Belgium, day 4 - Liege (13 Nov)

This blog was originally a way to share my experiences in a bit more detail with friends and family, and it's been quite a success. It means no one gets left out, I don't have to type five different update emails/smses, and some of you really seem to enjoy tagging along for the ride. To the point that I have had concerned messages from avid readers about why a post is late! It has unexpectedly, however, become something more to me. A way to chronicle my experiences in such a manner that I also enjoy referring back to them.

With this in mind, I believe in trying out new stuff to improve my "story-telling". Now, you should have a map below tracking the main spots I've been in Liege, and you should be able to zoom in, click on points for more info (or my inane captions), and hopefully get the lay of the land, so to speak. Feedback would be nice...*hint* *hint*!



Onwards!

Up a bit earlier this morning. Really no point in being out too early as it only gets light at about 07:30, and it's chilly, and often wet. I've been utterly lazy as far as researching the tourist scene goes, but fortunately James makes a great tour guide. Planned for today was a good cross town ramble, with the intent to find one of the "secret" lookout points of Liege.

We followed the river north up the east bank enjoying the view out over the river. The weather was chilly, but sunny.

Protestant church built just after the Napoleonic wars according to the date on it. Two years earlier and it would have been illegal probably! Lovely red brick work if you look closely.

The Muse river running through Liege still carries quite a bit of traffic. James and I reckon that many of these guys must be independent operators, since it is clear they usually live on board. Note the net curtains on the back bit and the private car!

One of the many bridges spanning the river; can't remember which one this is.

Walking next to the river! The small compact camera I carry means I actually occasionally take tourist photos (hauling out, or permanently carrying my nice camera is hard work!).

Belgium seems to be a very visually expressive country. Everywhere you go there are murals, statues, sculptures, or graffiti. Even Belgium is considered the home of the comic book! 

Here's the Pont des Arches bridge where we crossed to the west bank, guarded by some formidable statues.

There really are bronze statues around every corner, from the more traditional, like this one, to modern.

We stopped for lunch at one of Europe's multiple "Doner Kebabs". Still your cheapest source of protein unless you cook for yourself.

After walking past the Eglise Saint-Antoine, a rather imposing structure, but of which I didn't get a good photo, we arrived at our main goal. The Montagne de Bueren street. This street leads straight up the hill, and is mainly pedestrian-only as a large part of it consists of 374 steps.

The bottom of the steps on Montagne de Bueren. 

Three hundred and seventy-four steps later (377 if you count the last shallow ones you have to climb if you want to collapse on the bench), yes, I counted! The view was worth it!

 After catching our breath (or me hyper-ventilating while James waits for me), we walked up even further to a monument with an additional lookout point.

The monument. Of what, I'm not really sure... 

 At the top of the hill you also get to see the remains of the old Liege Citadelle. The citadel had undergone many changes since its construction in 1255. In the 1970's it was mostly demolished to make space for a hospital. The fact that it was a prisoner-of-war execution area for the Germans during WWII might have something to do with the decision. What you can still see is some of the old fortification buttresses.

Autumn!

Part of one of the hollow walls. These sort of stuck out of the main fortress, and acted almost like mini fortresses that would divide the enemy and offer multiple firing positions.

This is the currently layout. The big square is the hospital. The yellow areas are where we poked around.

A last view of the city before making our way down.

 We decided to take an alternative route down the hill, and made our way down Au Peri. Mostly old houses, built slap bang up against each other. At the very end of the streets we were very covertly watched by three cats who lurked on the roof top. I tried for a photo, but thought it might be a waste of my faithful readers' time to play "spot the tabby ear".

 We then doubled back on Rue de Pierreuse after spotting an advertisement for an interesting pub, but unfortunately, according to the chalk on the door, the owners were attending a music festival. So it was that we instead refreshed ourselves at the more mainstream L'Ange Vin.

On our route home, James took me to see the stained glass windows of the La Cathédrale Saint Paul de Liège.

View of the La Cathédrale Saint Paul de Liège across the plaza.

They had some interestingly modern stained glass amongst the traditional.

Back at the hotel we finished up our Doner Kebab doggy bags from lunch, and James nipped out for some Leffe for both of us, and chocolate for his poor wife who had a bit of a headache. Think it's the weight of the camera bag on top of the tension in my shoulders. Should work itself out if we keep walking this much!