Knokke sea-boulevard

No doubt crowded with people during the Summer, the sea-boulevard in Knokke was deserted on the sunny though windy November day when we were there. Knokke is the most north-eastern seaside resort on the Belgian coast.

View towards Knokke

During our hike in nature area Het Zwin in Belgium we had this view towards several beach hotels near Knokke and the Port of Zeebrugge in the distance.

Art at the coast

Wood sculptures at the Belgian coast, near Knokke.

Both photos were taken last November when we visited Het Zwin nature area. These sculptures were near the bronze artwork Running Hare that I showed earlier.

Enjoy your weekend :)

Healthy??

The owner of this fish and chips stand in the city of Bruges was advertising in a way that caught attention; "Gezondheidsapotheek" literally means "health pharmacy".

Conzett Bridge

The Conzett Bridge crosses the Coupure canal in the city of Bruges. The bridge -only allowed for pedestrians and cyclists- was designed by Swiss architect Jurg Conzett, in the year 2002 when Bruges was European Capital of Culture. The bridge floor is connected to 2 huge steel pipes than can rotate so the floor will be lifted and boats can pass.
Photo taken in November last year.

Beer Museum murals

During our city trip to Bruges last November we also visited the Beer Museum. Inside they tell about the history of beer, from it´s beginnings until the present day, beer in Bruges, Trappist beers, beer types and brewing processes. Even though I don´t like to drink beer, the museum was very much worth a visit! On the inside walls were several murals that showed different types of beers.

The Bruges Beer Museum is located in the centre, in a historical building at the market square. If you like to read more click here.

I´m linking to Monday Mural.

In the chocolate museum

As you maybe know Belgium is known for it´s high quality chocolate, and during our stay in Bruges we visited the chocolate museum called "Choco-Story". It tells the story of the transformation of cocao into chocolate, the process of making chocolate and why Belgian chocolate is so delicious. In 2013 the Belgian post even created stamps that smell and taste like chocolate.

We witnessed a demonstration of making bonbons, and of course were invited to taste them at the end :) Mmmmmm!!

Donkey's Gate

Last week I showed you the 'Blacksmith's Gate', this is the 'Ezelpoort' or 'Donkey's Gate'. There are in total 4 medieval city gates left in Bruges. This one was built in 1297, then rebuilt in 1369. Alterations were carried out between the 14th and 17th centuries. The last restoration was in 1991-1993.

This is a view from the other side. Nowadays the gate is only used by pedestrians and cyclists.
If I wouldn't know better I'd say it looks more like a castle! Including it's own swans in the canal :)

Where and what?

The facade of this house in Bruges tells passers-by what can be found where..  On the top floor BEDROOM and PING-PONG, then one floor down to the STUDY and BATHROOM + DRESSING, down again to the KITCHEN and LIVING ROOM, and finally the BASEMENT...

Blacksmith's Gate

From the ring road that surrounds the old city center of Bruges there is a number of roads that enter the city. Closest to our hotel and thus the road we took passed the Smedenpoort ('Blacksmith's Gate'), originally dating from the end of the 13th century. The current gate was built on the remains of the old one in 1367, however throughout the centuries the gate has undergone many changes.

Walplein

This small cobbled square in the heart of Bruges is called Walplein (Wall Square), a name that is possibly referring to the first city walls that were built nearby in the early 12th century.

Musee Promenade

'Musee Promenade' was part of an outdoor art project along the Belgium coast in the Summer of 2015. The exhibition took on a variety of shapes, such as drawings on the beach, architectural installations, and signs in street scenes.
This somewhat Greek-like design was near the North Sea in 'Het Zwin Nature Park', and close to the Running Hare sculpture I showed you earlier. (see HERE)

Christmas shop windows

I love to see the creativity of shop owners in this time of year. These are 2 photos from shop windows in Bruges taken at the end of November. Here a display of Santas..

..and here, a bit of reflection included :), a snowman about to collapse as he is being torched by some happy though hungry creatures!    And all are made of chocolate..

Have fun this Saturday!

At no.9

I couldn't pass this door belonging to no.9 (somewhere) in the city of Bruges without taking a photo.

I think it was the combination of angels, the reflection in the glass, and the faded blue/green tile picturing a sheep..

Dinner and Bed

During one of our strolls through the city of Bruges I photographed this sign of ´La SUiTE SAnS CRAvATE´. It's a Bed & Breakfast, and, because they own a restaurant as well according to their website, they also call themselves a Dinner & Bed.
The text on the elegant sign says 'La Suite Sans Cravate' which is French for 'Room Without a Tie', and the Dutch words 'Tafel en Bed' stand for 'Table and Bed'.

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Hairy

These are two of the large herbivores on the grass lands in nature area Het Zwin on the border of Belgium and The Netherlands, see also yesterday's post. Lots of hair here!

Besides Highland cattle there was also a large number of horses. Isn't this a beauty?

I'm linking to Eileen's Saturday's Critters. Happy weekend!

Running Hare

This remarkable sculpture of a running hare stands at the Belgium coast in a nature area called ´Het Zwin´, that we visited during our stay in Bruges at the end of November. It´s me standing there next to it (how about the size of the sculpture!), and I was about to take..

..this photo of the hare with the North Sea in the background! :)
The name of the bronze sculpture is ´Hospitality´; the animal stands for liberty, independence, dynamics, fertility, strength and individuality. It was made by Barry Flanagan (1941-2009), a Welsh sculptor who is best known for his bronze statues of hares and other animals.

Bicycle Street sign

Discovering all of Bruges we spotted this sign saying 'Fietsstraat' ('Bicycle Street') and wondered what it meant, as it's not a sign we'd seen before. According to the internet, in a Bicycle Street motor vehicles are allowed (obviously), however they may not overtake cyclists -however there isn't much space left for that-, and the speed limit is 30 km/u (about 18 mph).

Well, the only vehicles we saw in this street were cars parked at both sides, and cars passing us, no bicycles..

I'm linking to signs, signs.

Dinner with a view

 We were happy to be in this restaurant for dinner on one of the evenings in Bruges; we got a window table with this gorgeous view at the market square and the Belfort Tower!

I'm linking to All Seasons.

Bruges mills

 On the remains of the old city fortifications of Bruges, that date from 1297, 4 wooden mills can be found at a section called 'Kruisvest'. It's part of a lovely walking route of about 9 km at which you also pass the old city gates. (more about those later). I loved this Autumn view with the sunlight on the leaves.

Watching from one mill to the next with the sun on our backs.

To see a full view of the St Janshuis Mill from a previous stay in Bruges click HERE.

I'm linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2.