We checked out of Dukes’ Palace Hotel this morning for the long drive to Amsterdam, where we boarded Viking Einar for our 10-day Tulips and Windmills cruise. But first, we made a detour to Ghent for a short tour to see another of Belgium’s gems. This was the description of our day:
This morning, check out of your hotel and travel with your Viking Tour Director to Ghent. There, see the towering belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; canals lined with medieval guild houses; and the massive Gravensteen, the 12th-century home of the Counts of Flanders. Admire the famous van Eyck brothers’ altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, during a visit to St. Bavo’s Cathedral. After lunch and time for independent exploration, continue to Amsterdam and board your ship.
Like Bruges, Ghent is a historic city known for its medieval architecture and cultural heritage. Ghent, however, is a university town with a livelier atmosphere but is not quite as picture-perfect as Bruges.
As we walked into the city, we first saw the imposing Belfry of Ghent, one of three medieval towers that grace the skyline of the old city. We would soon see the towers of St. Bavo’s Cathedral and St. Nicholas’ Church.
Belfry of Ghent (left), St. Nicholas' Church (top right), and St. Bavo's Cathedral (bottom right)
My favorite stop was the picturesque, original harbor area, now a canal flanked by medieval guild houses and popular restaurants and cafes.
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| Along the Canal |
We made on our way to St. Bavo’s Cathedral for a visit to the interior to see the Ghent Altarpiece. This 12-panel masterpiece, also known as The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, was completed in 1432 by the Van Eyck brothers and represents the transition from Middle Age to Renaissance painting. Considered to be a masterpiece of European art, it is also the most stolen painting in the world.
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| St. Bavo's Cathedral |
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| Ghent Altarpiece |
As we left the cathedral, we had a beautiful view of the Belfry of Ghent on our way back to our motorcoach.
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| Belfry of Ghent, with St. Nicholas' Church Tower on the Left |
After a three-hour drive, we arrived in Amsterdam, where people dressed in orange were celebrating King’s Day. This massive, city-wide party was celebrating King Willem-Alexander's 59th birthday. On King’s Day, the whole of the Netherlands turns orange, and the celebrations are legendary.
As we finished our excellent pre-cruise extension, our group boarded Viking Einar for the next phase of the trip. The 15 of us had truly bonded into a tight group, and we looked forward to getting together on the ship.
Viking Einar
I somehow neglected to take any photographs of the ship or my cabin, but it was very similar to the one on which Tim and I sailed on the Seine River for the France’s Finest cruise. It was great to finally be on the cruise.
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