Antwerp, some sights.

Antwerp today hoorah! It was only a 40minute train trip from Brussels which was fairly easy.

Incidently in Antwerp they speak Dutch, unlike french brussels. So that was interesting. But everyone there speaks english, so thats nice for me.

The station itself is very impressive, a Neo classical building completed 1905. It gives a good first impression to Antwerp.

From the outside, on a very sunny but cool day.

Antwerp is smaller than Brussels, so walking around is fairly easy. I love coming across old building on my walks around, especially when you go up close, and they're now just a shopping center or something banal.

Fountains. Yay.

I liked this sculpture, it was outside the main church as well which was interesting.

The church is called Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kathedraal.  Its very large and imposing.

I couldnt fit it in my camera shot. But it was too sunny for a good photo anyway.

The inside was just as impressive. Not impressive was having to pay to go inside... even the Notre Dame in Paris is free...

But they did have some very famous Robens paintings. But places in the sunny areas, which can't be good for the painting...

A pretty window.

Just near this church is Antwerps version of the Grand Place, Grote Markt. Not as grand, but I liked it. The fountain didnt have a pool of water at the bottom, it just splashed down the rocks.

Same gable styled buildings as before, with gilded gold statues on top.

A found a cute alley way and went for a walk. Little did I know this would leed to good shopping.

Lots of quirky shops which I love. Frog necklace anyone? I of course couldnt help myself and bought a few dresses and some shoes. How I will get this home, I will never know.

Lunch! Yum! Pork loin with mushroom sauce. And beer. Go me.

The walk to one of the museums was quite long, but filled with interesting things... like these purple chairs on concrete plinths in a garden...

And next to the Central station on my way back was this giant inflatable beast thing, that children could go walk inside "its intestines" and try "not to get eaten" I wanted to go in, but people were staring at me funny, so I didnt.

While waiting for the train I bought this. I was very excited. I do not speak dutch. It wasnt custard as I had hoped, but some strangely sweet lemon cream. Disappointing.

I also saw some galleries, but I'll keep that for the next blog. Overall I liked Antwerp, but I'm glad I only had the day. I saw as much as I needed to, and if I'd stayed much longer, I would have bought even more...