After last week’s brief interruption (in which I did a three-part series reviewing Canon’s new Powershot G1 X compact camera) we now return to the final stop on a recent transatlantic cruise. After our ship, Holland America’s MS Ryndam, landed in Amsterdam, we hoped a train and headed south.
We had several ways to fly back to the U.S. We could go through London and arrive a day sooner, but that was prohibitively expensive. We could go through Paris (always fun) but, well, been there, done that, and still have the T-shirt. Amsterdam was a possibility, but we decided to spend a couple of nights elsewhere. That “elsewhere” was Brussels, Belgium.
There’s much to see and do in Brussels—too much to see and do to fit into one blog. Thus, our final stop will fill this week’s three scheduled blog entries. Make sure you keep coming back because, despite the uncooperative weather, I stumbled across some superlative photographic opportunities that I doubt you’ll want to miss.
Our walking tour of Brussels began with a trek from the main train station to the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. The cathedral was started in the 11th Century, restored in the Gothic style in the 13th Century, and completed in the 15th Century. In juxtaposition to this marvelous example of medieval architecture are the Art Deco-style buildings right across the street. Indeed, in one shot below you’ll see a bronze Bishop facing toward a prime example of the Art Deco style. Brussels truly is a city of contradictions.
After our visit to the St. Michel and St. Gudula Cathedral, we hoofed it through back streets lined with cafés to the Grand Place. If you can’t find a couple hundred megabytes of photo opportunities in this location, you need to cap your lens and hang up your camera by the neck strap.
On the west side of this square is the Brussels Town Hall. To the north stand a magnificent line of ornate guildhalls. Bone up on your photo stitching skills and be prepared to capture the tops of these guildhalls for a great panoramic.
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
