Bumper to bumper from Ghent to Utrech

We left Brugge yesterday and drove to Ghent, where we had a look through the Sint-Niklaaskerk, which was built in the 13th century in the Scheldt Gothic style (named for the nearby river). It's a beauty; we particularly liked the ornate altar with its twisty pillars.

The church, the nearby 95-metre tall Belfort (belfry), and Sint-Baafskathedral (Saint Bravo Cathedral) are important landmarks in the medieval skyline of the city centre. We didn't climb the belfry, but we did go to the cathedral -- for us it was the main attraction for one reason: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. But first, let me tell you about the building.

Sint-Baafskathedraal is based upon the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, a primarily wooden construction. It was consecrated in 942, and traces of the original structure are evident in the cathedral's crypt. The chapel was expanded in 1038 in the Romanesque style.

A new choir, radiating chapels, expansions of the transepts, a Chapterhouse, nave aisles and a single tower western section were all added during the 14th through 16th centuries. Construction was considered complete June 7, 1569.

So the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (also known as the Ghent Altarpiece) is huge, and safely encased in a glass display case in a darkened room. No photos were allowed, even without flash, so I have nothing to show but a link that will take you to photos and a fascinating description. We listened to a very thorough description on individual headsets -- it went through the many details of the painting and explained the symbolism and various elements of each panel. Absolutely fascinating. So do have a look at the link. Amazing! http://www.artbible.info/art/lamb-of-god.html

After Ghent, we crawled to Utrecht on a number of incredibly congested highways. The 1.5-hour journey stretched to three hours. Most unpleasant. But we quickly forgot the traffic when we arrived at Mario's!

Mario made a wonderful mole poblano, tortillas, quesadillas, guacamole, and a tarte tatin for us, a lovely neighbour, and two new friends from Germany who just returned from a year-long trip to the U.S. and Canada. Wonderful food, good music, lots of laughs, and great conversation until after midnight!