Hey guys, well I've had my last bit of fun in Brussels. I was actually kind of sad walking around the Grand Place for the last time today. This is such a beautiful city with all it's Gothic architecture and busy, crooked little streets and hidden alleyways. I've really like being here and will miss it.
I did not get back to the museum today - was feeling a little under the weather when I woke up so I lolled around in this big comfy bed until after 10:00. I knew I'd stay in the museum for several hours if I went there and just didn't feel up to that, so I chose some other options that would allow me to stop back in to the hotel once in a while for a break.
First, I just walked thru the Grand Place, stopped in at my favorite little tea shop for some hot chocolate and a waffle and then headed over to the Sts Michel and Gudule Cathedral, Belgium's national church. What a magnificent structure!!! Contruction began in 1226 but it took 300 years to complete!!!! Inside of course was awesome, but we have some pretty spectacular cathedrals in American too.....like St. Patricks in NY and there were a couple I liked in Philly. The one here of course was filled with marvelous statuary - another Madonna and Child - and absolutely incredible stained glass. The most amazing thing, though, was the 4300 pipe organ - which appeared to be suspended from mid-air. Oh, and you could go underground and see some of the archaeilogical excavation sites.
After that I headed back to hotel for a while and then.....went....to a MARRIONETTE show!!! I had read about this and thought it would be fun. Earlier in the day, I had located it and put my name on the list for the 4:00 show. It's in an old building tucked away down a couple of those hidden streets. One side is an English pub and the other side the theatre. I had a glass of KWAG in the pub before the show. KWAG is a Belgium beer. When I had gone in earlier it was deserted, but when I got back for the show, it was packed. Several people there with their kids. The theare was actually upstairs - a LOT of stairs - very narrow and cramped and then you sit on wooden benches. (Dallas friends - think similar to the Pocket Sandwich theatre when it was still on lower Greenville). THe owner (who is 7th generation owner of this theatre) introduced the show. Now, I knew it was not going to be in ENglish. I didn't know what show they were doing, was hoping it would be either Pierre and Pierrette or something from Shakespeare - I figured with my limited knowledge of that and my smattering of French, I'd do OK. Well, it was in DUTCH. I was compeltely lost!!! It seemed to be some kind of comedy, though, - several people were laughing. The only English word I heard was during the introduction when the owner said NO SMOKING. ANd, I'll tell you what, I had already had the thought of what would happen if there were a fire - no way anybody could have gotten out of that place!!! So, even though I didn't understand a word, I did enjoy. And the strange thing is - no one ever asked me for any money for a ticket. It was a big group of people filling the theatre - probably all from the Tupperware convention that is in town - and I must have just gotten mixed in with them. Here's a website about the theatre. (Yes, I did try and find someone to give some money to when I left but it was so crowded I didn't succeed).
http://www.toone.be/
After that I just wandered around town some more and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for the jazz concert. Now, this was a 4 peice quartet - accordion, vibraphone, bass, and drums. Ho hum. How jazzy can an accordion be? I was pretty bored, but you know, the theatre was packed and everyone else seemed to really enjoy it. The vibraphone player was an American, Gary Burton, who is supposedly very popular and the accordion player, RIchard Galliano, a Frenchman "changed the history of the accordion". Well, shoot, I'd rather go back to the Grand Ole Opry.
Well, it's off to bed now. Got the taxi called for 8 and the plane takes off at 11. I'll be Texas bound in about 12 hours!!!!
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