The Day After

Many woke with hangovers, some so bad they couldn't move. We got home at like 4.00 am, and I finally killed the light at around 5.00 am. I woke around 1.00 pm with no hang over as I didn't drink much, unlike many others.

Vincent's Dad came and picked us up at around 2.00 pm and we set off for another round of touring in Gent.

The first place we visited was Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent (Belgium). The imposing building we see now is the result of a labour of love which took centuries to complete.

The church can be dated back to the chapel of Saint John the Baptist, consecrated by Transmarus bishop of Tournai and Noyon in 942. Traces from a later Romanesque church can still be seen today in the richly decorated crypt of the cathedralyon, in 942.

This was followed by a trip to the Belfry built originally in the 14th century, where a permanent surveillance was held over the city.

Belfry - The clock mechanism

The mechanism of the copper chiming drum can be compared to that of a music box. It is connected with the main clock and is activated every fifteen minutes. The arias we hear every quarter of the hour are parts of existing carillon music, adaptations of classical or contemporary works of music or new compositions of the town carillonneur. The pins are changed every two years. This still happens in the medieval fashion.

The present clock mechanism dates from 1912. The tower clocks need to be wound up daily. This is the task of the clock winders. By means of a crank they lift the three heavy weights of the pendulum clock.

We saw a special alley way where the graffiti artists can express themselves, hence you see very little graffiti around Gent.

Afterwards we were taken out into the countryside and had drinks at Ouwe Hoeve known in english as D'Old Farm originally built nearly 300 years ago, as a parsonage, later became the town hall and inn, and later became the school. This building since 1826 is the local inn. The location of D'Old Farm is in the picturesque village of Deurle (Belgium).

We then visited another village and saw the graves of Vincent's Grand parents and Great Grand parents. Vincent's mother called to invite us back to their place for dinner, where we were served pancakes and coffee and saw Elena.

This river goes to Gent

We finally got home at around 11.00 pm, tired and content. Link to the rest of the days photo's. The day after the wedding.

In the garden at Vincent's parents place