Photos of Belgium

Here are some photos of our time in Belgium.

Actually, this first one is a picture of the kids just before we got on the Eurostar in London. We were too worried about actually getting on a train (what with all the disruptions to service occasioned by last week's fire) to spend a lot of time looking around the newly renovated St. Pancras station, but what we saw was astonishingly beautiful. Apparently there are plans for a 5-star hotel to open in the Victorian fantasy building above the main train station.

Here we are upon our arrival in Mechelen. Note the skepticism on Margaret's face. I was a bit tired from hauling bags around the train, but Margaret clearly was not pleased with her first impression of the city here. That impression improved when she got her first taste of Belgian chocolate, not long after this.

On Saturday, we took the train up to Bruges, where we spent the first half of the day at the seapark, pictured below, and the rest of the day in the town proper. The seapark is to Sea World roughly what Story Land in New Hampshire is to Disneyworld. The kids loved it, and even the adults marveled at the dolphin show.

Bruges is the most amazingly well preserved late medieval city. Here is John, working as a street musician (the real musician is standing off to the side in this shot), just outside one of Bruges' fine churches.

Here are John and John relaxing with hot chocolate after their work on the hand-crank organ:

The parents, not pictured, are sampling some of the local Bruges beer. Yum.

On Sunday, we had a more relaxing day, sleeping in and spending a couple of hours at the park in Mechelen. The park included several playing fields, a running loop (3.3K), many bicycle paths, an elaborate playground, a formal rose garden, an informal rose garden, and a spectacular dahlia garden. And, of course, a cafe/bar. Here is a shot of Margaret stopping to smell the roses:

Finally a picture of a most extraordinary sight: Mark and Karen's local "convenience store."

In addition to sodas and snack foods, this vending machine sells butter, eggs, milk, cheese, prepared foods, and several kids of beer and wine. And, of course, chocolate.