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28 May 1886 — Brussels | |
Friday. 28th May [1886]. Got up a little earlier than usual & walked to the Station du Nord in time to go to Antwerp by the 9.30 train. It was fortunately a fine day. We reached Antwerp abt 10.30 & took a cab straight to the picture gallery. We spent an hour there looking thro’ the old pictures. Was not very much impressed by the Reubens’– More attracted by the Q. Metsijs & the Memling especially some work as fine as miniatures. We took a cab from there by the hour & went first to the Maison Plantin—a most interesting house having belonged to the Printers Plantin for generations. The town bought the house with its contents on the death of the last Plantin. It is a charming old house—& forms a complete museum of printing type—wood cuts, engravings, presses—all in situ. We went to the Restaurant Bertrand & got some luncheon. When we came out a shower of rain caught us. We went to the cathedral & from there walked round to the Place to see the tower– Drove on to St Jacques—a church much praised in our “Murray,” but which is too chiaroscuroesque to please us. Then we drove through the town & by the quays wh gives one some idea of the rules & activity of the Place—finally we went to the Zoological Gardens & dismissing our cab walked about, saw the seals fed—& looked at the birds of which there were quantities on sale– The gardens are next the station so we walked on & went back to Brussels by 4.35 train. Walked up from the station to the Hotel Mengelle round by the Botanical Gardens. Had tea & rested. Marquis Maffei called. Dined 7.30. Tried to work out domino quadrilles from a book of dominos we had bought at Antwerp– | |
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