization.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
From my archives
Dark-weather days are a perfect occasion to delve in my archives. Taking photos when it rains does have its charm, but that is mostly lost on me
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
The most significant day in the life of Bruges is almost upon us. Let's hope the weather shall be better than what it is like today (and, listening to the weather forecast, let's also hope for the next few days). Rain is the bane of a procession with thousands of participants, all decked out in magnificent costumes. Most of these beautiful clothes can hardly be rainproofed. This is the Stabat Mater, surrounded by a chorus of girls. The Pieta statue, Mary holding her deceased son on her lap, symbolizes the unspeakable suffering which is also the lot of those surviving the deceased.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Je t' adore
In the words of Kate Ryan :
"je t' adore, anyone can see it."
I am talking about Bruges. Whom was Kate Ryan singing about, tonight? (she was Belgium's representative at the Eurovision songfest)
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Sint Amands street
. All these houses with the corbie gables are in the Sint Amands street and in the foreground is the Sint Amands square.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
As the crow flies..
It's rather nice to find these arrows, at every lookout of the Belfort, pointing towards cities and villages surrounding Bruges. Some are nearby, some others quite far away but the distances are all indicated, in kilometers... as the crow flies.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Port
Few people have ever seen the Port of Bruges this way. In the distance, one can see the tower of Lissewege. There was a light fog when this photo was taken, but on a clear day, you can see as far as Zeebrugge and the sea.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
"Men at Work" in the Sint-Jacobs street.
You have to climb 366 stairsteps to see this magnificent view of Bruges. On this photo, you can see the last phase of the improvement work being done in the St. Jakobs street. You can even see the small tower of the Bladelin Court and the Beehive, and, to the right the Ambiorix on the Eiermarkt (Egg Market).
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
Precisely one more week before we have the Sacred Blood procession once more. It is very likely that the depiction of the Golgotha will be part of the procession again. It will be symbolized by the miraculous cross of Damme. According to the legend, the cross was fished from the sea by fishermen from the city of Damme. The cross has been honoured since the year 1339 in the Notre-Dame Church of that city.
18-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
17-05-2006
Georges Dumerey
Georges Dumery. In Bruges, the name rings as a bell. As well it should since he... poured bells. Throughout the centuries, the Halltower was damaged by several fires. In 1741, a fire completely destroyed the belfry and Georges Dumery was commissioned to replace the 46 bells, as well as a Victory Bell. Which he did. But not all Dumery bells are in Bruges. Damme, Antwerp and quite a few other cities are the proud possessors of Dumery bells. In Bruges, however, there is also a Dumery bell outside the Halltower, namely here, on the "Joris Dumery square", on the corner of the Boeverie street. This bell too, was rung by hand, but only in very exceptional circumstances and, for no longer than 10 minutes.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Prinsenhof (Princes' Court)
Maria of Burgundy. The name still inspires respect in Bruges. And yet, her life and her achievements go back a good 500 years. During her all too short life, she did not live in Bruges all that long, and yet, this particular period in time still evokes a magical echo. That she married Maximilian of Austria is general knowledge. And so is the fact that she died on March 27, 1482, a few days after being thrown from her horse. But while in Bruges, Maria of Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria lived at the Princes Court.
In a fragment of the admirable "excellente cronike van Vlaenderen" (excellent chronicle of Flanders) we find the following anecdotal story of how Maria came to be married to Maximilian :
"On the 16th day of April 1477 there arrived in Bruges a delegation, sent by emperor Frederik III, to speak to our queen (Maria of Burgundy) and her noble counsellors. (.....) The delegates message and supporting letters, bearing the true seal of the emperor, announced that Maximilian, son of the emperor, wished to take Mary of Burgundy, sole daughter of the Duke Karel (Charles) as his wife. These letters had been written jointly by the emperor and Duke Karel when the latter was still alive, and the documents spelled out all provisions and conditions whereupon the two men had agreed after their discussions, which took place in the city of Neuss. These acts and letters of intention were delivered to Maria of Burgundy. Considering the far-reaching and beneficial effects on many affairs of state such an alliance would mean, Maria and her noble counsellors agreed to the marriage. The wedding took place on the 21st day of April, at 11:00 o"clock in the evening, at the Princes Court in Bruges. Since the traditions of the nobility demanded that the wedding had to be immediately consumed, the Duke of Beieren (Bavaria) spent the night in our noble ladys room, in the name of Maximilian. On his right hip the Duke of Bavaria had a weapon by which he proved to Maximilian that he would help and protect the bride against all her enemies. When all this had been accomplished, wine and sweets were served and the delegation left Bruges, well pleased and full of joy to have succeeded in their mission, each according to their rank."
Dont imagine that in 1477 the Princes Court looked anything as what it is now. Through the centuries, it fell in different hands, Parts were demolished, other parts were added, and there were restorations galore. And now, once again, at the treshhold of the 21st century, drastic changes are in store for the Prinsenhof domain : only the tower building and the two French neo-gothic wings dating from the end of the 19th century will be kept standing and undergo restoration.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Rozenhoedkaai (The Rosehat quay)
The same restaurant which was the subject of yesterday's photo, the "Duc de Bourgogne" (the Duke of Burgundy). Today, we are looking at it from above. This is the Rozenhoedkaai. Notice the usual throng of sightseers, gathered at the corner, and see how all the elements of an idyllic Bruges picture come together here : the water lapping along the walls of the canal, the small boat, eventually a swan nearby, and a few old (or pseudo-old) houses. Then right and left a beautiful tree and behind it all, domineering a truly magnificent view, the majesty of the Halle toren (the Hall tower). Oops, they are looking at me !?!
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Concertgebouw
The people of Bruges use their language in a very picturesque manner and are always ready to comment upon facts and situations in the city. The building of this concert hall was barely finished when they had already a different name for it : the new Pizza Hut ( Pizza Hut ). When you are at the Albert I Park and look towards the concert hall, and compare it with the logo of the international pizza concern, you have to admit that the mocking name is not all that much amiss.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Candidate for the title of "Smallest Window"
This is one of three candidates for the title of smallest window in Bruges. Curiously enough, all three have the same form. This one is on the corner of the Smedenstraat (the Blacksmith street) and the Zeven Sterrenstraat (the Seven Stars street), barely a few steps away from the Vrijdagmarkt (the Friday Market) and 't Zand (the Sand).
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Ay Marieke
Without love, warm love
The light, the dark light reigns
And the sand scours my land
My flat land, My Flandersland
Ay, Marieke, Marieke
I loved you so much
Between the towers
Of Bruges and Ghent
Ay, Marieke, Marieke
So long ago
Between the towers
Of Bruges and Ghent
In 1988, between the towers of Bruges and Ghent, but really quite near the towers of Bruges (namely near the Coupure) a statue of Marieke was unveiled. The Brel fan and expert Johan Antierens who was then still among the living, gave a speech at the ceremony. Jacques Brel wil eternally be linked with Belgium, and even with his "flatland", even though he spit on Flanders and the Flemish now and again, the Flemish being - in his opinion - a rather narrowminded lot. This mitigated love was - and still is - quite reciprocal.. Last year, while the Walloons elected Brel as the all-time great Belgian personality, the Flemish left him in 7th position. The girl Marieke of the song really did exist. It seems he knew her, somewhere in West-Flanders, when he was still a young boy. "Marieke" is probably still around, a glorious unknown, living in a small appartment in Knokke.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
The bearing of the Cross. The Cross... symbol of the suffering and of the eternal life Jesus brought his followers. During his symbolic calvary-walk through Bruges, Jesus receives some help from Simon of Cyrene. A bit further up (but outside the scope of this picture) Veronica, will wipe the sweat and blood from the face of Jesus, and there is also the mother of Jesus, leaning on John the Apostle.
17-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
16-05-2006
Duc de Bourgogne (Duke of Burgundy)
All who know about Bruges, do, of course, know the hotel Duc de Bourgogne. Sitting right in the fold between the Rozenhoedkaai and the Groenerei, the hotel is reached by way of the Huidevettersplein (the Tanners square) and this photo has been taken from the Wollestraat (the Wool street). What most people do not know is that, between 1799 and 1800, during the French Régime, a great many church possessions were seized, some churches were demolished, and even parts of them sold and transported to France and elsewhere. The most flagrant example was the demolition of the gigantic Sint-Donaat Cathedral, which used to stand on the Burg. The small marble columns you see here (the restaurant of the hotel Duc de Bourgogne) are from this famous Sint-Donaat cathedral..
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
modern art
Contemporary art, alongside the Dijver.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Look up
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Sketchbook
Let's have a peek over this gentleman"s shoulder, to see what he makes of it.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Rozenhoedkaai (The Rosehat Quai)
The small square that made - and still does - Bruges famous. The cobblestones of the Rozenhoedkaai are worn by the hundred of tourists who come here daily, camera at the ready. And some do bring their sketchbook, too.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
De Gouden Boom (The Golden Tree)
... was the name of the brewery. The "Gouden Boom" lies between the Lange street and the Nieuw Verband Land (New Burnt Land). This building and its installations were under provisional protection from demolition, under an ordinance signed by the Flemish Minister of Culture Dirk Vanmechelen (VLD) This protective measure ended last May 6th, then was prolonged for another six months, but now... the gloves are off and the demise of this piece of Bruges' heritage has been signed. A real estate company from Vilvoorde, operating under the ludicrous name of "NV Caesar Real Estate" is the new owner and all they have to do before going in for the kill is... wait a mere six months.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
Hey, it was just yesterday that we saw this statue being loaded and brought to the starting locale of the procession. From there, surrounded by a troop of Roman soldiers, it will be part of the procession's itinerary, through the streets of Bruges. It symbolizes the torturing and suffering of Christ.
16-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
15-05-2006
A last picture of the Burg
A last picture of the Burg for today. It is not immediately obvious that this is in the centre of the city and yet, there it is. Our city administration recently started promoting the "petanque" game, as a means to strengthen companionship and fraternity amongst the population of Bruges. Thus, suddenly, last year, new "pétanque" lanes (the French game of bowling, if you prefer) were installed here and there, as, for example, in the Minnewater Park, near the small castle. But, for now, besides those who were already practitioners of this particular sport, merely onlookers seem to be attracted to the game.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
One more as seen from the Burg
Detail of the pedestal upon which rests the sculpture "The lovers" by the artists-duo Depuydt-Canestraro, who like to leave their signature on their work. Notice the frog : Kikker is a synonym for Depuydt, and a kikker is a frog, of course. Yes, you got it.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Toyo Ito
While I was on the Burg this afternoon, I took the opportunity to show you a view of Bruges as Japanese artist Toyo Ito tried to show us how to look at it. That is, through the honeycomb-glass windows of his carwash business.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Sybilla of Anjou
"Sybilla of Anjou?" I hear you wonder over this worldwide web. Yes, Sybilla of Anjou. She was the spouse of Diederik van den Elzes (Diederik of Alsatia) and together, sometime after 1134, they had a most remarkable chapel built, in Bruges, to honour Maria and Saint Baselius. This chapel we know know as The Sacred Blood Chapel and Sybilla of Anjou is represented here, among the other personalities depicted in the upper right of the façade of the chapel. It is a rare instance to see her in close proximity with Jesus "on the cold stone" by the hands of Michiel D'Hondt, a work he did in 1900, as well as with the Mary of the pieta. Under normal circumstances these sculptures are inside the Sacred Blood Chapel and their closeness as seen here was not brought about by hours of Photoshop trickery. It was really a chance happening, as you see it here, around half past three this afternoon.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Loading
... and leaving. No, this is not a bold daytime artwork robbery and neither is it a filming session for a new television detective series. These statues will be promenaded in the Sacred Blood procession ten days from now, and were taken from their assigned spot in the Sacred Blood Chapel this afternoon, around half past three. So, cautiously loading, safely securing and then... driving towards - I think - the Beurshalle, from where the procession is to start its walk through the city.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
De Zomere (The Summer)
. This is actually the only house in the Oude Zomer street. What you see in the rest of the street are the backsides of the houses in the Oude Burg street and garage doors. The name of this house is "De Zomere" (The Summer) and I surmise that it is also the name of a previous owner. In any event, there were families in Bruges bearing the name De Zomere. This was built in the late-gothic style in 1479. With the exception of the groundfloor, this is still the authentic old façade. I was lucky enough to visit the house a few years ago, during an "Open House" day. (But, I did not have a camera with me.)
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Oude Zomerstraat (the Old Summer street)
The city's administration has decided to install 300 additional streetname panels in the surrounding municipalities so that, at whatever corner where two streets are meeting you might find yourself, you will always know exactly where you are. The new panels will be in the familiar green background with white lettering format. Here, in the inner city, we are at a small, dead-end street, the "Oude Zomerstraat", where such a name-panel is hanging. But the inhabitants of the street did not find that one sufficient and placed another one, right across from it. And theirs is ... calligraphy, beautifully cut in stone.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
Angela Puype
Back to the small store in the Peper street, and its owner, the courageous Angela Puype. I am not the first one to take photos here. Angèle and her small store are to be found in several books about the city of Bruges. Here, during a short respite between serving customers, she is sunning herself in her small courtyard.
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
The Sacred Blood procession
The Last Supper. This scene shows Jesus and his twelve disciples sitting at the table. An evening meal filled with symbolism. "Take this cup and drink because this is my blood..."
15-05-2006, 00:00 geschreven door Blog from Bruges
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