Exploring Antwerp

Thursday: Got up late and discovered that there was no hot water in the apartment! Jim called from work and suggested we call the landlord at the bank downstairs. A bank teller came up to try to fix the water heater but he could not start it, so he called a repairman. Meanwhile we heated water on the stove for our baths. We drove to Metallo, then on to Antwerpen (Flemish for Antwerp), stopping at the Wommelgan supermarket on the way to buy kitchen utensils (a copper bowl, tea spoons, etc). We walked around Antwerpen: the train station (gorgeous!), church (beautiful artwork, some restoration in process), and stores. I bought a lace bowl-holder with delicate drawstrings so it can be adjusted to different bowl sizes. We went to a Marks and Spencer store to buy scented soaps. We stopped for coffee, then drove back to have dinner with Jim at a pita bar in Turnhout, which was very good. Then we drove back to Antwerp and walked through the red-light district. The store windows are set up with just a red light and a chair, where a woman in a nightgown or underware. In the back of this setting is a door, where the woman would go through to meet her customers when someone goes into the main door.  It was a bit surreal; after awhile we drove back home and had tea.