Antwerp

 We went to Antwerp to find our path to Rubens. 

 It was hot and we had some libation. 

 The canals were beautiful. 

 Some of the court yards are great. 

 On the Big Market Square are the guild houses and 

 the statue of the young Roman soldier who defeated the Giant who 

cut the hands off sailors who would not pay his toll and threw them into the river; 

hence the name "Antwerpen" - 

"ant" = "hand" and "werpen" = "throw". 

 Then we went to the house of Rubens. 

 He lived in great luxury....

 ... and style. 

 His studio is still filled with paintings. 

 This is a beautiful madonna (ca. 1380) in the cathedral,...

 where we also find Rubens's "Elevation of the Cross,"...

 ...the "Deposition from the Cross,"...

and the Antwerp meridian. We were there at the right time.  

    A short walk and train ride brought us back to Brussels....

... and a great dinner among friends at a Bavarian restaurant. 

Thank you for a great stay in Belgium!