Bokrijk!

This is a bit late in being blogged about, but my time on the computer is being seriously limited at the moment because Jerry's finals are looming and he, rightfully enough, gets first priority at the computer time.

A couple weeks ago, we decided to go to what is known as an 'open air' museum.  It's kind of like Old Nauvoo, with restored buildings and displays of what life was like in the days of yore, only huge.  A few hundred acres huge.  This is Bokrijk, which is located just outside of the Belgian city of Genk.

 I really wish we could have had a guide to explain the different architecture and agriculture methods, because there were not very many labels on the buildings and such, and only about one in five had any English on it, but it was amazing to see everything anyway.  Most everything is at least a few hundred years old, which is amazing because I have no idea how you move a 17th century, three story, brick building halfway across Europe.  The buildings were generally grouped together as they would be in a small village or farm to make the displays more realistic.

 The museum was started by a wealthy individual who basically decided to collect old buildings that were going to be demolished for the sake of progress.  The collection grew, and eventually it was turned in to a museum so that it could be maintained better and bring in some revenue.

 I think the thatched roofs had to be that steep so that the rain and such would run down them rather than soak through.  This particular thatched roof is really old; check out all the moss and other vegetation growing on it!

 Jerry on a 'dandy horse,' the earliest ancestor of the bicycle.  He said it was a really painful ride!

 These three gentlemen were my favorite.  They were really good at the various instruments and they played some wonderful local folk tunes.  I could have sat in the sun and listened to them all afternoon.

 Huge and beautiful and ancient building, and me.

 There were two full sized windmills in the park.  This one would pivot near the base (at the narrowest part) so that it could be turned into the wind for maximum efficiency.  The beam in the middle of the stairs is the lever that would allow that to be done.  This particular mill was used for grinding grain.

Just a beautiful picture of the side of a cottage.  We had a marvelous time at Bokrijk, in spite of the challenges we faced getting there.  Let's just say that Belgian pubic transport leaves A LOT to be desired in the nature of availability and efficiency.