Sugared & Spiced

Join my Facebook page or follow me on 微博！

Antwerp really didn’t make an impression on me. True, we only spent some 7 hours in the city, but I didn’t think we needed more time anyway. Here’s the gist of things:

The statue in Grote Markt, with a story behind:

“Antwerp got its name from a legend involving a mythical giant called Antigoon who lived near the river Scheldt. He exacted a toll from those crossing the river, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river Scheldt. Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero named Brabo, who cut off the giant’s own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen – akin to Old English hand and wearpan (= to throw), that has changed to today’s warp.“

Beer on the plaza, but of course.

Rubenhuis, the former home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), houses dozens of paintings and artworks by Rubens and his contemporaries. A fun walk through, but not a must visit in my opinion.

Strange, strange flower.

Sky from the train station.