Beautiful Brugge

Bicycles at the train station waiting for their owners return.
see all photos »

As I stepped off the train I saw the station sign "Brugge". The little station on a southern corner of the old town was quaint and comforting after the eerie "Nord Station" in Brussels. People were getting off work, teens and twenty somethings were grabbing their backpacks to begin their search for Belgian brews and we were elated simply because we found the place.

We arrived with US dollars and British pounds in our pockets. We had no Euros and the Currency Exchange was closed already. I left my maps and info in England. I had no idea where the Hotel ter Reien was located. So, we took our foriegn currencies, passports and wheeled bags for a bumpy and noisy stroll across the cobblestones of Bruges. It was an awesome walk. The beauty of this place was absolutely stunning. I couldn't believe the buildings, statues, landscapes and the quiet serenity this place held.

Our hotel was on Langestraat, situated on one of the many canals running through Bruges, aka The Venice of the North.

This is the beautiful area where we found Euros, Pizza Hut and a "S" Class taxi.
see all photos »

We found an ATM and created some Euros! Adjacent to the ATM was a Pizza Hut. I went inside to ask for directions. The employees were very friendly. A young lady made a call  and had a cab come pick us up. The "cab" arrived moments later. It was a sleek "S" class Mercedes driven by a very professional man dressed in black. The fare was affordable and the service was outstanding. No tip would be accepted but we insisted and the driver insisted we call again upon our departure. He gave us his card.

One of many carriage rides to help you learn your way around Bruges.
see all photos »

Our hotel was on Langestraat, situated on one of the many canals running through Bruges, aka The Venice of the North. The hotel staff spoke French and Italian only. My high school Spanish worked well enough with the Italian and we were checked in. (It is really unusual to find people in Bruges that do not speak English. This was the only occurrence while we were there. Bruges is in Flanders, the Dutch region of Belgium and English is taught in the schools.)

Take a carriage ride (pricey) and have the driver tell you where the best spots are to eat and drink. I was told to try de Garre. It was a tiny multi-level pub in a narrow alley, serving over 300 beers. Every beer was listed in a leather bound menu. All the entries were handwritten! I had the de Garre Tripel. The limit was three and it didn't take me long to understand why.

The view from our hotel room window.
see all photos »

There is so much to tell about Bruges. Its history is rich in the arts, world trade and of course, the culinary delights of seafood, chocolate and BEER! Shopping is incredible too. Don't forget the diamonds and lace either. This is a wonderful stop. I recommend a mid-week visit because on Wednesdays the Market Square turns into a colorful and tempting place. Area residents fill the circular showplace with lorries, kiosks and trailers to show off their flowers, cheeses, vegetables and cooking skills.

The de Garre tripel - limit of three. WHEW!
see all photos »

Bruges provided me with one of my best European cultural experiences.