Touring Belgium (Bruges, Mechelen, Brussels)

Entering the historic city of Bruges.  It dates back to the 15th century.  We are crossing a
draw brigade that is raised continually throughout the day for boats to cross.

A very Old European feel to the city.  The bicycle is a very common mode of transportation.
The stores are not restored--just very old.

We are in a huge city plaza that is full of different shops and eating places.  It's much like a
summer celebration but it is a daily occurrence here.

We went on a river boat ride to see all of the old historic buildings.  I thought this beautiful
swan was so picturesque.

A sample of the old buildings.  People still live in them and real estate is very expensive here.

This old, beautiful building is in the middle of the plaza in a town called Mechelen.  We were
on a quest to find Great Grandpa Khulmann's grave site.  He lived in this area and was the
first Branch President for the church in Brussels.

Mechelen looks similar to all of the towns in this area.  It is very old with many, many
bicycles and a few cars.

Here we are driving through the countryside trying to find the old cemetery.  It's supposed to
be just around the corner.  We couldn't find his grave but the following picture is a sample of
what the cemetery looks like.  After so many years, unless there is a family to pay for the
grave site, the graves are emptied and used again by others.  We searched some records they
had but to no avail.  Unfortunately, the records office we needed was closed.

We found some interesting information, however.  Grandpa Kasper Kuhlmann worked in a factory
and was killed in a chemical explosion.  The factory we found in this area is a sugar factory.
And we know from growing up in Nyssa, Oregon, that if the sugar accumulates it can cause
an explosion in the silos.  We are surmising that perhaps that is what happened to him.

This is what is left of the old sugar factory.  It is no longer used for processing sugar beets.

City Mechelen

We returned to Brussels and spent a fun time touring this beautiful city.
The huge buildings are so intricate and amazing.  A picture does not do
them justice.  And the sights go on block after block.

It's amazing that these buildings survived WWII.  There were opera singers in the open court
yard singing for coins.  

Belgium is the birthplace for French Fries (I stand corrected.  They are NOT French Fries
they are POTATO Fries from Belgium!)  The fries cost $4.00 and you had to pay extra
for ketchup.