Brussels 3rd Day
The Jacobs Travels
A Day at the Royal Museum
After a day of exploring cathedrals and neighborhoods we wanted to spend a day taking in Flemish art. So the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium was the only thing on our agenda this day.
Of course we needed to start the day with coffee and after a 2 minute walk from our Air BnB to The Grand Place we stopped in Starbucks for a cup of Christmas cheer. While there I noticed a young man wearing a sweatshirt that had “Bluegrass” imprinted, of course I had to say something to him, Annette knew I would much to her chagrin. He and his father were leaving and I said hello and had a quick conversation with them both. They were from the US, Eustis, FL to be exact. It truly is a small world. Deano Graham and his son were traveling Europe playing Bluegrass and preaching. Deano is a preacher that was attending a few Christian conferences in Europe and performing. Just further proof that Bluegrass is loved everywhere.
Travel does cause you to pause and connect with people which really is magical to me. Taking time to connect, even if quickly does brings so much joy. Some of my favorite experiences are connecting with fellow travelers and locals. I will always remember purchasing something from a local when there is a bit of a language barrier and slowing down to communicate as best as I can. It helps me appreciate it when I get it right and connect as best as I can.
After our coffee we started our walk to the museum and of course we had to stop to visit another church that was along the way. Mary Magdalene Chapel (Église Saint-Marie-Madeleine) What a beautiful chapel. We then enjoyed walking through the Mont des Arts Garden pausing and just enjoying the moment. It was a gray gloomy day but it still was so beautiful to walk though this garden and take in the views of Brussels from the elevated area.
The Royal Museum was amazing, and we both enjoyed seeing such amazing works of art by Belgian painters and Dutch masters. Some of the painting that stand out are Episode of the September Days on the Grand Place by Égide Charles Gustave Wappers. The Procession of the schools by Jan Verhas. The Love Proposal by Jan Steen. The Marketplace and the Grote Kerk which is a painting of Haarlem in The Netherlands.
The highlight for both of us was seeing the works Pieter Bruegel the elder & his son Pieter Bruegel the younger depicting scenes of peasant life in the 16th & 17th century in Brussels. We spent a good amount of time just enjoying these amazing paintings by father and son.
It is nice to visit smaller museums and really have the time to stop and enjoy all works of art. Visiting larger museums are wonderful to see the more well known works of art, but not being rushed (or crushed by thousands of your closest friends) is so much more relaxing and enjoyable.
The rest of the day was spent just walking and exploring Brussels even further, relaxing at our Air BnB and we stopped at a local market to have dinner in.
We were excited to visit Cologne Germany the next day to visit the Cathedral again and see the Christmas Markets. This truly was a very relaxing and enjoyable day.
