Saturday 25th to Tuesday 28th August 2012

We have just been on a mini-cruise for 3 nights to Antwerp, sailing on the Balmoral from Southampton.



We reached Antwerp just after 1.00pm the next day, and were lucky that the rain held off for most of the afternoon. In the main square (Grote Markt), there were many artists performing, in wide ranging forms of music and dance entertainment



They included a rock group, jazz band and violins, amongst others



Then we walked a small way into the centre to visit Rubens House, which housed a fantastic collection of “old masters” in the museum



We even had time to admire the rear garden area



It started to rain just as we left, but returned to our ship not too wet, and enjoyed a very nice “formal night” and show that evening

 

On Monday the sun finally came out, and stayed out. Although the ship had to leave Antwerp by 1.00pm, we had time to visit the “Steen” castle



And finally a walk around the marina, next to the maritime museum



And then it was time to depart back to England, sailing at first back up the River Sheldt and finally into the English Channel

Saturday 4th August 2012

Today Gina, Marc & I went to see 4 great hours of Olympic track & field events at the magnificent stadium in Stratford, East London.



We had quite good seats, with good views of the long jump, javellin, the finish line for the 100m & the Olympic flame.



We saw Jessica Ennis competing in the Heptaphlon, here she is just finished the long jump –



The longest race was the womens 3000m steeplechase



This next picture is at the water jump, because it was at the opposite end of the stadium, I actually took a picture of the large screen



Here is Jessica Ennis again, this time taking part in the javellin



Next we saw the Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt (lane 7)



After the events had finished (the pole vault was at the opposite end the stadium, so it was a bit difficult to take decent pictures), we then went up the Orbit – most fortunately it has a lift, as it is 377 feet high!



A long way up, but the views are truly panoramic – the stadium
 


– and the other venues & athletes village



By late afternoon, after one truly amazing day, we made our exit, very tired but also very thrilled by what we had seen !



Gina & Marc, waving on Team GB