Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/13/torture-museums-look-at-the-dark-side-of-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Torture Museum
Ah, the Good Old Days, when everyone lived in a perpetual Renaissance Festival quaffing ale and shouting "Huzzah!" It must have been wonderful.

Not!

People died young, the cities were filled with rats and open sewers, and God help you if you ever got arrested. You'd be taken to a torture chamber in order to "confess" while being subjected to various imaginative torture devices, like the rack shown here in a photo courtesy Jan Mehlich. It's from the torture exhibit in the Lubuska Land Museum in Zielona Góra, Poland. A victim would be tied to it and stretched until his limbs popped out of their sockets. The spikes on the cylinder would add an extra level of agony. This museum stands out among torture museums in that many of its objects were used in the local area.

Germany was a pretty rough place back in the Bad Old Days, and this has spawned several good torture museums in the country. The biggest is the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg, with 2,000 square meters of displays on torture, execution and medieval law. Nuremberg has a preserved torture chamber underneath city hall.

Italy was a rough place too, and you can find out more at the Criminal Museum in Rome, the Museo della Tortura housed in the Devil's Tower in San Gimignano and the Museum of Criminal Anthropology in Turin. The latter museum is interesting because it reflects the 19th century belief that a person's physical features, especially the shape of the skull, could show criminal proclivities. Hundreds of skulls, brains and death masks from executed criminals are on display, as well as the weapons they used in their crimes and the instruments of their demise.

Gallery: Torture Museums of the World

The gibbet displayed the rotting bodies of executed criminalsThe skull cracker removed heretical thoughtsEarly waterboarding, Inquisition Museum, LimaMask for gossips, RothenburgChain worn as punishment for cheating at gambling, Rothenburg

Continue reading Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History

Torture Museums Look At The Dark Side Of History originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimecrime preventionCrimePreventioncriminalcriminal interrogationCriminalInterrogationcriminalscriminologyEuropeEurope tourismEurope travelEuropeTourismEuropeTravelgrosshistoryinstruments of tortureInstrumentsOfTorturemedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesoddrenaissancescarystrangestrange museumsStrangeMuseumstorturetorture instrumentstorture museumtorture museumsTortureInstrumentsTortureMuseumTortureMuseumsweirdweird museumsWeirdMuseumsSun, 13 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/24/five-alcohol-factories-to-kick-off-spring-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Spring is in the air, which means that most of us will be swapping our mulled wine and spiked apple cider for beer gardens and rooftop bars. Behind every good brew, though, is a distillery that made your buzz possible. And many of those outlets have turned into touristic destinations for the curious traveler in search of an off-beat destination - something in contrast to the humdrum monument or public art gallery. Here are five factories to get your planning started.

Beer
The Guinness Storehouse: Ireland
Unlike many bartenders in the US, the Irish take their Guinness drinking very seriously and after a day at the Storehouse, you too can learn the "perfect pour." Tickets cost around 13 Euros and include a free pint of Guinness at the rooftop bar, which arguably has one of the best views of the city. The building's seven-story exhibit takes you though the brewing process, giving guests a better understanding of just how much effort goes into creating good tasting beer. Student discounts are available and for a more in-depth experience, schedule a specialty tour.
St James's Gate, Dublin 8

Scotch
Glenkinchie Scotch Malt Whiskey Distillery: Scotland
If you find yourself in Scotland, good luck avoiding a Scotch tour, as malt whiskey distilleries are scattered throughout the country. The Glenkinchie Distillery is close to Edinburgh, making it an easy day trip for travelers. Tickets cost 6 GBP and tours are offered daily. A complimentary taste of Glenkinchie's 12 year old single malt is given to anyone who pays the 3 GBP entrance fee. More extensive tours are available for a slightly higher price but more freebies are provided, making it a worthy investment.
Pencaitland, Tranent, East Lothian EH34 5ET

Continue reading Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel

Five Alcohol Factories To Kick Off Spring Travel originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcoholdrinkingdrinksginrumscotchvodkawhiskeywhiskyTue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Belgian TV Station Launches With 'Dramatic' Viral Campaign]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/11/belgian-tv-station-launches-with-dramatic-viral-campaign/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/11/belgian-tv-station-launches-with-dramatic-viral-campaign/http://www.gadling.com/2012/04/11/belgian-tv-station-launches-with-dramatic-viral-campaign/#commentsFiled under: ,


Want to make a splash? Belgian TV station TNT wanted to launch with a bang, and so they set up a "push for drama" button in the middle of a quiet town square.

Watch what happens when someone asks for drama. We wish all launches would be this creative.

Belgian TV Station Launches With 'Dramatic' Viral Campaign originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgiumtnt tvTntTvtravel tvTravelTvvideoviral videoViralVideoWed, 11 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top ten things to do in Brussels, Belgium]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/06/top-ten-things-to-do-in-brussels-belgium/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/06/top-ten-things-to-do-in-brussels-belgium/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/06/top-ten-things-to-do-in-brussels-belgium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

BrusselsA couple of weeks ago I was chatting with some fellow travel writers and the conversation turned to Brussels. The general consensus seemed to be that Belgium's capital isn't worth visiting.

I disagree. While it can't compete with London or Paris, it has its own charm and can easily fill up three or four days of a European tour. The mixture of Flemish and Walloon culture makes for a distinct city with an interesting history. A large immigrant population is livening things up too, with Ethiopian cafes, Asian restaurants, and a string of Congolese shops in the Matonge area.

Here are ten reasons not to skip Brussels.

Beer!
Belgian beer is justly famous for its variety and flavor. From the rich Trappist and Abbey beers to the more secular but equally tasty Lambics and Saisons, Belgium is a beer snob's paradise. There are plenty of fine bars in Brussels serving up this lovely brew. A Gadling favorite is the centrally located Delerium Cafe, which sells more than 2000 varieties from around the world, and of course a huge selection of Belgian labels.

Chocolate!
Like Belgian beer, Belgian chocolate needs no introduction. Hey, it's so good you can even snort it. Chocolate shops abound in Brussels and most cafes will serve you a piece along with your coffee.

Peeing statues!
Ah yes, the famous Manneken Pis. Has anyone gone to Brussels and not seen this? There are several stories about how this little guy came into being. The one I heard was that a sculptor's son went missing back in the seventeenth century. A frantic search ensued and the sculptor swore he'd make a statue showing his son exactly as he found him. Take a look at this photo courtesy Jim Linwood to see what the kid was doing when he finally turned up. In the spirit of affirmative action, a female counterpart was erected in 1987 in Impasse de la Fidélité/Getrouwheidsgang (Fidelity Alley) showing a little girl squatting and doing her business. She's called Jeanneke Pis.

Art Nouveau!
Brussels is justly famous for its many Art Nouveau buildings dating to the early part of the last century. The best way to savor the scene is to go to one of Brussels' many Art Nouveau cafes where you can enjoy a coffee and a piece of Belgian chocolate while admiring the architecture. One of the greatest of Art Nouveau architects was Victor Horta whose house museum is a classic of the style.

Gallery: Sights of Brussels

Grand PlaceA knife-juggler doing his stuff in one of the pre-film moving picture machines on display in the film museum.La Porteuse d'eau, a famous Art Nouveau cafe in BrusselsArt Nouveau department storeAviation room at the military museum

Continue reading Top ten things to do in Brussels, Belgium

Top ten things to do in Brussels, Belgium originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart galleriesart galleryart museumsart nouveauArtGalleriesArtGalleryArtMuseumsArtNouveaubelgian beerBelgian chocolateBelgian historyBelgianBeerBelgianChocolateBelgianHistoryBelgiumBelgium tourismBelgium travelBelgiumTourismBelgiumTravelBrusselsBrussels cafesBrussels museumsBrussels nightlifeBrussels tourismBrussels travelBrusselsCafesBrusselsMuseumsBrusselsNightlifeBrusselsTourismBrusselsTravelhistoryJeanneke PisJeannekePisManneken PisMannekenPismilitary museumsMilitaryMuseumsmuseummusuemstop tentop ten BrusselsTopTenTopTenBrusselsTue, 06 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Let's get it on: travel in the footsteps of Marvin Gaye with this new app]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/lets-get-it-on-travel-in-the-footsteps-of-marvin-gaye-with-thi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/lets-get-it-on-travel-in-the-footsteps-of-marvin-gaye-with-thi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/03/01/lets-get-it-on-travel-in-the-footsteps-of-marvin-gaye-with-thi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ostend marvin gayeIn 1980, famous singer Marvin Gaye's life was as at an all-time low. He was depressed, in the midst of a divorce, and even attempted suicide. He owned the IRS millions in back taxes, was having difficulties with Motown Records and was in the throes of a drug addiction.

Fortunately for us, Ostend-born Freddy Cousaert, a passionate music fan and soul lover, arranged a meeting with him in London and during this meeting he invited Marvin to Ostend to get his life back on track.
On February 14, 1981 Marvin Gaye and his son Bubby arrived by boat in Ostend and began a long and rich history with the town.

To celebrate the connection, Toerisme Oostende has launched a mobile app to take guests on a tour of Ostend. During a walking tour of the city, travelers learn all there is to know about Gaye's recovery and how the monster hit "Sexual Healing" came about.

"We set up an apartment for him and cared for him as if he was a member of the family. The two weeks turned into a month, and the rest is history," Crousaert said.
Gaye's story is told through a mix of moving images taken from existing archival footage, completed with photos, newspaper clippings and interviews with the people involved.

The tour is available in Dutch, French, English and German, and available on rented iPods for €5 from the tourism office.

Let's get it on: travel in the footsteps of Marvin Gaye with this new app originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgiummarvin gayeMarvinGayemobile appMobileAppostendThu, 01 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day: Sunset over Bruges]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/photo-of-the-day-sunset-over-bruges/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/photo-of-the-day-sunset-over-bruges/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/12/photo-of-the-day-sunset-over-bruges/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Belgian city of Bruges is famous for its stunning medieval architecture - it's a fact made all the more apparent by today's photo, taken by Flickr user clee130. Taken at sunset, the city's gothic cathedral spires (that's the Church of Our Lady on the left, and St. Salvator's Cathedral on the right) and angular roofs are bathed by the warm glow of an ethereal, golden light.

Taken any great photos during your travels? Why not add them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day: Sunset over Bruges originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architecturebrugescathedralflemishflying butressFlyingButressgothicmedievalsunsetvillageSun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video of the Day: Brussels to Bruges in two minutes]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/video-of-the-day-brussels-to-bruges-in-two-minutes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/video-of-the-day-brussels-to-bruges-in-two-minutes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/video-of-the-day-brussels-to-bruges-in-two-minutes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Road trips seem to be a very American activity. Driving cross-country, family vacations to national parks and the like. However, road trips are popular around the world. Caravanning (what we would call RVing) is quite popular in the UK. Also, because European countries are so much smaller than the United States, driving within a country or to neighboring nations is pretty simple. This video shows off the 96km drive from Brussels to Bruges. It's oddly comforting to know that highway driving in Belgium is pretty similar to interstate driving in the United States.

Video of the Day: Brussels to Bruges in two minutes originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgiumbrugesbrusselscarhighwayphoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayroad tripRoadTripvideo of the dayVideoOfTheDayMon, 09 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The perils of solo travel, or, how to sexually harass someone without even trying]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/05/the-perils-of-solo-travel-or-how-to-sexually-harass-someone-wi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/05/the-perils-of-solo-travel-or-how-to-sexually-harass-someone-wi/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/05/the-perils-of-solo-travel-or-how-to-sexually-harass-someone-wi/#commentsFiled under: ,

solo travelHere at Gadling we've talked a lot about the perils of solo travel, from how it can break up relationships to creating feelings of loneliness. On a recent trip to Antwerp I discovered a danger to solo travel I never thought of--people look upon you with suspicion.

I was dining alone in a popular Antwerp restaurant. The waiter had seated me so that I faced another table less than ten feet away. A middle-aged woman and her college-aged daughter sat there. The daughter was directly in front of me facing to my left, so if I looked straight ahead I was looking at her profile.

I didn't give it any thought as I ordered. Sometime during my appetizer I noticed the daughter kept turning to look at me. At first it was just every few minutes, but by the time I got my main course she was giving me annoyed glances every thirty seconds or so.

Obviously she thought I was staring at her. I tried to look elsewhere. She kept looking over so often, though, that anytime I happened to look straight ahead, she'd "catch" me. I began to feel a bit guilty, like when I'm walking home at night and there's a woman walking in the street ahead of me. I hate when that happens because I know I'm making the woman uncomfortable. What do you do? Speed up and pass her? Slow down? Both look suspicious and are only going to make her more nervous.

But we weren't alone in a darkened street; we were in a busy restaurant and she was sitting right in front of me. What could I do, squash my face into my plate of venison?

She started whispering to her mother in French. They'd been talking normally before, but now their conversation changed into a angry, conspiratorial whisper.

At this point my guilt changed into annoyance. I mean, where else was I supposed to look? In fact, for the past half hour I'd been deliberately trying to avoid looking forward. That probably made me look even creepier because now both mother and daughter kept swiveling their heads to check on me.

The bill came and I paid. More whispering. Just as I stood up, both turned on me with snarly little faces, mother and daughter the same snarly little faces.

"Peeg," snarled mother.

"Peeg," snarled daughter.

I ignored them and walked off. I would have explained it was all a misunderstanding if they had looked open to that approach. My second reaction was to say, "Sorry to rain on your parade, kid, but my wife is twice your age and STILL better looking than you." That wouldn't have gone over too well either. Instead I said nothing, got my coat, and headed out into the night.

So guys, if you're traveling alone be sure to bring a book to dinner, otherwise you may be mistaken for a male chauvinist "peeg".


Photo courtesy Alex Castro and the London Anti-Street harassment Campaign.

The perils of solo travel, or, how to sexually harass someone without even trying originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AntwerpBelgiumdiningdining aloneDiningAlonerestaurantrestaurantssexual harassingsexual harassmentSexual harassment allegationsSexualHarassingSexualHarassmentSexualHarassmentAllegationssolosolo travelsolo travelersolo travellingSoloTravelSoloTravelerSoloTravellingThu, 05 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Collect virtual passport stamps with VisaStamper]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/13/collect-virtual-passport-stamps-with-visastamper/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/13/collect-virtual-passport-stamps-with-visastamper/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/13/collect-virtual-passport-stamps-with-visastamper/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

passport stampsIt's a favorite ritual for many travelers to leaf through their passport (often while waiting in an immigration line), reminiscing on each stamp and the destination it represents. When a passport is lost or expired, losing all those hard-earned stamps can be tragic. VisaStamper is a new website that creates a virtual passport, with photo-realistic stamps for each place you visit. The site currently has passport stamps for every country, with city-specific stamps for the US, UK, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Ireland & Germany, and more every day. You can share your passport stamps on Facebook and Twitter, and collect "points" for each stamp in your VisaStamper passport.

VisaStamper works via your computer's IP address location, automatically generating a stamp for the country you're currently in. You can "backdate" your virtual passport by submitting your destination list and dates via email, though an easier form is in production. Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android are on the way in the new year to work via GPS and make sharing even easier.

Sign up and start collecting at VisaStamper.com (you can check out my stamps here) and visit them on Facebook. Happy (virtual) travels!

Collect virtual passport stamps with VisaStamper originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidappsIPadiphonePassportpassport stampsPassportStampsSci/TechstampsTwittervisavisastamperwebsiteTue, 13 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Remembering the fallen]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/11/remembering-the-fallen/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/11/remembering-the-fallen/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/11/remembering-the-fallen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

remembering the fallen
Today is Veterans Day, also known as Remembrance Day and Armistice Day because in 1918, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, World War One ended.

For four years the nations of the world had torn each other apart. The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, the Ottoman Empire was mortally wounded, Germany's Kaiser's fell and so did Russia's Czar. The world changed forever and 20 million people were dead.

There are countless monuments honoring those killed. The most powerful, I think, is this one. It's called The Grieving Parents and was erected in 1932 by Käthe Kollwitz, a German artist. Kollwitz's youngest son Peter was killed while serving in the German army. The monument is in the cemetery at Vladslo, Belgium, where he's buried. The faces of the parents are those of Käthe and her husband. Her husband looks at Peter's grave while Käthe bends over in grief. So many young men are buried in this cemetery that Peter's name shares a tombstone with nineteen others.

Whether you're on the road or staying at home today, there's probably a war memorial near you where people are remembering the fallen. Take a moment to visit it, even if it's for the "other side." After all this time that doesn't really matter.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Remembering the fallen originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArmisticeDayartartistsBelgiumfemale artistsFemaleArtistsFirst World WarFirstWorldWarGerman artGerman artistsGermanArtGermanArtistsGermanygravegravesgraveyardgraveyardshistoryKäthe KollwitzKätheKollwitzmilitary historyMilitaryHistoryremembering the fallenRememberingTheFallenremembrance dayRemembranceDaysculpturesculpturesveteranveteransveterans dayVeteransDaywarwar gravewar graveswar memorialwar memorialsWarGraveWarGravesWarMemorialWarMemorialsWorld WarWorld War OneWorldWarWorldWarOneFri, 11 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hagelslag: Belgian chocolate for breakfast]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/10/hagelslag-belgian-chocolate-for-breakfast/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/10/hagelslag-belgian-chocolate-for-breakfast/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/10/hagelslag-belgian-chocolate-for-breakfast/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HagelslagChocolate. You gotta love it. You can eat it, cook with it, even snort it. It's good at every meal. Even breakfast, as I discovered on a recent trip to Antwerp.

The Belgians enjoy a special breakfast treat called Hagelslag. These are basically chocolate sprinkles put on toast. The heat of the toast melts the bottom sprinkles, making a nice gooey mess, while the top sprinkles scatter all over the plate. This gives you lots of tasty scrounging once you've finished your chocolate toast. I brought a box home to my six-year-old son and as you can imagine, it was quite a hit.

Now before anyone gets all self-righteous about diet and nutrition in the comments section, let me just say that I don't give the little nipper chocolate toast every morning, and fine Belgian chocolate is a helluva lot more natural than the average kids breakfast cereal. And he never eats fast food. That's right. Never.

(We'll see how long that lasts once he's older and has pocket money)

Hagelslag comes in different varieties and the original recipe was Dutch, although I've only tried one Belgian brand. There are several competing brands and some come out with white chocolate and chocolate shavings rather than sprinkles. So if you're passing through the Low Countries, pick up some Hagelslag. Your kids will thank you for it.


Don't miss the rest of my series: Lowdown on the Low Countries.

Coming up next: Preserved human flesh at Amsterdam's Tattoo Museum!

This trip was partially funded by Tourism Antwerp and Cool Capitals. All opinions, however, are my own.


Photo courtesy Mtcv.

Hagelslag: Belgian chocolate for breakfast originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AntwerpAntwerp tourismAntwerp travelAntwerpTourismAntwerpTravelBelgian chocolateBelgian cuisineBelgianChocolateBelgianCuisineBelgium travelBelgiumTravelbreakfastchocolatechocolate sprinklesChocolateSprinkleshagelslaglowdownlowcountriessweet toothSweetToothThu, 10 Nov 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The oldest printing press in the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/09/the-oldest-printing-press-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/09/the-oldest-printing-press-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/09/the-oldest-printing-press-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

oldest printing press in the worldAntwerp has been an important port and center of commerce for centuries. Because of this it has a long history of printing and the elegant mansion/workshop of one of its early printing companies has been turned into a museum

The Museum Plantin-Moretus houses a huge collection, including the oldest printing press in the world. Actually there are two of them, both from about 1600 and complete with all their parts and movable type. The first printing press with movable type in Europe was built by Gutenberg around 1440 and it revolutionized culture by allowing books to be printed en masse instead of handwritten one by one. The Chinese had printing presses more than a thousand years before this, but they used the more cumbersome block printing method.

The invention of movable type had a huge effect on just about everything. Printing presses could soon be found in every major city. They were made of wood, however, and subject to decay, so the two examples from c. 1600 are rare treasures.

Continue reading The oldest printing press in the world

The oldest printing press in the world originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AntwerpAntwerp tourismAntwerp travelAntwerpenAntwerpTourismAntwerpTravelBelgiumBelgium tourismBelgium travelBelgiumTourismBelgiumTravelbooksearly printingEarlyPrintinghistory of technologyHistoryOfTechnologylowdownlowcountriesmedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesmoveable typeMoveableTypemuseummuseumsoldest printing press in the worldOldestPrintingPressInTheWorldpinting pressPintingPressprint museumprinting museumPrintingMuseumPrintMuseumrenaissanceWed, 09 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Luxury accommodation in the heart of Antwerp]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/08/luxury-accommodation-in-the-heart-of-antwerp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/08/luxury-accommodation-in-the-heart-of-antwerp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/08/luxury-accommodation-in-the-heart-of-antwerp/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Antwerp is a compact city with bad weather, so while it's walkable, it pays to be in the center of town. During my visit I stayed at the Hotel Julien, a recently renovated and expanded hotel within sight of the cathedral. In fact, I could see it from my bathroom window!

The Hotel Julien is firmly in the luxury hotel bracket with prices from 195€ ($268) and up, breakfast included. The decor is chic and modern, as you can see from this shot of the lounge. Next to it is a bar and then the breakfast room. There's also a leafy patio and a rooftop viewing deck that the rain stopped me from ever using. There's a spa on site as well as a helpful front desk with lots of information about the city and umbrellas to borrow when a nasty wind tears up the one you brought. Tip for the traveler: don't bring a Spanish umbrella to a North Sea port. It's like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Continue reading Luxury accommodation in the heart of Antwerp

Luxury accommodation in the heart of Antwerp originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AntwerpAntwerp hotelsAntwerp tourismAntwerp travelAntwerpHotelsAntwerpTourismAntwerpTravelBelgiumBelgium hotelsBelgium tourismBelgium travelBelgiumHotelsBelgiumTourismBelgiumTravellowdownlowcountriesluxury hotelsLuxuryHotelsspaspasTue, 08 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Masterpieces of silver in Antwerp]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/07/masterpieces-of-silver-in-antwerp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/07/masterpieces-of-silver-in-antwerp/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/07/masterpieces-of-silver-in-antwerp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

silverBelgium is famous for its silver. Belgian silversmiths have a history stretching back hundreds of years. Their work has always been sought after for its high degree of craftsmanship and so it's no surprise there's a Silver Museum in Antwerp dedicated to the craftsmen that make these works of art.

Besides talent, they have a sense of humor too. This wine cup, shown here in a photo copyright Hugo Maertens of Bruges, is actually an early drinking game. It's shown upside down so you can get a good view of the clockwork mill. When it's wound up, the mill begins to turn and the people climb up the stairs. After a few seconds the clock strikes 11, and if you haven't drained the cup you have to drink 11 more times. The fact that this was made back in 1688 or 1689 shows just how good the Belgian silversmiths were, and what people liked to get up to on their off hours.

Antwerp has been a center for silversmithing for 500 years and the Silver Museum is in the castle of Sterckshof. Different sections explain how silver is mined, processed, and worked. Sumptuous displays of silver items from all times fill the many rooms.

Until 9 April 2012 there's a special exhibition called Esthétique Moderne focusing on Belgian silversmiths of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This covers the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. It's an impressive collection of works of art. For images from the exhibition, check out the gallery, and if you like seeing beautiful works of art, check out the Silver Museum.


Don't miss the rest of my series: Lowdown on the Low Countries.

Coming up next: The oldest printing press in the world!

This trip was partially funded by Tourism Antwerp and Cool Capitals. All opinions, however, are my own.


Gallery: The Silver Museum, Antwerp

The castle that houses the Silver MuseumA bird's-eye view of the castleMaster with pelican, Antwerp, 1548-1549. Loan Koning BoudewijnstichtingGlass carafe with lid, c. 1897-1900Silver catalog from 1900-1901

Masterpieces of silver in Antwerp originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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fine dining in AntwerpFor such a small country, Belgium certainly has contributed to world cuisine. French fries, for example, are actually Belgian, making that whole "freedom fries" movement back in 2003 even stupider than it appeared. They also gave us Belgian waffles, although over here they're called "Brussels waffles" after the capital. And let's not forget about Belgian chocolate!

I've been exploring Antwerp, a wealthy city with hardworking inhabitants who like to splash out on fine food. Here are four restaurants worth a visit. Office casual attire is the rule here. Entrees range from about 15-25 euros ($20-28) except at Flamant Dining, where they're a bit more.

My first night I dined at Brasserie Appelmans. This restaurant and absinthe bar only a few steps from the cathedral in the heart of historic Antwerp is popular with both tourists and locals. It's strange to go from the Gothic spires and 17th century facades outside to modern minimalism inside. Through dim lighting you see a split-level plan with little décor besides mirrors, exposed brick and woodwork, and candlelit black tables.

For a starter I had an incredibly rich tomato soup with fresh cream and meatballs. It was almost filling enough for a main, but I managed a big bowl of Antwerp stew with veal prepared with Grimbergen Dubbel beer and served with thick-cut Belgian fries and salad of white cabbage, celery, and cherry tomatoes. After a long day's walking and with the winter chill setting in for the evening, it certainly hit the spot.

Continue reading Fine dining in Antwerp

Fine dining in Antwerp originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World War Two, AntwerpBelgium had it tough in World War Two. Unlike in the First World War, when the Belgian army stubbornly held on to part of the nation and its allies rallied to beat the Germans, in the second war the Low Countries and France were quickly overrun by a German army that now enjoyed superior military technology.

Occupied Belgium was soon covered with fortifications. The Germans feared an Allied landing and dug in. In a park on the outskirts of Antwerp you can see a network of these bunkers at the Bunker Museum.

Not many tourists make it here. In fact, my taxi driver had to call ahead to get directions. Those who do make the journey will be rewarded with a rare look at the life of the German soldier in World War Two. There are eleven bunkers, including barracks, a hospital, a communications bunker, and two large command bunkers.

One of the command bunkers has been turned into a museum. The entrance, shown here, clearly shows the two-meter-thick concrete walls. The roof is 2.5 meters thick. Inside are recreated sleeping quarters, displays about the war around Antwerp, and a large collection of parts from the V-1 and V-2 rockets.

My tour guide was Pierre Koreman, one of the museum caretakers. He was a young boy during the war and clearly remembers the day in 1943 when an American bombing run went astray and destroyed much of Mortsel, the town near Antwerp where he lived. Two schools were destroyed, but the third, which he attended, was spared. A total of 943 civilians were killed. Koreman showed me a letter of apology sent by one of the American airman.

"They had nothing to apologize for," he said. "They just did their job."

The intended target was the Messerschmitt airplane factory, where Koreman's father worked as forced labor.

"He was the biggest saboteur there," Koreman told me proudly.

He wasn't the only one. The factory was supposed to test Messerschmitt engines. The workers discovered that the oil they were using separated at high temperatures, making the engine seize up. Of course they didn't bother telling the Germans that.

"Instead of running the engines they played cards," Koreman informed me with a smile.
World War Two, Antwerp

Gallery: Antwerp's Bunker Museum

Entrance to one of the barracks. The brick wall is modern.Entering the hospitalPressure regulator on the wall, and holes for telephone (incoming and outgoing) and electricityEntering another bunker

Continue reading Visiting a German bunker from World War Two

Visiting a German bunker from World War Two originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AntwerpI've often wondered why Belgium is such a rich country. Its main claims to fame--chocolate, beer, Tintin, and a heroic fight against the Kaiser's army in World War One--are all noteworthy but hardly the stuff to earn billions. Some background research for this series taught me that Antwerp has a lot to do with Belgium's wealth.

It's the second largest port in Europe, and one of the top ten in the world. It has a petrochemical works second only to Houston. The diamond industry is a major factor too. It's strange, then, that Antwerp isn't better known as an economic center the way London or Zurich is. It seems the Belgians just quietly get on with it, without making too much fuss.

Legend has it that the city gets its name from the antics of Antigoon, an evil giant who charged a toll on those crossing the River Scheldt. The toll was one hand, which he tossed into the river. One day a youth named Brabo fought the giant, cut off one of his hands, and threw it into the river, thus saving the city for us regular-sized folk. The Dutch name for the city, Antwerpen, means "throw a hand."

Etymologists say the name actually comes from the old way to say "on the wharf" or "on the warp" (manmade hill), but any story with a giant gets my vote.

Like so many Western European cities, Antwerp can trace its origins to Roman times. It steadily grew until it enjoyed a golden age in the 16th century as a major port during the Age of Exploration. Overseas colonies sent their wealth through Antwerp, and this wealth is reflected in the glorious curches and fine homes built during this period. The city has had its ups and downs over the centuries and is currently enjoying an up.

Walking around Antwerp's historic center you'll see architecture reminiscent of Amsterdam without the canals. The Gothic spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady acts as a landmark. It was consecrated in 1521, when Antwerp was really getting going, and is adorned with some of the finest art of the Low Countries. Rubens has several works here, including his Descent from the Cross, included in the gallery in this article. As I was admiring it yesterday, two British boys came up beside me. The older one said in his best public school accent, "It's quite good", to which his younger brother replied "Not for Jesus."

The Virgin Mary is important to the people of Antwerp and you can see statues of her on many streetcorners, looking down on the passersby.
Antwerp

Gallery: Antwerp highlights

So many beautiful facades, I don't think the locals even notice!Statue of the famous hand cuttingHouse of the twelve devils, just down the street from the house of the twelve apostlesAnother elegant home

Continue reading Antwerp: Belgium's historic and modern port

Antwerp: Belgium's historic and modern port originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belgian chocolate
Back in grade school, my friends and I used to eat Smarties, those little sugar tablets that were so popular back then. Some of us, wanting to show off, used to pound them up and snort them. There was no better sugar rush. We used to call them "Snorties".

Well, we should have copyrighted it, because now in Belgium they're snorting chocolate. Not just any chocolate, but gourmet Belgian chocolate. I discovered this at the appropriately named The Chocolate Line in Antwerp. The "applicator" is a plastic catapult that launches little piles of powdered chocolate into both your nostrils. To see a closeup of the nostril catapult, check out the gallery. There are lots of photos of more traditional chocolate and chocolate making too.

So how does it compare to Snorties Smarties? Not nearly as granular, easier on the nostrils, and a better aftertaste, although I didn't taste the raspberry flavor that was supposed to be mixed with the chocolate. Good for clearing the sinuses too.

Belgium is justly famous for its chocolate. It has some of the best chocolatiers in the world and many of them live in Antwerp. The Chocolate Line is one of the most famous. It's located at the elegant Paleis op de Meir, a palace that's now converted into a museum, cafe, and chocolatier workshop. Here you can see elegant chocolate creations being made.

Chocolatiers dot the city. I also visited Günther Watté, which doubles as a cafe. After sipping a delicately flavored cup of Jamaica Blue Mountain with the traditional piece of chocolate on the side, I explored their wide selection for something to bring home. For other recommendations, see the well-researched Amsterdam Tourist Guide's Belgian chocolate page.

Don't miss the rest of my series: Lowdown on the Low Countries.

Coming up next: Antwerp: Belgium's historic and modern port!

This trip was partially funded by Tourism Antwerp and Cool Capitals. All opinions, however, are my own.

Belgian chocolate

Gallery: Belgian chocolate

Dip itJust a little is all you needWant some?Chocolate snorting kitCounter at The Chocolate Line

Belgian chocolate: so good you can snort it originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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travel seriesToday I'm starting a new travel series here on Gadling. While Alex explores Far Europe, I'm checking out Near Europe. I'm spending the next ten days seeing the sights and sampling the cuisine of the Low Countries. My first stop is Antwerp, Belgium, and from there I'll head to Amsterdam and the Hague in The Netherlands.

There's a lot to explore and I have a full schedule. I'll be seeing castles, a German bunker from World War Two, beautiful historic buildings and cutting-edge modern architecture, and oddball attractions such as Amsterdam's Tattoo Museum and its collection of preserved human skin. I'll also be striking out into the Dutch countryside.

I won't forget the culinary side to my journey, a mixture of fine Belgian cuisine and down-home Dutch cooking. Belgium is famous for its chocolate, and I'm under strict instructions from my chocoholic wife and mother-in-law to make a thorough investigation. In Amsterdam I'll sample some of Holland's excellent cheese.

Sadly this journey will include only two out of the three Low Countries. I won't have time for Luxembourg. Gadling blogger Andrew Evans has already walked across the country so I'm not sure how I'd top that anyway!

I'm writing this from the Hotel Julien in the heart of the historic downtown. After my first few hours in Antwerp and I must say I have a good first impression. Winding little streets pass by lovely old houses that look similar to Amsterdam canal houses but with a bit of their own style. In one little square I found the beautiful 17th century church of Saint Carolus Borromeus with some elegant woodwork as you see here. After that I walked around the shopping district along and around Koepoort Straat, with an eclectic mix of antique shops, bookshops, metalhead music stores, and vintage clothing stores. Stay tuned tomorrow for a more detailed overview of the important and fascinating city.


This trip was partially funded by Tourism Antwerp and Cool Capitals. All opinions, however, are my own.

New Gadling travel series: the lowdown on the Low Countries originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While many people visit museums in order to learn about culture, art, or history, how many out there can say they've gone to a museum to see an exhibit on SPAM? Or to learn the processing history of salami? While somewhat out of the norm, these 10 interesting food museums from around the world will give you insight and fun facts into some of your favorite cuisine.

PEZ Museum in California

Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia
Location: Burlingame, California

From vintage Pez dispensers to new Pez-related items, come to Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia to learn the history of Pez as well as buy Pez products. The highlight of the museum is seeing the world's largest Pez dispenser, which is in the form of a 7 ft' 10'' tall snowman and can hold 6,480 Pez candies. And if you get sick of looking at Pez dispensers all day, the museum also has a Classic Toy Museum and a Banned Toy Museum on site.

Located at 214 California Dr. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-6PM.

Continue reading 10 interesting food museums from around the world

10 interesting food museums from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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