Belgium March 2006 - Swans, windmills, hand-made lace, Gothic architecture, and canals

These are some of the main attractions of Bruges - a city on the coast of Belgium where I went for the weekend. Here is a quote by someone in 1896 "The difference between Bruges and other cities is that in the latter, you look about for the picturesque, and don't find it easily, while in Bruges, assailed on every side by the picturesque, you look curiously for the unpicturesque, and don't find it easily."

This is so true - there are churches, canals, swans, windmills, cobbled streets, galore!!!! I'm sure there are some more modern areas somewhere in the city, but in the area where I was I don't think I saw a building erected after the 16th century. Many of the buildings are historical, such as the town hall, the belfry tower, the government palace, etc. but buildings like that are also where people live, work, have shops and restaurants. The architecture is primarily mideival Gothic which I'm not really familiar with, but I liked it.

GETTING THERE AND GETTING AROUND - It's only a little over an hour by train from Waterloo with one change in Brussels. I did pretty well with the train schedules with only one minor screw-up and one almost major screw-up. I missed my train leaving Saturday morning 'cause I didn't realize I had to cross the track (sound famliar, Barbara?) so I had to take a different train that required two stops. Coming back today, I'm not sure what I did but I arrived in Brussels at a different station than the one from Sat - much bigger and more confusing. I asked an info agent which train to Waterloo and he pointed and said track 21. I went the direction he pointed and saw the sign for the EUROSTAR which I think is an international train. It did say Waterloo, but it wasn't track 21. I asked someone else and found out that there is a Waterloo Station in London!!!!!! Luckily, I made it to the right train OK.

I walked, and walked, and walked - up and down stairs in train stations, churches, museums, over cobbled streets, along the canals - my poor feet and knees are begging for a rest!!!!!

My hotel was wonderful - it's actually a bed and breakfast. It's an 18th century manor with original fireplaces and beamed ceilings. It's located next to a lake in a beautiful park (Minnewater - lake of love) - not right in the center of things but an easy walk to all the attractions. It was like being in the French countryside - looking out my window I could see the lake and people walking their dogs in the park. Speaking of dogs - I saw several big, shaggy dogs - like the one in the movie. I don't think I've ever seen one of those before....and you know, those dogs don't really seem ferocious at all like most dogs. They didn't even scare me. Maybe 'cause I couldn't see their eyes.

The hotel only has 8 rooms so it was like staying in someone's house. I had thought about going to the opera Satruday night, but decided not to. They were performing something I had never heard of and I would have had to arrange transportation in advance - you can't just hail a cab on the street there except at the rail station. Everybody walks or rides bikes. At breakfast this morning, though, I met the nicest four people - the only other ones staying at the hotel. One lady was from Philadelphia and she was there visiting her sister and neice and nephew who live in Europe. They had been to the opera the night before and told me that they had never heard of it before either - but did enjoy it.

It's a very confusing city to walk around in - so many little streets curving here and there - even with a map I kept getting turned around - but did get to everything I wanted to see. Saturday, though, I got really turned around trying to get back to the hotel and it was getting dark and colder (never got above 35 the whole weekend) - I was so totally lost that I finally took a bus to the train station and a cab from there to the hotel.

Now, luckily there are tea shops (not to mention chocolat shops) all over the place. I would occasionally just pop in there to get warm and have a waffel or scone and cup of hot chocolat. At one place, they brought me hot milk, a bowl of chocolate sauce, sugar and whipped cream. It was make your own - and actually was the best I've had since I've been here.

More later.......