To Antwerp!

We took a 40-minute train ride from Brussels to Antwerp to spend a day sightseeing. It was a breath of fresh air from the packed, tourist-riddled city of Brussels for the Flower Carpet weekend. Upon arrival at the Antwerp train station, we found the ceiling so beautiful, we had to stop and take a group photo. 

All arrived in Antwerp

All of the photos on this post were taken as made a 20-minute walk last over an hour thanks to amazing shops, photo opportunities, and busker watching. 

Buildings in a row

Antwerp Architecture

Antwerp's buildings were similar to Brussels' architecture, but the streets seemed wider so that you could better appreciate them from across the street. There were also statues of the city's most celebrated artists, Van Dyke and Rubens. 

Van Dyke statue

There were also rows and rows of red city bikes available for anyone to rent should they so want. 

City bikes ready for use

Part of the silliness: My friend Julie photo bombing my take of this eagle and fountain. (If you zoom in, she's seated on the corner of the fountain, looking back at the camera.) 

Julie photobombing (seated, at corner of fountain)

And Julie's husband Dan, not-so-subtle photo bombing of my photo of the giant hand statue.  

Her husband, Dan, photobombing (not so stealth-fully)

Once the lot of us finally made our way to Antwerp's city center, we were not disappointed. The statue is the celebrated Brabo Fountain, sculpted by Jef Lambeaux. It depicts the 16th C legend that tells of Salvius Brabo, a nephew of Julius Ceasar, who defeated the giant Druoon Antigoon and cut off the giant's hand and threw it in the Schelde river (the same punishment the giant inflicted on soldiers who couldn't pay his toll). 

Antwerp town center

In the picture below you can see the tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady, the most ancient and largest gothic cathedral in this region. Building of this cathedral started in 1352 and was finally completed in 1521. I have seen so many old buildings, yet I am still amazed with each new historic building I see. I hope I never become blase about seeing this sort of sight! I don't think I will...

City square, with the cathedra of Our Lady's tower on left