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We journeyed on to Brussels today! It was rainy and cold, but who can complain when it is such a gorgeous town? The town was so charming and reminded me of our day trip to Haarlem. Mostly every town here has a water canal that runs throughout them that were functional in old times. This town still uses theirs for transportation.
We went to St. Jacobs Cathedral which originally opened in the 14th c. as a hospital. The church was beautiful but the history of the hospital was even more interesting to me. We were able to walk through the hospital apothecary shop that 2 nuns ran full time. There were jars for ethanol, jasmine, and cinnamon and so on. It was so neat seeing the ingredients that they would combine to heal their patients. Inside they had many well preserved payment scrolls and doctor records dating from the mid 1300's. There was a special exhibit of an artist named Lieve Van Stappen who was asked to come up with a special installation for the hospital or church's history. After speaking with the archivist he decided to do an installation titiled Moving Archives. Foundlings. This was the most moving exhibit I have seen in a very long time. A foundling is an old century term that is used on babies that are found (abandoned). Baby foundlings were commonly delivered to the hospital anonymously out of wedlock, an affair or a result from parents of different statuses. Many times children were abandoned as they are now where no one can find them purposefully. Here is a poem that was inscribed on a headstone
The Foundling Poem:
Foundling…
Tiny, tiny baby
Cast on Earth
In joy and pain
Baby so final
As the shadow of a line
You're anyone's offspring
Child of anywhere
And nowhere
Child in free…fall.
Needless to say my heart was aching after I went through the exhibit. Luckily afterwards we walked out and saw a street musician who played the most beautiful and melodic music I've ever heard. He played an old Swiss instrument called a Hung (hong), bells on ankle and the didgeridoo. It reminded me of Lorena McKennit or Enya being played. We then went into the Notre Dame Cathedral of Brugge where we saw Michelangelo's Madonna and Child. Why this is an unknown piece living in the shadow of David, I don't know. It is a feat in every possible way. Emotion just overcame me and I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to be standing in a church seeing this work of complete perfection by Michelangelo. I am so very grateful for today. I cannot believe this trip is almost over. I have such mixed feelings, but cannot wait to see my David. One more full day of sightseeing and I plan to make the most of it.
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Danielle Wow. What an emotional day! I was tearing up reading what you wrote - can't imagine being there myself! The poem is too much... I love the Madonna and Child. It's unbelievable how he makes stone look so soft and flowing... pure genius!