Bruges: Chocolate, Chocolate, Canals, Chocolate, Beer, and...chocolate.

Before I actually talk about Bruges, I want to mention the benefits of European train travel, or at least how we've experienced it (with the help of the Eurorail pass):

- First, there is no need to be three hours early. half an hour is more than enough.
- Second, there are no security checks. yes, they are for our good on airlines, but damn if they're not annoying as hell and ever-increasingly invasive.
- Third, depending on what train you're riding, you get things like complementary meals, wine, and "refreshing towelettes".
- Fourth, it's dirt cheap in comparision to airlines, and possibly even car travel, seeing what gas prices are.


and now for something completely different, Bruges:

Called "The Venise of the North" Bruges is a city built on canals, with a decidedly Germanic influence. You don't see the cathedrals with the arabesques and flying butresses, here, it's all about red brick, step gables, and heavy sturdy architecture. I found the city georgous, and loved just wandering the streets, window shopping, taking pictures, and praying against the rain that kept threatening. We also took a tour on the canals on a boat. Like "Les cars rouges", the parisian tourist buses, the guide gave us a very abreviated history of the city, highlighting that there is a Michealango sculpture in the cathedal (the only work of his outside of italy), several 14th, 15th, and 16th centruy buildings and bridges, and stuff like that.

My mom, for those who might not know, likes chocolate. really likes chocolate. I mean, seriously, don't get in the way of her and it. Bruges just so happens to be famous for it's chocolate. About every block or so, there will be a chocolaterie, full of window displays and intoxicating scents. What became one of my Dad's and my favorite pastimes was watching my mother just go from chocolaterie to chocolaterie. She could be headed down one steet, turn 90%, sprint across the street and go half a block, without warning, just to compare stores. As we left Bruges, She said "that's it, i'm done, no more chocolate for me". She lasted 2 days.

There are a couple other food items that Bruges is known for as well, namely beer and mussels. Now, it doesn't take much to get me to try a beer, but mussels are a different story. Funny thing is, I tried them both. The first beer I had, Leffe, was kinda crappy, I think it was pretty much the bud of belgian beer. The second, Bruges zut, was actually made in Bruges, and quite good. The mussels on the other hand, were delicious. I actually ate a couple of my dads, and was pleasantly surprised.

One of thing to note about bruges was our hotel. We stayed in a little hotel, and it was wonderful. about a 10 minute walk to the center of the city, the rooms were massive (by american standards, not just european), and they served the best continental breakfast i've had in a while.

After bruges, we had a day of travel, and ended up in Strasbourg just in time for dinner.

--Bisous!

ps- pictures to come