***<\/p>\n I wouldn’t say I loved these, but I am fascinated.\u00a0 They are a two-fer.\u00a0 A portrait of a young girl and a portrait of a lady.\u00a0 Unless the girl’s name is Benjamina Button, she should take issue with her portrait.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n They had several sketches and preliminary drawings for Joseph Docq’s “The Return of Scipio’s Son.”\u00a0 I prefer the preliminary sketches to the final piece to be honest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The big selling point at the place though was Jan Van Eyck’s Madonna with Canon Joris van der Paele<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n – (By Jan Van Eyck [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n This painting would also serve as the framing device for the Historium, a multimedia movie and seven room recreation of a day in 1435. The plot has a young gopher\/PA of Van Eyck’s sent to collect a girl and parrot who will model for the aforementioned painting… only he loses them in the hustle and bustle of medieval Bruges. The narrative has him wandering dramatically through town and encountering typical denizens of the time to try and find her; he ultimately does though more through deus ex machina than actual efforts on his part. It’s a technically intriguing if problematic production… and the logo makes it seem like a theme park ride based on The Handmaid’s Tale.<\/p>\n Hey, look!\u00a0 Now I’m “IN” the Van Eyck painting…<\/p>\n I wandered the streets of Bruge mainly to get some mileage in via sightseeing as I haven’t been running… and the Zagreb Marathon is in a few days.<\/p>\n Windmills, canals, and a revisit to the Begijnhof, the self-sufficient “nunnery” of Bruges that was a mini-city unto itself (it even had its own brewery). Nuns and a few local women still live there today. I was a fan as it afforded sanctuary to all who crossed the border, provided they left their weapons at the seal.<\/p>\n And as the sun was out I decided it was time to plunk down my 10 euros (it was 5 euros in 2008 according to In Bruges<\/em><\/a>)<\/em> to climb the Belfry. Three hundred and sixty-six steps to the top, a windy, twisty, narrow staircase with an occasional rope strap to hold onto as a “handrail.” Way more precarious than my Airbnb’s stairs! Ultimately I was glad I went though feel the price is a bit steep… not surprising given the stairs, eh?<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n I’m feeling weird myself. A mood that matches the weather. I feel like I’ve forgotten or messed up something. I know I have but I can’t quite seem to place what exactly is amiss. It’s a vibe I’ve got. I guess eventually the truth will out.\u00a0 It usually does.<\/p>\n Meantime, I’m packing up for Croatia. They just sent me an email about the race.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.runkevinrun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_9455.jpg\")
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