Masterpieces of Antwerp

Peter Paul Reubens masterpieces (including The Descent from the Cross -- 1612) inside the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp's oldest church and the largest gothic church in the Low Countries. I love walking into these old cathedrals, you can smell the stone and you can feel the weight of the ages on your shoulders and if you listen closely you can hear the echo of voices long dead.

I loved Reubens' house and garden, second photo from top. Reubens was one of the few artists who enjoyed financial success in his lifetime.

Some other things I enjoyed in Antwerp were Belgium waffles, Belgium chocolate, Belgium beer, French wine, and my husband's company. He's the perfect travel companion.

giants in antwerp

The hand is the symbol of Antwerp. There's a legend about a giant Antigoon, who ruled the river Schelde and cut off the hands of sailors who were reluctant to pay his exhorbitant tolls. But paybacks are hell and he eventually got what was coming to him!

Diamonds in Antwerp

These mussels are gems from the nearby North Sea, enjoyed with Belgian beer. Lots to see and do here in Antwerp, the diamond capital of Europe. (Actually, I prefer pearls, which come from the sea...)

I'd like to be resting my dogs right now like this person is doing (photo taken in The Hague, the Dutch seat of government and home of the International Court of Justice, or Peace Palace.)

At the moment we're sitting in one of the only wi-fi cafes in the entire country. We're in Maastricht, a university town in the south of Holland, and my favorite town. The connection is slow and I'm trying to catch up on my blog before the boat leaves. That's the problem of being on a tour or cruise, your time is not your own.

Several groups of students are doing homework around me. One young man is falling asleep over his coffee. Playing is "My Girl." Outside are head shops and the whiff of burning weed drifting down the street. Maastricht is very different in character from Amsterdam, Delft, and the other towns in the North. Many boutiques and stores here, and cafes amidst the Roman bridges and ramparts.

Bob and I plan to return here on our Burgundian tour...

windmills, wooden shoes and Delft toilet bowls...

Scenes from small towns in north Holland: Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Delft and Kinderdyke.

40 percent of the country is below sea-level!

Inspired by the Masters...

In Amsterdam we were in good company with Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Gogh, and others. I was inspired to do a little still life with camera.

Vampires in Dordrecht!

More on this, later. Suffice to say, they haven't gotten us yet...