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Post by lagatta on Jul 22, 2019 16:18:27 GMT
I wasn't asking for myself, but for another friend, who does have some mobility problems (stairs, etc) but doesn't need a wheelchair.
I doubt I'd bother renting in Antwerp, as it is not very far from Gent, where I have friends. I'd probably just do a day trip.
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Post by ruthmc on Jul 23, 2019 0:13:56 GMT
lagatta Since Ruth mentioned Rubens & Business Suites ... in September those are more expensive than the Hilton! There are a lot of smaller and cheaper hotels, but not sure whether they lend out wheelchairs. I have never stayed in any hotel in Antwerp, since I live so close, but the following ones are well located and less expensive: Appartments City Home Antwerp Hotel Diamonds & Pearls Suite 11. I'm not looking for a hotel that can lend a wheelchair, it was just serendipitous that the others offered when I asked if they knew a business I could contact! I know that part of the planning, the working around my limitations, will work out okay, one way or the other. It takes more advance arrangements, but the rewards of traveling as I'd like are worth it. Not having to climb stairs is the main thing. While I'd like to stay in quaint, independent hotels or b&bs, reality thus far has meant we're booked at chain hotels in Brussels and Brugge (Hilton and Crowne Plaza). I think I'm going to go with Hotel Rubens - it's about $45/night cheaper than the Hilton for my dates. Hotel Franc is about the same as Rubens, so I guess it's between those two places. Once again, I really appreciate everyone's input. I'll soon have the rough itinerary planned, of at least those things we want to be sure to see in each place, leaving time for the unplanned and unexpected.
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Post by ruthmc on Sept 14, 2019 12:09:24 GMT
I haven't had a chance to circle back here in awhile, but we leave later today for what I'm sure will be a wonderful time in Belgium. Some of our plans have changes slightly, and I need to rethink my clothing after looking at the weather forecast. I don't have the photography skills of many of you, but I'll be back to share some of our vacation!
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Post by whatagain on Sept 14, 2019 13:49:01 GMT
Fantastic weather today and 25c for tomorrow. Cooler in the week but forecast is dry. Enjoy.
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 14, 2019 17:10:03 GMT
Oh joy, you are on your way! I have not spent much time in Belgium, but loved everything I saw and did there. Thus, I am so much looking forward to hearing back from you about your more expansive visit. Have a fabulous trip!
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Post by mich64 on Sept 14, 2019 18:53:19 GMT
Wishing you a fabulous holiday!
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Post by ruthmc on Nov 1, 2019 16:48:34 GMT
I got caught up on real life after returning from vacation, but am here to report that we loved our time in Belgium! We started with three full days in Brussels, staying at the Hilton a few blocks from the Grand Place. We rode both lines of the hoho bus, which worked out well given my mobility. We saw the parlamentarium and did the hemicycle tour (is that what it's called? I'm having a brain lapse). The atomium, the MIM, and a number of visits to the Grand Place to people-watch. Two photos of Grand Place: We then took the train to Brugge for five days. I was glad we chose to stay there: it was crowded during the day, but not overly so, and was pretty magical at night. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza on Burg Square, which was a great location. We did the obligatory canal cruise, spent quite a bit of time touring the Cathedral of Our Lady, spent wonderful time just sitting by the canal at the fish market, walked (and wheeled) around the beguinage, toured City Hall and the Basilica, and had a great late lunch at Cambrinus. We did a day trip to Ieper from Brugge and had a fabulous tour. This was the day there was a slight blip in the vacation. I had to go to the emergency room in the evening, and wound up being admitted to Sint Jan's. All was well, I had a little bleeding episode due to being on blood thinners. I was back at the hotel by later afternoon the following day, so we lost a day and had to do a little shuffling of the plans, but was given the okay to continue as planned. Burg Square, Brugge, a deserted Sunday afternoon neighborhood, and two photos along the canal:
Cloth Hall, Ieper:
Tyne Cot Cemetery: Inscription on Menin Gate: The last destination was Antwerp, where the great weather finally left. We stayed at the Hilton on Groenplaats, again a good location for what we did: the Plantin-Moretus, the Cathedral, MAS, Red Star Line, and Chocolate Nation. We also did a day trip to Ghent, where we did the canal cruise and saw the Mystic Lamb altarpiece. It was raining, so we didn't enjoy it as much as we might have. I was also without a wheelchair that day, so that affected things, as well. Our last night, we went to the Downton Abbey movie, having the theater almost to ourselves. Cathedral of Our Lady:
From MAS: Nikko(?) sculpture:
Stored font libraries at the Plantin-Moretus: Amsterdam Central Station: Overall, we liked Antwerp the best, because it was easier to get around. Brussels was hardest for using a wheelchair, Brugge was pretty good, once we learned a few tricks. Despite being a two-week trip, there were a number of things we didn't get to and places we couldn't go. So I guess we have to keep a second trip in mind for the future!
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 1, 2019 21:12:48 GMT
Oh my ~ you all reeeeeally did Belgium well! So sorry about the medical issue, but you seem to have bounced back as quickly as possible. Love your narration and your pictures. Antwerp really is a revelation, isn't it? I mean, I knew it was going to be a great place to visit, but didn't realize that I would like it so much. So glad you got to the Red Star Line, which was disappointingly closed when I was there. I was going to ask you about the magnificent carved wood piece with the gilded panels on either side. But first I cleverly went to my Antwerp thread & saw that I had not only taken a picture of the same piece, but had pretty much taken exactly the same picture. And yes, I neglected to identify it. I will ask what the wrapped packages in the cage are. Is that from Red Star?
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 1, 2019 22:01:43 GMT
Delightful photos, but I have to confess that my favourite is the depiction of the child and dog snuggling under the blanket of cobblestones.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 1, 2019 23:23:25 GMT
Obviously, that is my favourite too.
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Post by ruthmc on Nov 2, 2019 15:22:46 GMT
Oh my ~ you all reeeeeally did Belgium well! So sorry about the medical issue, but you seem to have bounced back as quickly as possible. Love your narration and your pictures. Antwerp really is a revelation, isn't it? I mean, I knew it was going to be a great place to visit, but didn't realize that I would like it so much. So glad you got to the Red Star Line, which was disappointingly closed when I was there. I was going to ask you about the magnificent carved wood piece with the gilded panels on either side. But first I cleverly went to my Antwerp thread & saw that I had not only taken a picture of the same piece, but had pretty much taken exactly the same picture. And yes, I neglected to identify it. I will ask what the wrapped packages in the cage are. Is that from Red Star? Sorry, I just went back and added captions for the photos. Unfortunately, I didn't note any information about the wood piece! And the packages are fonts in the Plantin-Moretus. We wound up at the Red Star Line on free entrance day, and it would have been well worth the regular admission price. My only complaint with it was that some of the written information on exhibits wasn't in English. But they gave us a nice booklet in English of everything, and the audio guide was comprehensive.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 2, 2019 16:24:16 GMT
Ahhh ~ thanks for the captions. Also, they gave me an excuse to go back & look at your great pictures again.
Love the information about the fonts and I will put the Plantin-Moretus on my list if I get to go back to Antwerp. I was a typesetter way back in the dawn of the cold type era, so remain fascinated by all things printing.
Forgot to ask if you liked the movie, which I still want to see.
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Post by whatagain on Nov 3, 2019 11:25:41 GMT
Glad you had a nice trip in our country. Always nice to see reports from foreigners of (Done) things we are so accustomed to see.
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