I managed to get to Antwerp for Royal de Luxe this year, and was treated to seeing Bull Machin right outside of the train station when I arrived!
After watching him have his well-earned cigar break for a while, and then meet up with Xolo, I skipped ahead on the metro and picked out a spot on the road to watch the two giant dogs approach, and was not disappointed!
Here are some photos I managed to take of my bucket list day trip:
![antwerp train station](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/antwerp-train-station.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Bull machin cigar break](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bull-machin.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Xolo leaping](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/xolo.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![xolo](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/xolo-walking.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Xolo closeup](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/xolo-closeup.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Xolos seagull friend](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/seagull-royal-de-luxe-puppet.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Bull machin antwerp](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bull-machin-walking.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![Bull Machin Closeup](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bull-machine-close-up.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![groenplaats](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/groenplatz.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/antwerp-cathedral.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral interior](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0817.jpg?resize=640%2C960&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral windows](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0805.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral painting](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0809.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral interior](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0810.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![antwerp cathedral glass crown of thorns](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0813.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
![grotemarkt antwerp](https://i0.wp.com/mybigfattraveldiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0795.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
It was a great day, but if you didn’t catch them in Antwerp, don’t worry – the dogs will reappear in Nantes and Saint Herblain in September! Read more about that in my article here!