We had been seeing signs for "Ice Magic: the Land of the Hobs" on posters, in train stations, flyers. Apparently each year ice scuptors from all over the world meet in Bruges and create an experience with a different theme. This year, it was inspired by JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. Hob stories existed long before Tolkien, but have the same sorts of characters. These figures, however, owe more to the Peter Jackson movies than the old tales.
The exhibit was right outside the Bruge train station. We were cold and tired, but we decided to delay getting to our hotel, and go through the Land of the Hobs, having never seen anything like it before. There was no line, but there were stanchions set up that made it look as if they had to take care of long lines at other times, so we just went for it. They let us put our luggate in a corner, very nice of them.
The sculptures were wonderful! The pictures don't do them justice, as it's hard to photograph ice, but I'll try.
The Wizard. Looks a lot like Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings movies, no?
A hobbit, feeding hens. I love the frosted trees in the background. They really did try to make it seem like a magical setting. They covered up lights with ice cases with snow on top so you couldn't see the light, for instance. Also, the lights kept changing color.
A dragon head! His tail is about 30' long and winds through a castle. Look at those teeth, isn't he wonderful?
Fighting dwarves, one standing and one coming through the ice wall.
This one is Legolas, shooting his bow. It was so cold in there that I can't imagine anything melting, but you can see that his arrow has slumped some. Not the bow though. Cool figure, with lots of action in it.
A elf, not sure who it's supposed to be. But the detail on his tunic is beautiful!
The whole exhibit experience was magical, so fun. And bloody cold. Raining and cold outside, dry and really cold inside. But wonderful, with a great treat waiting at the end--a fabulous pub! I would love to have these trees in my dining room.
Afterward, we went to the taxi stand and were whisked away to the Hotel Koffiebuntje.
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