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