I’ve spent a good part of the day stumbling over the cobblestones of Bruges centrum (known as Brugge in Dutch).  The left eye is so different from the right until next week’s surgery.  And I smile at the rolling of life.

Here’s a quiet spot.  Except for the frequent tourist boats.  But that’s okay.  I waved to lots of them this afternoon, and many folks from worldly places waved back.

And now … a less quiet spot.  The Burg is a lovely square facing the Bruges Town Hall, which was built in the 1300’s.  Here I’m sitting in a park under the shade trees, accompanied by probably eighty humans on benches and chairs … out of the heat and looking towards what’s been called the soul of the city.

The coolest thing are these chairs.  I’ve counted about fifty of the olive green places of rest.  How marvelous for the Bruges city council to create this – free places to sit for lots of us.

I’m writing about three hours after the photo, in pretty much the same spot.  The carillon from the nearby Belfry is playing a merry tune that’s filling the Burg, and many hearts I expect.

Earlier I sat in two churches: the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Sint-Salvatorskathedraal.  Both contained many reverent people … not tourists snapping a picture then on to the next.  I felt at home in each sanctuary. 

In the Holy Blood, I gazed at the paintings of The Stations of the Cross, especially being moved by the eye contact in this one between Jesus and I’m guessing his mother Mary.

I sat quietly for a long time.  A priest came by, looked at my purple t-shirt and laughed:

I might be colorblind

But I know I look good in green

In the cathedral, I walked into a Mass spoken and sung in Dutch.  I hummed along.

***

It’s a good day