Get out of the art

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

As our group waited to get on a morning canal boat ride, another tour guide led his group up the street. Someone pointed out that that tour guide was apparently Steve, our solo horn player. As the doppleganger tried to cross our path, we asked (and got) a picture. Steve got to hold the sign.

Our boat guide was terrific. I was in the seat in the middle of the boat right behind him. This is apparently what it looked like behind me.

So many pictures of prettiness along the canal.

This is where Colin Farrell stayed in the movie, In Bruges.

This picture shows the seven different kinds of roofs in Bruges. Or that is what the guy said.

If my house was on the canal tour, I would have fun art, too.

Our walking city tour guide was so boring. The absolute high point of the tour was as we stood in the shadow of the tower in the central square, two men were moving wheeled trash cans 50 yards to the public areas. Across cobblestones. One guy didn’t worry about which way he was dragging the containers and just scraped the can along the ground instead of using the wheels. There would be a minute of quiet as neither man was back, then three minutes of NOISE. It didn’t slow our lady down. She just kept going. We found out as the tour continued (and continued. And continued for over two hours) that she never said anything worth hearing. Keith kept plugging along, keeping close to her and being attentive. Bruce, Jenny, Becky, and Sally and I were finding anywhere to sit that we could. After about 75 minutes, even Keith gave up and started following us to the chairs.

I thought we were going to get free admission into one of the churches, so I didn’t just wander away. We did not get to go in a church. Darn.

We were told this was the kissing bridge. I kissed the bridge.

I saw this.

There are 87 chocolate shops in town.

We napped. Keith got an early dinner while I napped again.

The band played a concert at 7:00 at the Provincial Palace. It was a lovely building, with various art displays on different floors. That brings us to the picture of the day. Becky and Dan were posing when Sally pointed out that they were sitting in the art. Dan said, “Don’t show anyone that picture.” I got shown.

After rehearsing for quite a while in the hot room, Dick requested everyone walk down and outside to the square for a band picture. All the groupies were going along to take pictures. I stayed behind because it was many floors down and up and I was already hot. I made the right call. I took this cool picture out the window. I like it a lot.

I took lots of pictures of them taking pictures because what could be more fun?

Notice who is getting away first after they said they were done?

In addition to taking a good picture, I am in everyone’s pictures of the group. If you zoom waaaaaay in, my little head is peeking out the window. Bwahahahaha.

The concert room wasn’t too big, but apparently it was sold out. We groupies hung out in the room across the hall that had two slightly comfortable couches and a little bit of breeze from the one open window (also used for picture taking).

I was looking out the window and thought the castle-y bit I could see out the window looked cool. Jenny walked into frame at the perfect moment to create a diptych.

The audience was very appreciative. The band sounded good.

After the concert, Keith talked to a man who had taken lessons from his idol, Maurice Andre (French trumpet master). It was a one degree of separation from greatness.

At 10:45 there was a history of Bruges (learned more than from our guide this morning) projection show on the central tower. It was in Belgian, but you could get English translation on your phone. Thoughtful of them.

This fabulous building is right by our hotel and we walk by all the time. It was pretty at night.