May 2010 - Belgium, Germany and a hip resurfaced

 Much of the past year, I had my other hip slowly get worse.  So, I decided not to wait as long as I had before fixing the first one in 2006.  So in May, I flew to Brussels in Belgium and continued by bus down to Ghent, where the world's best hip resurfacing surgeon operated.  The plan was to have the surgery and do the 10 days of physical therapy and recovery, then have my brother Bill and his wife Joan drive up from their home in Idstein near Frankfurt in Germany.   Together we explored the old city of Ghent first and enjoyed seeing all of its interesting sites.  We also checked out a nice local restaurant or two the last couple days that I was still residing in the rehab center.

The Ghent Castle and a fellow hip patient with her husband

My fellow hip surgery friend as we explore central Ghent after surgery

The two of us enjoying Ghent and its European architecture

colorful Ghent canal and boat cruises

people enjoying sunny day and Ghent's interesting buildings

More of Ghent's building fronts on the canal

The massive old Ghent Castle

another view from canal side

looking along one of Ghent's main canals

Yours truly exiting the old Ghent Cathedral

another view from further distance

As in the Netherlands, bicycles are numerous in town

More interesting Ghent buildings and sidewalk cafes about to open on a city square

busy noon time scene there

the same area from a bridge over the canal

city scene on a lovely day

view down one of the city scenic canals

downtown construction near Cathedral

Rehab Center where I spent 10 days after hip surgery

Relaxing out on the surgery center 2nd floor deck

Then we spent a wonderful day together in nearby Brugge.  The ancient city was a delight to see.  We walked much of the city center and took a boat ride on one of the many canals that cross through the old city.  The buildings and cathedral were fun to view and we had a great lunch and fine Belgium beer in an outdoor cafe right on the main square.

Brugge busy Central Square

Looking along one of the main streets, as typical tourist crowds visit  old city

scene along one of the many canals

another view with popular tourist tour boats

another view in the central square

Lunch time with the many sidewalk cafes filling up

Joan and I at lunch time

another central square view with the wonderful buildings

the horse drawn carriages were popular also

Happy tourists and the most popular way to see Brugges

Tourists waiting for a canal tour boat

Joan walking toward the large central cathedral

Massive cathedral tower soaring skyward 

a view from within cathedral

Another view from within cathedral

a final typical busy sidewalk view in Brugge

Then it was finally time to drive back to Idstein and my brothers home.   We crossed into Germany and had a nice midday visit in the lovely German city of Aachen.  There we did some exploring of the city and its famous old cathedral before having another fine outdoor cafe lunch with some fine German beer this time.  I got along amazingly well on my two elbow crutches and all the walking only about 10 days after the hip surgery.  Then we drove south to Idstein, just north of Frankfurt where Bill and Joan had their condo.

visiting winery near Wiesbadan on a lovely day

a view from within winery

view in Idstein near Bill and Joins condo

some of the charming and unique architecture in Idstein

Joan near their condo in Idstein which they owned for many years

another delightful appearing building

more of Idstein

looking down mains street in Idstein

Bill and Joan near their condo

 We spent a couple days there, where my brother and wife showed me the charming and unique  architecture of Idstein.   We did go into Frankfurt to see the city center and attractive riverfront, as well as visit a German relative and his fiance'.  They were both recently graduated physicians and they invited us to their apartment in Frankfurt.  Finally, before my return,  we took one day and drove west to Wiesbaden and the Rhine river and visited a picturesque German winery.   Then, I boarded my flight in Frankfurt and started the long flight back to Alaska.