It is freezing today! Oh my gosh – it’s only 5 degrees C as we head out to Brugge, 30 minutes away. We park at the train station, where you can park really cheaply, and get free bus tickets for everyone in your car. Thank God (and Rick Steves) for that! It’s too freaking cold to walk into town, even though it is only 20 minutes. The bus is much better. We have a little issue finding the bus, and in the meantime get firecrackered by some rude locals – they threw the equivalent of an M80 in the middle of us – Sigis and I had walked down the walk a bit, but Gaby and Ed were right next to the firecracker – then the fools who threw it just laughed. Thanks. We know you are on strike, but you don’t have to be nasty to us!
We are lucky though, that the buses are still running in Brugge. They aren’t running elsewhere, and as we find out the next day, over 100,000 people marched in Brussels against the government and turned quite ugly at the end. Fortunately we missed all that – by luck and not design.
So, on the bus, through the small and windy little Brugge roads. We hop off at Market square, where they were setting up for some concert or expo show. A huge stage that virtually covered the entire square was being constructed. Sort of took away from the grandness of the square, but the sun started shining, so we didn’t really care too much.
We wandered around the square, but chose not to climb the tower. The view is good, but with Ed’s back, it wasn’t really an option, and the price of 8 euros was a bit steep. Got maps from the TI, which had moved into Market Square from the Cathedrale square, then went over to the Cathedral of sacred blood where we got lots of great shots of the tower from a distance and the great Town Hall building.
I got a little turned around in the square, because I swore the museum was the cathedral, and at one time I believe it was a church, but….At any rate, we found the cathedral in the corner and went up to see the vial of blood from Christ. We lucked out here as well, and were there for the veneration of the blood, and watched a ceremony of the blood with 2 different priests.
After the blood ceremony, we wandered through town, walking through the Blind Donkey street (with the building that looks like the Bridge of Sighs). The street was named because the donkey’s needed to have blinders on or they wouldn’t cross over the canal. We didn’t need blinders as we crossed the canals and stopped at an outdoor art market, where we got a great print of Brugge from a local artist. We continued to wander and snap photos through this medieval fairy tale of a town.
It was getting cloudier and cloudier, so we decided to go in search of cover and nourishment. We walked back through town, past all the lace, tapestry, souvenir and chocolate shops (this is the most touristy of all the towns we’ve visited – it’s lovely and beautiful – but still touristy). We got to Saint Simonsplaatz, where Aquarel is located (we’ve eaten there a couple times), but they are closed. It is starting to rain now, so cover is essential, but one of the restaurants we try is fully booked (wow!). We lucked into De Vyust café, tucked into an alley on the opposite side of the square. There are fire places (a necessity since I am freezing!), a warm atmosphere and a great lunch special for 15 Euros – Soup of the day (broccoli), chicken cordon bleu, salad, chips and a crepe for dessert. We’re in! Ed continues his Gueuze spree, this time with Jacobins, which is good. Then Ed, Sigis and I have the special, Gaby the vegetarian pasta. All are excellent (and oh, yeah, I forgot to take a picture of the special meal when it came, so…..)
We stayed long enough at lunch, that the sun was out by the time we were ready to return to the parking garage.
We took the historic “inner city” route, and went past De Haalve Moon brewery, tucked away behind the Church of our Lady. Also stopped at Dumon for chocolate – only chocolate we have bought. Took the river route back to the car park, passing Minnewater (water of love – story on an older Brugge blog posting).
All is well at the car park – no more M80s. We pay our 3.50 Euros and head back to Ghent.
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