Brugge, Belgium
We took a train to Brugge on Monday morning and planned to spend the whole day there. Upon arrival, we took a short bus ride into the city center where the architecture is breathtakingly quaint. It was very picturesque, classic Europe. When Matt and Sarah went into a store, and Kevin was taking pictures, I took up a conversation with an elderly woman on a bicycle outside the store. Turns out she was a local, born and raised there in Brugge and she was telling me about the history and the significance of some buildings and to avoid an ugly scar of architecture that was designed by the same man who created the pyramid in front of the Louvre. She was very friendly and helpful. We really started our day (of walking) after that.
The two above pictures are in the city center and since it was mostly overcast I don't think the pictures really do them justice. Though I only included two pictures, the views were 360 degrees with cafes mostly and other official offices such as a post office.
Though you may not have known it, Belgium is famous for its handmade lace, among other things. This was in a shop where I ended up getting my mom a Christmas table runner that is absolutely "stunning" (to use her word), and is handmade and unique. I mean, how often do you really look at lace and notice all the effort that goes into it?
We took a river tour through Brugge's waterways. There were only 30 people on the boat and only 4 boats at one time could be on the river because of the very low bridges. In fact, we went under what the driver called the "Brugge Guillotine", the lowest bridge where everyone but the boat had to duck.
Also, Bruggians (?) who live on the river are given tax deductions based on how many windows they have (more windows=less taxes) and the waterfront property here goes for an average of €11,000 per square meter (or $15,290)!
We went on the Zot Brewery Tour and learned all about how they make their beer and how laborious and odorous it is. This shot is on top of the brewery with endless views of Brugge and where we met a couple on our tour who was from Dallas. Small world. Our tour guide had a very subtle sense of humor and explained that a beer is to be poured with 3 cm of froth on top and you are to wait until it is gone before you consume it. This time is for you to build a relationship with your beer, talking to it, and increasing your anticipation. She said that you know it's your last beer when the beer talks back to you.
At the end of the tour you get a Zot beer. Sarah and I didn't like it so we gave ours to Matt and Kevin to drink.
L to R: Sarah, Matt, Kevin, myself
This was dinner in Brugge in a tucked away restaurant just off of the city center. Sarah and I both had waterzooi which is comparable to a chicken stew but with a creamier, denser sauce than the typical broth. It was great!
The group in the restaurant. Matt had a mushroom-covered steak and Kevin had half a chicken. Restaurants in Belgium are kind of expensive and people tend to eat at them when they have a reason to. Brasseries and cafes are the more typical eat-out options.
This is more or less a side note. When we were driving back to the house one day, Mitzi made a point to stop by and let us see the afro chicken! He seemed to be a very cocky chicken (no pun intended). He was quite hilarious, both in antics and the way he looked!
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