And it feels like Singapore was a lifetime ago already.
The last few days in port were perfect - a leisurely yet purposeful exploration of Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, i felt like we really got a feel of the place, especially the former, and I left thinking that Belgium had severely surpassed my expectations. Its not just a stopover between France, Holland and Germany, but a place with its own pulse and spirit. The architecture was stunning, and simply strolling around could make us stop agape as we turned the corner. It's telling that I don't have many photos despite that beauty - we were truly immersed in the place, more interested in discovery and enjoying the moment rather than capturing it for show or posterity.
The war museum in Brussels was great. Airplanes of the past galore on top of endless displays of costumes and weapons, and entry was free?! The psychiatric museum in Ghent must have been my favorite museum yet. It's housed in a mental institution that's still in operation up to today, and had interactive displays on both the history of psychiatric care and how it's developing. Most provoking though were the artwork done by the patients, walking through the relatively empty galleries sometimes got so creepy I had to hurry out, not just because of the limit of 3 hours we had there, which was way too short. Guess it's true when they say art is that which stimulates your senses, mind or soul.
We decided to take a day trip to Breda - literally the closest town in Holland to Antwerp that potentially held anything of interest, as that is where we described to the train ticket seller we wanted to go (we didn't want to travel almost 3 hours each way to Amsterdam, and were too cheap to pay 40euro instead of 20). Good decision - as we encountered yet another quality museum, this time of Graphic Design, with displays from artists around the world to illustrate how it could be used it virtually EVERY field. it was such a good trip we even went back the next day, having found out that the town's biggest music festival of the year was going on in the park, for free. We also managed to squeeze in some exploration of Antwerp, which is especially stunning at night.
Coming back to the ship also feels like a weird dichotomy now. It feels so much like returning home, to a safe and secure environment, but also time in port is never enough and we mourn having to leave the lands we had just begun to discover.
Work is piling in.. but yet it's become more difficult to get down to it. There are distractions all around, but mostly the material still hasn't picked up the way I hoped it would and is tedious, but not as stimulating as the classes I'm used to.
Something insightful i learned recently: When in doubt, always look for and go back to the Home of your highest self.
As friendships deepen through traveling or meaningful interaction on the ship, certain decisions have to be made, and in a sense it ironically gets harder to plan time in ports. It becomes a toss-up between wanting to hang out and enjoy the company of SAS friends, or venture out in smaller groups, spending more time with locals or even being alone. Either way, I trust my gut to tell me what to do. It's served us well so far…… :p
Portugal in 2 days!! TIme to stuff my face with egg tarts wooooo
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