2017 (10) River Leie (Ghent)

5th August.

One night back in Ghent, doing odd jobs like mending windscreen wiper motors, and washing floor mats then off for the weekend down the River Leie.

The River Leie is 24km of picturesque winding river, a bit like the upper Thames,  with large willow trees on the waters edge, and beautiful houses with their manicured gardens coming down to the rivers edge. Fields of cows, little docks and jetties, with little restaurants and cafes on the water edge with no regard for health and Safety ( just love it   !!)

Luckily we went down river on a cold Saturday morning so none of the many many pleasure day boats were out. On our arrival via another route back in Ghent on a beautifully sunny hot Sunday at lunch time, it was like a bloody motorway of all types of craft going past us out for the day and so noisy that Max couldn’t even get his afternoon nap in peace.

The River Leie….What can we say!!, $$$$ large beautifully kept houses, all ages, styles and designs !!      I reckon I should charge somebody for this advertising… !!

Old and new boats,

We love this guys roof garden, grain sacks, beer bottles and artfully placed stones !!!!

Of course to keep all these lawn looking beautiful, you have endless water from the river and a variety of lawn mowing techniques…

And lots and lots of these

automatic ones.

Coming into Dienze, the lovely lifting bridge.   We had to phone the lock keeper who was a really jolly fellow, who wound the bridge up by hand.

Lovely quiet town of Dienze with Church, drawbridge,  and a joy for Max as there was a big weekend ‘’ Dog Agility Competition’’, but luckily far enough away not to hear them all night from the camp site..

2017 (9) Part 2, Brugge.

too many photos…to put on one blog, and max loved these old cars..

Sunday procession of old cars goes by….

2017 (9) Brugge, Belgium.

And the weather is still awful,, and Max is getting disillusioned with Belgium,, bloody North Sea, as he says !!!         We arrive in Brugge, to another great Captainarie who is the brother of the one from Ghent.(small world).     Brugge is an interesting city, where literally everyone is a tourist..its a bit like being in Disney Land, not many bikes to be run over by but plenty of groups following the umbrella or flag, with numbers stuck on their chests and horse & traps... But apart from that we spent 6 great days here. 

Walked our socks off, and with a visit for 2 nights with friends from Brussels, Bart and Lia, and a day with their/our friend Marc we saw a lot of Brugge through Flemish eyes.   And Barts cooking with his home grown veg, yum yum.                

Couldn’t miss a tourist boat trip around the many tiny waterways in the city centre.

This lovely onclave of tiny houses, Almshouses, from the 14C onwards were built by charity for the care of the impoverished elderly or retired craftsmen. And later, widows ands single ladies.

Out on the town, the bands getting the stage set up for the night.

Again, saved by The Monuments Men,

The Statue of

  Madonna and Child   

by Michelangelo Buonarotti (1504-5).

Carved in Carrara marble.

It now resides in The Church of Our Lady in Brugge and is one of the few works of his outside Italy.

Below, The Church of Our Lady with the tombs of 2 important historical figures from Belgium History.     Charles the Bold,(or Charles the Rash)9!433-77,  last Valois Duke of Burgundy, and his daughter, the duchess Mary.

More incredible sculptures and statues.

Bill and Min arrive to stay for a couple of nights to celebrate the birthday!!!!,

They bypassed their boat in Nuiewpoort to visit us and then we had a lovely day trip to see Nuiewpoort, with its huge sea and fresh water marinas.

Main Market Square, Brugge, with The  Belfry, (83m high) and The Provincial Court, and various Museums.

This is surprise birthday present from Bart & Lia.

Its meant to be one of the best beers made by Trappist monks, and considered by some to be the best beer in the world…..its not that easy to find in the shops… and only 10.2%.

And for all our friends out there…

                   

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