Historical Walking Tour – Free!

Bruges is beautiful. The medieval architecture is enchanting. The chocolate and beer are phenomenal. And, the hand crafted lace is stunning. We took a little walking tour of the city and then we spent the rest of the day exploring. The weather was perfect and we got some very nice pictures. Enjoy!

Walking to the city proper was easy from the train station. Here we are passing through the Koning Albert I Park.

Making our way to the city center.

The Schrijverke Restaurant…time for lunch!

Dennis ready to eat!

Lamb lasagna, Fries, and Steak. Delicious food for a brisk spring walk-about.

Guido Gezelle Statue

You can do a canal tour!

The Bruges Provincial House

Selfie in the main square.

Bruges Belfort

St. Michael Rooftop Adornment. Many of the buildings around Bruges had these beautiful, gilded finials.

An example of the beautiful lace work!

At Rococo, we got a lace work demonstration. Neato!

In action, the weaving happens very fast. It was dizzying to watch this lady as she deftly maneuvered the bobbins.

Convent Park.

From the Convent to the medieval Red Light District…

Dennis in the red light district.

On one of the old bridges.

Bruges Town Hall

At the Duvelorium…

Beer Sample

The other half of our beer sample.

Beautiful path to the windmills.

The Windmills!

Bruges Clock Tower

The Bruges Opera House. The Belgians love to have modern buildings mixed in with ancient ones…Here’s a prime example of their modern style.

We had to leave Bruges early because the train workers were going to go on a strike that night. So, we didn’t get a chance to see what the town was like at night. We got one of the last trains back to Brussels and enjoyed a hearty dinner at our flat.

Charlie, with the white shirt and ballcap, at the Beginning of our Tour.

The Little Pisser and Tin-Tin Escaping

Mont De Arts Garden (where we ended our tour)

For our first day in country, we decided to take advantage of the free walking tour of Brussels offered by Sandemans New Europe Tours. The tour begins in the main square and ends at the Mont De Arts Garden. We were greeted enthusiastically by our British guide, Charlie, and promptly whisked away through the quaint little streets of Brussels. Later, in the evening, we attend a Belgian Beer Tasting Tour, also through Sandemans. By the end of the day, we are both completely in love with Belgium! And, we haven’t even been to Bruges, yet…

Start of the Tour. Charlie, our guide is behind us in the white shirt and ballcap.

Town Hall

Guild Halls

Monument Everard. Stroke the sculpture for good luck!

Space Invaders mosaics are all over the city. I liked this one, which is in the neighborhood of the Little Pisser.

Manneken Frites…even the fries are pissing!

This Cathedral has been renovated such that the exterior is brand new, but inside the walls, they have left the original 15th century foundation.

The Royal Theater. A revolution was started here after a rousing performance of an Opera!

Public Cartoon Artwork. They love comics in Belgium!

Beautiful Covered Shopping Area. We were nearly thrown out from this area by a local shop owner who was none too happy with the tour group standing outside his shop!

Royal Palace of Brussels

Charlie, Our Tree Hugger Guide! Here we are in City Park…

Lots of nice areas to run!

Musical Instruments Museum.

At the End of the Tour

More Space Invaders!

Dennis at Mont De Arts

Clare at Mont De Arts

Mont De Arts Sculpture

After the tour, we walked around a little more and then went back to the apartment to rest up before the evening. We decided to take a Belgian Beer Tour, by Sandemans.

The tour included a lesson on the art of Belgian beer making, the Trappist Beers, and how to pour a perfect pint. We met at a local pub and then walked to 5 more establishments. We ended the tour at Delirium, a fine brewery with a world record for the number of beers stocked.

Pouring the perfect pint!

Dennis’ turn to pour!

Our tour group. Fun crowd!

Unmarked Trappist Beer…being sold…very hard to get and very pricey!

Sample Beer Menu…blonds and fruits.

A Light and Refreshing IPA. I normally despise IPAs, but this one was okay.

Delirium Taps!

Delirium Interior

After a whirlwind trip to Istanbul, we flew to Brussels, Belgium. We were looking forward to the Belgian brews, chocolate, and waffles. We took a train from the airport to downtown Brussels and then walked about a mile to our B&B. We met our host and immediately went for a lovely walk of the neighborhood. He took us to this incredible pub called The Monk.

After that, we enjoyed a delicious traditional Belgian styled hearty dinner at Kom Bij Ma. On the way back to the flat, we stopped in at a local grocer and picked up some food for lunch the next day. The flat had a kitchen, with the basic cooking utensils, and a mini-fridge. It was a perfect getaway accommodation for this midway point in our trip!

A cute little sign on the train!

The King’s House on the Grand Place

Taps at the Monk…aka nozzles of delight!

At Kom Bij Ma; comfort food and down to earth eating, in the heart of Brussels!

Beer with Dinner

The Monk Bar, awesome beer!

Dennis in our rented flat.

Dennis in the Kitchen area of the flat.

Delicious Food!

Nalan and Jatin

Finally, the moment had come! Time to attend Nalan & Jatin’s Wedding Reception. We met with Errin and Dave in the lobby and waited for the festivities to begin. We were greeted by Nalan’s younger sister, Handan, and it was wonderful to see her. She introduced us to her husband and some of the family. We met, briefly, with Nalan’s parents and I got the biggest bear hug from her Dad. There were lots of pictures being taken of the family, so we were snagged by Nalan to be in a couple pictures. She looked like a princess!

The night started out with some appetizers and wine. People mingled and socialized while we waited for entrance into the reception.

When they let us in, we picked a table and shortly after, they started serving dinner. It started with a delicious hummus, vegetable, cheese, and olives plate. The main course was rice, with roasted veggies and chicken breast. The food was delicious and very fresh.

Fresh rolls and homemade jam!

There was a DJ playing music and Nalan and Jatin finally entered the room; with a spotlight…like movie stars!

Nalan and Jatin with Nalan’s Parents!

Nalan, being showered with jewelry. Jatin’s 4 aunties are putting bracelets on her while her older sister puts on a necklace.

Nalan dancing, the music was really fun and almost everybody came out to dance!

After a little bit of dancing, Nalan and Jatin slipped away and changed into more comfortable Kurtas. The traditional garments of India are much easier to dance in than the traditional western wear!

Dennis and I having a fun time.

We stayed at the wedding until nearly midnight and then we caught a cab back to the hotel. The wedding was super fun and full of energy. I loved the way they blended the cultures so that it was a truly cosmopolitan and worldly event. No matter whether you were coming from Dubai, Malaysia, the US, the UK, Germany, or Turkey, you were bound to have a fun time! Best wishes to Nalan and Jatin for a life full of happiness!

Cistern of Philoxenos

The Grand Bazaar

Bosphorus Bridge

We had so much fun with Errin and Dave on Friday, that we all decided to repeat the process. Lots more walking, must-do-sights, and to top it off, a fantastic cruise on the Bosphorus River!

From Wiki: “The Hagia Sophia, built by Justinian between 532 and 537, is widely regarded as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest ever cathedral built in the world for more than a thousand years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1575, during the Renaissance.”

A Huge Gate!

The line for the more famous Cisterns was long and it was really hot outside. So rather than suffer through that, we headed to Philoxenos Cisterns (2nd largest). At Philoxenos Cisterns, we were able to walk right up, get tickets, and enter the cisterns with no waiting. The ticket also included free coffee or tea! Bonus!

There were offices in the Cisterns!

I got this picture of Errin and Dave in the Cisterns. The lighting was really bad but the acoustics were incredible!

After the cisterns, we headed over to the Grand Bazaar. We had all been there before, but it’s the sort of thing which is fun a second time!

My advice for shopping in here, if you must, is to take the price offered by the vendor and cut it in half. This should be your starting point for haggling. The locals can get the items for a third of the offered price (or less if it’s a machine made object), so this is a reasonable thing to do. From there, if they don’t want your business, they will not counter offer. Or they will tell you that their business will fail, wife will kill them, etc…but if they want your business, then they will reduce their price.

Most objects in the bazaar are offered at more than one vendor, so it’s no loss if the first vendor you try doesn’t want your business. When you go to another vendor, you can then bring the starting point up or down, based on the response from the last person. Have a fun time and treat it more like a game.

It helps to look at several objects on a table, so they don’t really know which one you like…keep them guessing. They sell things all day long from people around the world, so it’s more engaging for everybody when you are interested in the various products and ask questions. When a sale finally does happen, you both come away feeling like winners. It’s exciting and entertaining if it is done properly.

One of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar

There are maps posted on columns inside the Grand Bazaar, but they are a bit tricky to spot! Also, there are no clocks in the Bazaar…for these two reasons, the Grand Bazaar reminds me a little of the casinos in Las Vegas. Once you enter; it’s easy to lose track of time and space!

Shopping Madness!

Having a fun time!

A Spice Stall. If you want to try the spices, they are more than happy to give you a sample. But, then you must haggle over the price (or risk buying over priced spice).

Dave in front of a very small jewelry stall. There was only enough room for one customer at a time!

The beautiful ceiling of the Grand Bazaar.

After all that walking, we were ready for a break. Time for a cruise on the Bosphorus River!

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It’s amazing!

The Galata Tower

Dave and Errin, cruising on the Bosphorus. What a fun time!

Woot-woot! Big smiles.

The Dolmabahce Palace!

Taksim Square, the site of the recent student protests.

At Valens Aqueduct with Errin and Dave

Near Pierre Lotif Cafe. What an amazing view of Istanbul!

On Friday, we joined up with Errin and Dave for a whirlwind tour of Istanbul. We were fortunate in that they had done their homework and lined up a super itinerary of must-do-places to see. It was our 2nd time in Istanbul, so the bucket list was not as massive as the first visit. Istanbul is a wonderful city for exploration and we were blessed with a fantastic, clear day!

One of the few pedestrian cross walks that we saw being obeyed by motorists. Yay, we’re safe!

The Fatih Mosque. According to Wiki: “this mosque was originally built between 1463-1470. An earthquake knocked it down around 1500 and it was replaced. The current mosque (designed on a completely different plan) was completed in 1771 under Sultan Mustafa III by the architect, Mimar Mehmet Tahir.”

The Valens Aqueduct. I wonder if the Romans parked their horses under the arches…

The Gazanfer Aga Kulliyesi. Originally built in 1596, this complex had a madrasa (school), tombs, and a fountain.

Nikolaus Church. Originally built in 1394; it was renovated in 1729 and then used as a monastery.

Next, a visit to the world famous Pierre Loti Cafe! We took a taxi to the cafe, as it sits atop a very high hill.

There’s always time for a Turkish Coffee!

After the coffee, we walked down the hill, through an ancient cemetery, to the Eyup Mosque.

View of Istanbul from the Cemetery

Cemetery gravestones.

On the walk down the hill, there are famous Turkish sayings engraved in the wall. This one really resonated with me!

The Eyup Mosque. The present building dates from the beginning of the 19th century. The mosque complex includes a mausoleum marking the spot where Eyüp (Job) al-Ansari, the standard-bearer and friend of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is said to have been buried.

Dennis at Eyup Mosque.

The fountain near Eyup Mosque. On a hot day, the kids and dogs really loved this fountain.

We got to the hotel super early and so we napped in the lounge while they prepared our room. Once our room was ready, we went for a walk for lunch. When we got back, we met up with Nalan and Jatin, and lots of Jatin’s relatives. It was a nice bonus to see them! As we wrapped up the hasty visit, Errin and Dave arrived from the airport and we agreed to meet up with them for dinner.

For dinner, we all went to a well known Turkish Seafood place over by a marina. The taxi drove us over there and brought us back…so that was super convenient. The food was nice and we had a fantastic time.

We had heard good things about the street food in Seoul. To be on the safe side, we decided to sign up for a tour with O’ngo Food. They had several options, depending upon the desired experience, but we thought the half day walking tour sounded like fun and it was affordable.

The food tour started with a demonstration for cooking a traditional style Korean Pancake. At the tour company, there is a demonstration kitchen. It’s really nice…each table has a cooktop and lots of room to prepare food. For the foodie, it’s a great way to start a tour! After the host answered all our questions, we left to begin the walking portion. Our group had about 8 people, so it was the perfect size.

Our tour guide took us to about 6 different vendors. Some were walk in shops and some were food carts. At some point, we also walked through a huge indoor market. The guide spent a lot of time explaining the ingredients and the variations in serving and preparations. The tour ended in a restaurant, where we had a traditional Bi-Bim-Bap. By the time the tour was over, everybody was completely full.

Later in the afternoon, we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace for a walking tour. There was a Changing of the Guards ceremony, so we lucked out with our timing!

Changing of the Guards

The Ceremonial Gong

Soldiers

The Procession of Guards

Standing with a Guard

What a beautiful day at the Palace!

The Main Complex

The Throne Room

The Dining Room

Dennis in the Royal Living Room!

After the tour of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, we caught a cab back to the room. Our flight didn’t leave until later that evening, so we took a walk, I got my hair done, and then we hung out at a local coffee shop. We packed our bags and then took the limo bus back to Incheon International Airport. Next stop, Istanbul, Turkey!

Insadong Shopping District is Fun!

Bi-Bim-Bap Menu! This place is awesome…it’s been in business for 40 years and has a continual stream of customers. Arrive promptly at 11am to beat the lunch crowd and get a table.

Yun Suknam’s Heart exhibit at the SOMA. We really loved her work; full of passion, purpose, and creativity.

The Cheonggyecheon River Walk

Our first full day in Seoul was jam packed with activity. We started the day with a visit to the Jogyesa Korean Buddhist Center. Then, we walked around the Insadong Shopping area and explored the streets of the old city. We had a traditional Bi-Bim-Bap lunch at a local hotspot, followed by a subway trip to the SOMA (Seoul Olympic Museum of Art). Wrapped up the adventure with a romantic stroll along the Cheonggyecheon River.

We woke up to a misty morning and went in search of coffee. Seoul has a lot of little coffee shops, so it didn’t take long!

After coffee, we strolled over to the Jogyesa Korean Buddhist Center.

Chubby, Happy Buddha

Clare and the Tree

Dennis and the Tree

Big Buddha

Temple and Lanterns

Lanterns

Next, we walked to the Old City.

Then, we went to Insadong Shopping District.

Dennis smiling for good luck.

Shopping District

Taking a break on a bench.

We worked up an appetite, so we went in search of traditional Bi-Bim-Bap! To the left on the table is a Seafood Pancake, which was delicious.

Space is at a premium, so I had to park my BMW in a rotating storage contraption. Joking!

In the afternoon, it started drizzling, so we thought we should go to the SOMA (Seoul Olympic Museum of Art). To get there, we had to take the Subway. Thankfully, it’s very well thought out and quite easy to ride. It was a bit tricky to figure out which direction the trains were going though, so at least once, we rode it for a stop, only to get off and get back on in the other direction.

Dennis entering the subway.

Subway Map on the inside of the train compartment.

You are here map. Unfortunately, these maps in the subway are zoomed out really far, so they are not as useful as one would hope.

Digital Expression. Each screen in this exhibit changes constantly, independent of the screens around it.

Paper and Mirrors. I purposely captured our image in the mirror.

Yun Suknam, the featured artist, had a major cover by a feminist art magazine, “If”.

We liked the Dogs!

Wooden People (these were about 18 inches high).

Heart Exhibit

In the Forest

Wooden Art

Cheonggyecheon – The River Walk

Avenue of Youth!

Vibrant Alleys with Shopping Opportunities

Recycle those old tires…turn them into Gardens!

At night, the river walk was transformed with the light of these beautiful lanterns!

My favorite lantern!

A Warrior!

The flight from Seattle to Seoul went very smoothly. Once we had landed in Seoul, it was easy to find the Limo Bus, which takes people from the Incheon Airport to the downtown area with minimal stops. The bus ride is 45-50 minutes.

A very large blue bear, which reminded me of the large blue bear we have at the Denver Convention Center.

Fresh, clean slippers to be used in the room!

Finally, we arrived at our bus stop and walked one block to the hotel, CenterMark. The location and price of this hotel was perfect for us. Our room was small, but we were just there for a few days, so something simple was fine. We were exhausted after the long flight, so we called it an early night.