visiting Ann | Belgium photos 1

Brian and I had a wonderful visit to see Ann.  Our travels were good and safe (but it is a long flight).  Koen picked us up and we were able to visit Ann while she received chemo #5 at the University Hospital in Leuven (it's called Gasthuisberg campus).  It was interesting to see the clinic where she gets chemotherapy and how things work there. 

We had a great week of visiting, telling stories, reminiscing, laughing and good talks.  Ann was feeling decent and was in good spirits.  The extreme swelling in her legs and feet had gone down and that made a world of difference for her.  We were even able to take a few (short and slow) walks together.

Since we've been home it occurred to me that the week we spent together was the most time Ann and I (and Brian, too) have spent together since I was very little.  Ann headed to college the fall I turned nine and the, well, life happened.  She was at college, started her career, moved to Illinois and evenutually Belgium while I was starting my own gorwn-up life.  It was very special to have the time together.

Most afternoons Ann rested and Brian and I ventured out around Leuven to explore.  There is a lot to see in walking distance of their apartment.  Leuven is the world wide headquarters to Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, and Katholieke Univeritite Leuven (Catholic University) the largest and oldest University in the countries of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg and parts of northern France and western Germany.  It is the oldest Catholic University still in existence. InBev's Stella Artois brewery and main offices dominate the northeastern part of town.

Settling in for the flight.

Ann and Koen's apartment building.  All of the viewable windows on the third floor are theirs.

 

Town Hall.

Town Hall.

Leuven train station.

Artwork near the Library.

Fly on a needle artwork, also near the Library.

 

The University Library.

 

The balloon artwork, fly artwork and library are all located around a whole block of courtyard.  Below the courtyard is city parking.  Parking, like in any city, is a hot commodity.

Details of the art on the University Library.

 

Ann and Teresa.

Brian and Ann.

 

Very old buildings, narrow streets and lots of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

There are some cobbletsone streets and sidewalks.

We watched ESPN America on Saturday.  The broadcasters were live in Oregon very early in the morning (U.S. time) and we were watching in the afternoon/evening.  We even watched the Hawkeyes lose to Michigan.

 

 

 

The next photos are from the Old Market, where dozens of bars and cafes are located in a central square in Leuven.  The Old Market boasts the "longest bar" in Europe.  The architecture of the buildings was beautiful.

 

 

 

 

It seems that down every street there is a church steeple.

Statue of Justus Lipsius. 

Center of the shopping area - that is The North Face store on the right. 

Jail two blocks from their apartment.  Don't worry, it's a safe neighborhood  :)

View of the jail courtyard - there are two miniature horses, goats and at least one rooster. 

Saint Anthony Chapel contains the tomb of Father Damien.  He was recognized as a Saint in the Catholic Church for his ministry to people with leprosy on the island of Moloka'i in Hawaii. 

 

 

Saint Peter's Church was built in 1425. 

The bell tower is 50 meters high, but was never finished.  It was intended to be 169 meters high!

The altar inside the church.