Day 4 was anything but the simple day that I had planned in my head.  I was going to head toward Luxembourg City via Brussels, planning on doing a couple other things in Brussels but other events decided to impact that a bit. 

 

I have a habit of avoiding TV when I am traveling.  I also decided to sleep in until 8 and start packing then for my travels instead of trying to be out of the hotel before 8.  After packing up, I was down stairs checking out around 8.45.  The lady checking me out asked where I was heading and then said something had happened in Brussels, all train services had stopped.  I sat down in the lobby and looked up the news on my phone.  Wow, to say the least.  I can't say that I would have been close to the airport at the time of the attacks, but I was going to be headed that way.  I had also walked by the Metro Station that was attacked a couple days earlier.  Really put stuff in perspective.

 

I still had to travel though.  After a couple quick texts, I planned a route toward Liege and then on to Luxembourg.  I had to avoid any trains that originated in Brussels or any that was headed that way.  I walked out on the street and started toward the Metro Station.  As soon as I was out on the street, I was shocked by the military and police presence.  It was easy to see that the country was on alert.  I had about a 5 minute walk to my station.  I would estimate I walked by a good 20 people showing guns, plus a few SWAT style vehicles in the Antwerp Square.  Needless to say, the day had changed. 

 

I did manage one last waffle at the station and boarded my train to Liege.  We stopped and were held several times on what was supposed to be a 90 min ride.  I knew that I just had to roll with the punches today.  The news was filtering out on how bad the attacks had been.  Most people that I talked to didn't have cell service, but I appeared to.  I made it Liege, which was actually somewhere I wanted to see because of Santiago Calatrava's train station there, but I wasn't supposed to have time on this trip.  Now I did, because it looked like I was going to be stranded for awhile.  It was beautiful by the way.

 

 

After waiting out more delays, about 2 hours, I was off to Luxembourg.  The train stopped and was held several more times, but I eventually made it.  So much for seeing much of Luxembourg in the daylight.  My hotel was right across from the train station though. 

 

I hate that I couldn't see the majority of the city in the daylight, and I knew I needed to leave fairly early the next day.  The Old Town portion of the City is surrounded by rivers and gorges.  Absolutely stunning, even at night, but my pictures didn't do it justice.

 

Since I couldn't get decent pictures at night here are a couple from Google of the setting during the day.  I will have to figure out another trip to explore it some more in the future.  But I did get to see all of it at night though.  What a weird day, but I managed to continue my travels.

 

 

Monday was all about a day trip to the medieval town of Bruges.  But first a couple more pictures of the Antwerp train station. 

 

 

Here is one showing the vertical stacking of the tracks.  Waffle stands are just out of camera range to the left or the right.

 

Bruges is the best little town that I visited in Belgium.  It is about a 2 hour train ride, via Ghent, from Antwerp, but well worth a visit.

 

The main square and belfry.

 

They were changing the songs that the bells in the tower plays. 

 

Still a gray day, but the view was great from the top of the tower.  You can catch some of the canals in the second picture. 

 

The Bruges day was all about exploring again.  Being a medieval style town, it was easy to get lost in the maze of the streets, but cool to find little hidden shops and cafes.  I took in a couple churches, one that has a vial that houses a cloth of Christ's blood.  No pics please, ugh.  Even with Bruges being a smaller city, it still had plenty to look at and take in.  I just realized I missed the museum of fries.  Damn. 

 

Back in Antwerp, I was finally back in time to get a picture of the statues outside my hotel.  Not sure Nola would like to be green.  The statue needs a nail trim though.

Day 2 and I was off to Brussels for the day.  I can't say that I had much planned besides just exploring the city.  There wasn't as many pictures taken today, but there was a lot of walking around for sure. 

 

After a 50 min train ride to the Brussels Central Station, I walked around the central area of Brussels a bunch.  I had to have my mandatory waffle also.  It was a lazy Sunday.  The main square around the Grote Market and Grand Palace had a fair amount of people in it, even with the cloudy grey day. 

 

 

I took in the history of Brussels museum.  I really enjoy seeing how cities form and why.  Here is what Brussels looked like way back when.  It also housed all the outfits that countries have given the Manneken Pis statue.  Pretty funny really. 

 

I probably should have done a better job of stopping and taking pictures, but I guess I was just busy looking around. 

 

And the statue of the Manneken Pis "Little Man Pee".  I had just missed it dressed up for St Patrick's Day. 

 

 

Looking back on this now, I really did walk a bunch.  It was cool seeing the touristy bits of Brussels plus the bit that was just going about a Sunday.  It didn't have the feel of some of Europe's other capitals like London or Paris. 

 

The highlight of the day, the Victor Horta Museum.  I wasn't allowed to take pictures, so the rest are from Google.  Horta was a key architect in the Art Nouveau movement and the museum did not disappoint by any means.  Absolutely stunning. 

 

 

Not much to my Sunday really.  I walked around the UN buildings some and just generally explored Brussels.  Nothing to exciting to describe, but it was a good laid back day. 

 

 

Here begins my Spring Trip for 2016.  I flew from Charlotte to Toronto and on to Amsterdam on March 18th.  Air Canada wasn't that bad at all.  I would fly them again.  After landing in Amsterdam, I started my Eurorail Pass and hopped a train to Antwerp, Belgium.  This trip would be a train heavy trip, which I enjoy.

 

Why Antwerp instead of the capital Brussels?  In hindsight, this was a very good decision.  I see Antwerp as being more of the cultural capital and Brussels being the business capital.  Plus, if I hit any travel problems, I would get to Antwerp before Brussels.  My other trip to Bruges, would have went through Antwerp anyway.  It all made sense to me. 

 

 

The Antwerp Train Station is one of the prettiest I have ever been to.  Hopefully I have some more pics of it coming up.  The main hall is an open area of 4-5 vertically stacking train platforms.  Plus there were 2 waffle stands at the entry, which solved Breakfast and snacking.

 

I selected a very prime hotel location, the Old Town Hilton off Groenplaats Square.  This is one of the main squares here.  As you can tell, I didn't really pick a sunny and warm week to travel.  It was about 2.00ish by the time I made it to Antwerp.  I took a bit to settle in and then I ventured out for awhile.

 

The Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp almost shadowed over my hotel.  I loved the area that I selected.  Perfectly walkable and several touristy type shops and restaurants.  I had plenty to occupy my early evening. 

 

The square in front of the Antwerp City Hall.  Yeah, I may have missed the temperature by a couple degrees, but it was still fine.

 

Today was an exploring type of a day.  Leisurely stroll where I could figure out what all I left across the pond and the lay of the land.  I was very close to the Schledt River, which allowed me to sit back and people watch.  Oh, I had forgotten a power converter.

 

 

Het Steen medieval fortress, the oldest building in Antwerp.  As I have said before, I love the oldness of Europe.

 

Pretty simple day after all the traveling.  I had a waffle and some frites, then that was it.  Ha, no one said I had to eat healthy, but I wanted to try what they were famous for also.  Both were delicious and had an abundance of topping and sauce choices.  On to the next day.....

 

Saturday before the game, I was looking for something unique to do.  Amanda, Kaylie and I went to the sign museum.  Yep, it was unique.  Not something you would spend more than like an hour at, but still worth seeing.  I loved seeing the progression of signs and I am glad someone is preserving history.

 

Second stop before the game, the Reds Hall of Fame.  Their bobblehead collection was on display, ha.  I loved the wall of baseballs showing how many balls Pete Rose hit in his career, 3 stories worth. So much history from another storied club, but I am still partial to the Cardinal HoF.

 

Game 2 was held on an absolutely beautiful day.  We were joined by my friends Matthew and Kristie from Louisville.  Too bad he is a Reds fan, but the Reds dominated the Cardinals on this afternoon.  Go figure.

 

Some little lady has the faces down pat. 

 

After leaving for a night in Indy after the game, I ventured on to my next destination, Chicago.  I had something planned for that Sunday night, but I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do for Sunday since I wouldn't get there until noonish.  I eventually decided that I had not been to an aquarium in awhile.  The Shedd it was.  I had been here before way back in '98 I think.  I was curious what animals were still serving time here, but I digress.

 

I have always wondered if blue lobsters are discriminated against....  Oh those things I wonder about.

 

Love me some seahorses.  So delicate and stately looking.

 

These 'headless' looking worms/snakes (whatevers, can't remember) give me the creeps.

 

Pause for a pic you working birds.

 

Eels are also some creepy dudes or dudettes.

 

These guys are my style though.

 

Must have had a bad night.

 

Why was I in Chicago?  Black Sabbath concert.  \m/  When they announced the final tour, I knew I had to see them somewhere since I never had.  The venue was an interesting amphitheater that had a balcony area.  That was a first.  As soon as the first note played, I felt chills come over me.  They are the godfathers of everything I listen to and I have been listening to them for close to 30 years now.  (that just sounds weird).  They did not disappoint, even with Ozzy's waddling, swaying and occasionally singing off cord.  It was an absolutely amazing night. 

 

I hate that my videos weren't any clearer and that I had to decrease the quality more to get them to upload, but you get the idea.  What a unique sound that stays with you forever.

 

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

 

 

Black Sabbath - War Pigs

 

 

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

 

 

Black Sabbath - Children of the Grave

 

 

Setlist

 

 

 

Last stop, after a day of driving, Kansas City, and as it would turn out, there was one more concert to see on this Labor Day night.  Awolnation and Prophets of Rage. 

 

 

As many of you know, seeing Rage Against the Machine at T in the Park in Scotland in 2008 was about as good of a show as I have seen.  Definitely in my top 2 or 3 favorites.  Well Zack De La Rocha isn't helping the band by performing anymore, but the sound rages on.  Prophets of Rage is Rage's band, Chuck D and DJ Lord from Public Enemy and B-Real from Cypress Hill.  It is mostly covers of every band, mostly Rage, but wow.  Still love hearing it all, even if it sounds a little muddled with Chuck D instead of the crispness of Zack.  Loved the show and we all need to think a little more at times like these. 

 

 

Prophets of Rage - Prophets of Rage

 

 

 

Prophets of Rage - Guerrilla Radio (Rage Against the Machine cover)

 

 

 

Prophets of Rage - Testify (Rage Against the Machine cover)

 

 

 

Prophets of Rage - Know Your Enemy (Rage Against the Machine cover)

 

 

 

Setlist