Our train to Bruges connected through Antwerp. The station there had trains on four levels and the station was beautiful.
We grabbed a yummy sandwich to split (the last healthy food choice of the day) and hopped on the next train headed to Bruges. The countryside was beautiful but we’d both hit a jetlaggy wall and had a hard time staying awake to enjoy it.
We arrived in Bruges and taxied to our hotel, Hotel Boteniek.
The above is the last photo of the day for me taken around 9:45pm local. This place is so incredibly beautiful and photogenic. We were snapping shots all day long.
Before we went camera crazy we checked into our room and took a needed hour long nap.
The room has tall ceilings and a slightly worn feeling but the bed it big and comfy and the window set above a quiet little off the beat and path lane lets in a nice breeze.
Awake and in need of coffee and chocolate (when in Belgium…) we began the hunt. The first little chocolate shop we hit had some lovely treats. Sometimes I forget that I don’t like marzipan. My first little chocolate was a piece of marzipan coated with chocolate. It was…ok.
After our little piece of chocolate we just happened to run into a waffle place we’d read about.
They had coffee and so I had a cup and a plain waffle.
The waffle coffee combo was cathartic. And just 4 euro!
We began our stroll to The Markt, the sort of main square in Bruges.
If you’ve seen the movie “In Bruges” this it the tower that one of the assassins fall from. Oh…spoiler alert…
Despite the touristy Burger King everything is just gloriously medieval in this square.
We were stunned by the beauty and detail all around us. Perhaps it was just waffle afterglow but I think this city is just stunning.
We began to roam aimlessly using the big spires of various churches to pull us from one part of town the the next.
From around 6pm to 8:30pm this is what we did. Stroll around with our jaw dropping every corner we turned and snapping pictures to share with you.
We decided we’d like to go back to The Markt since the light was getting really nice for pictures…more pictures.
Notice in the image above the two green carts. one on either side of the model tower. They sell Frites. Someone, I can’t remember now if it was Mike or me but one of us suggested we have Frites for dinner. (Exaggerated stage whisper: it was me.)
I couldn’t decide which picture of these to use so I included them all. Vote for your favorite now.
Yes, that is a big dollop of Mayo on top. Not as gross as it sounds. (Rob Rough probably threw up a little just looking at these photos. He haaaaates Mayo.)
They were tasty. Perhaps the best fries I’ve ever had. The Mayo was interesting. I ordered a “small” and finished maybe 1/2 with most of the Mayo scraped to the side.
We decided it was time to head back to the hotel so we strolled in that direction snapping a few more pictures along the way.
We saw a little green area beyond the street where our hotel is and decided to explore. It was a beautiful park called Koningin Astridpark. We decided to stroll through since us was just so lovely.
Plus we’d eaten a lot of crap so we could probably use the extra steps.
Now we are back in the room and writing our blogs. It’s not a competition but I really hope Darryl likes mine best…
I leave you with a cool bench, a provocative fountain and loaves of marzipan that looks like deli meat.
Art’s Travel Adventures 