Climb to the Top

Today Abdul and I decided to go to the top of the bell tower. It was a gorgeous day and, gosh darn it, we wanted to be touristy. So we went.

While walking from our residence to the bell tower we happened across quite the crowd in the main square. After angering some eldery Belgians who had been standing there for 2 hours we were told that it is the 350th anniversary of the Grenadier Guards which were formed in Bruges when King Charles II was in exile. So there was a little parade. It also explained why the British flag was flying.

This is an old organ-y thing used to play the bells.

A view of the Markt from part way up the tower.

The giant music box like contraption that controls the bells.
 
View from the top. We climbed 366 very narrow steps to get up there.
 
Slightly different view
 
Another view from the top.
 
Me and the view of Brugge
 
In the background you can see the wind power plant.
 
More of the same view in a different direction
 
It was really difficult to get a good picture of the bells. This is my poor attempt.
 
You can kinda see the bell...