Brussels and Farewell!

The last few days of the trip we went to Brussels.  Brussels is a large city, which was in my opinion too crowded and dirty.  Not my favorite at all.  Although I did love the Magritte Museum.  The trip ended in a lovely.  We went to a few group dinners and each was very fun.  People sat together that had not usually talked making for interesting conversation.  Everyone was in a good mood because of the program ending.  I ended the program with good feelings about everyone (yes, even the ones that I dont actually like)

carpet of flowers in the brussels square

David's Death of Marat

 Anyways,  now I am back in Amsterdam.  My hotel has slow internet so I probably will not upload very many pictures.  My boyfriend, Matt arrives this morning and then we are off to Paris, Barcelona, Nice, Rome and Venice for the next three weeks! Going to be an adventure.

I just want to say thank you to all who read my blog and shared my experience with me :)

ANNA BRUGES: Days 57 & 58

The last few days have been spent in the Belgian city of Bruges.  Such a beautiful old little town with so many amazing buildings.  Yesterday we saw a wonderful Jan Van Eyck and ended the day with a group dinner, which was really fun.  We are starting to all become slightly better friends although the cliques still exist, but at least I was able to talk to some people at dinner that I have hardly talked with this whole time.  And we had mussels for dinner, which are a Belgian specialty! YUM!

In this church, is Michelangelo's Brugge Madonna--below-- which was the only work of Michelangelo's to leave Italy during his lifetime.  

Jan Van Eyck! such a horrible glare in this museum :( 

AMAZING detail work 

Today was a free day.  We had a complimentary breakfast--champagne included!--and then Angie and I went and climbed the bell tower.  What a climb! Nearly 400 stairs and all very steep and narrow.  I conquered it easily, but there were a few people hyperventilating because of claustrophobia.  I felt so bad for them! The view was really nice from the top.  Afterward we met up with a few others and had a little lunch and went to a Belgian Chocolate shoppe.  Oh my goodness.  I bought a box of hand made chocolate for 5 euro with 15 assorted pieces inside.  I have eaten nearly half and each piece is the most delicious taste I have ever experienced.  I want to go back and buy some for my family but I don't think they would survive for another month.  Sorry guys!

view from the tower

YUM <3 YUM <3 YUM <3 YUM <3 YUM <3 YUM 

ANNA ANTWERP: DAY 56

View from the top, Allison, me, Angie

Today we went to three museums none of which were very special.  Because they just didnt seem to have that much work. Once again I am completely exhausted--woke up at 8 and didn't get back to the room until eleven pm.  Here are a few highlights:


Below, blurry picture but it's a Narwhal horn! so much bigger than I ever thought.  The first museum we went to.

        

Melun Madonna.  So cool we got to see this!

Belgian Waffles in Belgium...a must

Gay Pride Parade

I am ALWAYS right.  heehee

"We worry and we are full of anxiety.  We think the world will demand an explanation.
But in fact the world has already moved on and forgotten us" --Jose Saramago

"Here is a peanut shaped like a bird"

 

this is my worst nightmare.

After all our museum visits we had a group dinner.  Very nice food.  Angie even tried horse and I had a bite! Not too bad.  But I think red meat is really gross.  But we got amazing Dame Blanches (classy euro way of saying ice cream sundae) at the end.

Here is Jen, Angie and me sitting in the hand of Antwerp.  The city was named Antwerp after some myth about a giant throwing a hand into the river.

 Then after dinner, Tracy, Angie and I went on the Antwerp ferris wheel.  Fun way to end a very long day.  We only went because it is our last night here and its right next to the hotel.  When in Antwerp! Off to Bruges tomorrow.

ANNA ANTWERP: Day 55

EEK I'm so tired but I wanted to write a short post and put up a few pictures because....I am in Antwerp!














Today we took the train to Belgium--no stamp in my passport boo--and had many luggage struggles.  Good news, it was so sunny and nice.   More good news, my teacher Steve has become less rude and annoying.  Even more good news, Antwerp is awesome!

We went to a Cathedral with famous Rubens paintings, saw the outside of Rubens' house, walked around, got ice cream (I got Belgian chocolate and banana yum yum), saw a castle, and then a select few went to an optional sculpture park with Steve and Marek.  Major brownie points scoured for going on that one.  Then Angie, Jennifer, Tracy and I went to a horrible Mexican restaurant for dinner called Chi chis.  You win some you lose some.  I have pretty much given up on mexican food in Europe.  Its just not going to happen.



Bad news, I can literally buy nothing.  My bags are so full.  Thanks a lot sleeping back that is taking up so much space and is not even going to be used.  MDB >:(  heehee not really.

The cathedral we went in...and ME

real horse ass in restaurant...so I took a picture. of course

Mom this ones for you: bike carpool.

sculpture park

melted boat sculpture

Anyways, super tired and now I'm going to sleep.  Oh Jess, our hotel is called Hotel Leonardo and our headboards have Leonardo da Vinci paintings printed on them.  Very small room but its the European way.  And we have a TV. Livin BIG

Day 48: Happy Birthday Jessie

Today is my sister's birthday! I miss you a bunch Jessie and I wish I could be there with you!

Day 47: The Hague & Beach Afternoon

Den Haag beach

the Genmeente Museum

Friday we went to the Hague, which is the political center for the Netherlands although Amsterdam is the capital.  The Hague is located on the atlantic and is about an hour south-west of Amsterdam.  Already the day had gotten off to a weird start weather wise.  I chose to wear pants because it was gray and a little rainy, but by the time I had rode to the station it was sunny and humid.

The Gemeente Museum in "Den Haag" is amazing! So big, and with a huge selection of works ranging from the Old Masters to contemporary.  Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures of the older works, like Vermeer's View of the Delft, which is remarkable in person, but we were allowed to snap pics of everything else.

Crystal bed.  I want.

Of course with all art, there is always some very odd work.  Like this.... makes me think of Jessie and Tuni playing Bitty Babies.  Too bad these Bitty Babies are crazy creepy.


Or the cat-copter which is a taxidermy cat that was the actual artist's cat.  He attached the propellors and it actually flies.

And here are a few of my favorites:
                        

This Monet was done by touch as he completely lost his sight

Allison and I.. so basically Anna & Anna
since our professor Steve CONSTANTLY calls
Allison Anna.  I mean, we are identical...not.

After the museum, which closed at 5pm and we were essentially kicked out of, Angie, Allison and I decided to walk to the beach.  As we walked it became boiling hot and Angie and I were both in pants. So hot! (and no, I don't mean this buff sex god featured left) So we went to a HEMA--a cheap target--and I got a skirt for three euro.  But as we left the HEMA it had become a little cloudy but still humid.

We found a restaurant on the beach and I got some very tasty Fish n Chips. 

But then the weather turned to this: 

So I pulled out this:

Then it rained so hard even my freebie umbrella didn't do the trick, and after being so hot before we had to get these:

And after 20 minutes it turned to this:

So we put our feet in! And it was not that cold!