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Our day in Ghent was Ah-Mazing! It is more of a city with a couple of early 11th c. buildings if you can imagine that! Today was Market Friday, where all of the vendors come out in a flea market of sorts with antiques, clothes, fruits and vegetables. There was a table that actually had WWII helmets!
We made it to the Ghent St. Bavo Cathedral where the major work, Ghent Altar Piece (1432) Jan Van Eyck (http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/e/eyck_van/jan/09ghent/index.html). This work is immense and hidden behind glass for preservation. Some of it was under restoration, but luckily 3/4 of it was still hanging up. This piece is THE piece of triptychs.
We also made it out to two 11th c. castles that we got to explore. The dungeon and torture chamber was my favorite. They had very interesting torture inventions on display such as the thumb device to make people confess of treason. One of the forts had two outdoor toilets with windows so that a guard can use the toilet and still guard the castle! On one, the guide told us that during the 16th c. witch trials these women were said to have slept with the devil. In the city record transcripts one said that sex with the devil was unsatisfying as his penis was extremely cold. YES, THIS IS ON RECORD.
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Shanda fabulous! wish I were there to experience it with you.....
Brooke Beautiful pic!