Our third day of biking, from Brugge to Antwerp, was finally warm enough for us to cycle in short sleeve shirts. That is, Carol (a native-born American) and I (born in Canada and a naturalized US citizen) could exercise our inalienable right to expose the flesh of our upper extremities (if I understand the American constitution correctly; surely it doesn't allow ordinary citizens to own lethal weapons!)
On the topic of arms, we passed a Canadian military cemetery and museum. The Belgians are grateful to Canada for sending soldiers, beginning in 1939, to help the Belgians confront evil.
Antwerp, together with India, Tel Aviv, and New York City, is a major center in the world-wide diamond trade. Hasidic Jews, together with Indians, are central to the diamond industry here and elsewhere. A poignant sight in the center of the diamond district is a plaque on a synagogue wall commemorating a car bomb in 1981 that killed 3 people, a reminder of another evil in the world.
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American arms |
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Canadian war cemetery |
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One of numerous buildings related to the diamond industry in Antwerp's diamond district |
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A park near the diamond center; future diamond dealers?? |
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Plaque commemorating the 1981 car bombing |
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