more Antwerpen: + and -
Today was warmer. I think it was up to 4 or 5 degrees instead of 1 or 2. Toasty!
Things I love about Antwerp:
* The Plantin-Moretus Museum. I spent nearly two hours in here, with an audioguide commentary, marvelling at the 17th century interiors, the gilded leather walls, the oldest surving printing presses (!) and all the associated history (the first ever world atlas, Rubens' sketches for title pages, the foundry where they cast the lead letters, and more. Best museum I've been to in a long time.)
* It's flat and easy to walk around.
* Trams. How good are trams? I could ride around on them for hours.
* Shops with gorgeous winter clothes and wonderful boots.
* The beer.
Things that confuse me about Antwerp:
* People seem to eat their sandwiches (broodjes) with a knife and fork. I noticed this at a vegetarian cafe I visited for lunch. It was a bit odd.
* The seeming impossibility of purchasing an "Antwerp Card". I've given up on the idea.
* Traffic on the wrong side of the road. I'm only a pedestrian but I'm slowly getting used to which direction I need to look in order to avoid stepping in front of a bicycle, car or tram.
I quite like these dudes, too.
Am I in Antwerp or Manhattan? :)
Things I love about Antwerp:
* The Plantin-Moretus Museum. I spent nearly two hours in here, with an audioguide commentary, marvelling at the 17th century interiors, the gilded leather walls, the oldest surving printing presses (!) and all the associated history (the first ever world atlas, Rubens' sketches for title pages, the foundry where they cast the lead letters, and more. Best museum I've been to in a long time.)
* It's flat and easy to walk around.
* Trams. How good are trams? I could ride around on them for hours.
* Shops with gorgeous winter clothes and wonderful boots.
* The beer.
Things that confuse me about Antwerp:
* People seem to eat their sandwiches (broodjes) with a knife and fork. I noticed this at a vegetarian cafe I visited for lunch. It was a bit odd.
* The seeming impossibility of purchasing an "Antwerp Card". I've given up on the idea.
* Traffic on the wrong side of the road. I'm only a pedestrian but I'm slowly getting used to which direction I need to look in order to avoid stepping in front of a bicycle, car or tram.
I quite like these dudes, too.
Am I in Antwerp or Manhattan? :)