Bruges, Belgium

I went to bed around 8:30 last night. I was exhausted and suffering from some serious jet lag. I woke up at ten thinking it was morning. There was only one other girl in the hostel room with me. I woke up at 8 when my watch alarm went off and I got ready and went down to breakfast. It is included in the cost of the hostel which was about 16 euros per night.y options were toast and/or cereal. The cereal was oats, dried fruit, and almonds. Flavorless but healthy. I went on my way.

My first stop was supposed to be the Bell tower. I was determined to climb the 750+ year old, 272 foot high tower...all 366 steps...to the most spectacular view of Bruges. Instead, there was a sign at the door saying it was closed until April 1. :( worst news evers. I guess I'll just have to come back...darn ;)

I then headed over to Burg Square which holds the town hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood among many other things. It was spectacular!! I sat around waiting for the basilica to open. A field trip group of junior high age kids told me they were recruiting people to play a game. I agreed to play and joined them in a circle. A girl told me the rules of the game in English and we played. It was some sort of ninja game. It was weird. I think it was more fun for them to collect people than it was to play the game, but whatever.

I got brave and had someone take a picture of me with the city hall. It's on my camera though so you'll have to wait.

I went into the Basilica of the Holy Blood. It is a church famous for holding a relic containing cloth soaked with Jesus' blood...brought to Bruges in 1150. No pictures were allowed, but I snuck some anyway. Music was playing and everything was just beautiful. Very gothic..

I then headed to the Groeninge Museum. 8 euros. They had a coat room. Nuff said. This museum holds centuries of Flemish art. Some may say that the change in art is due to the styles changing...but I think it's loss of talent. I'm sorry but three sticks leaning up against a wall do not compare to the detailed paintings of Christ, John, and Mary. The paintings from the 1700's paid so much attention to detail...from the dog licking itself to the hairy arms and noses. I could do an abstract piece of art. Anyone could. Stupid stuff. There were also piexes from the original city hall in the 1300's. This is old stuff! The museum was great...I really liked it.

Next was the Church of our Lady. One euro, but worth SO much more. This church stands as a memorial to the power and wealth of Bruges in its heyday. Michelangelo's Madonna and Child is inside...it's the only statue of his to leave Italy during his lifetime. It was stolen and recovered twice during wars in 1794 and 1944. It's beyond beautiful. There were tons of kneeling benches, confession booths, paintings, and excavated tombs. The people were buried there in the 1300's and the tombs were excavated in 1979. There were two mausoleums, one for Charles the Bold and one for Mary of Burundy. Her tomb and two others were underneath as well as an urn that held the heart of Philip the Handsome. There were "gravestones" everywhere. One of my favorite things was called the Christmas Crib. It was a carving made from an old, seemingly worthless elm tree. It had a lot of symbolism an meaning, and it was pretty. I want it. When I leaned that pictures were ok, I stopped sneaking them on my iPod and went back through with my camera.

Then, I went to Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum. Six euros. It told all about the history and making of chocolate. Belgian chocolate is so delicious because it has regulations regarding how much pure cocoa has to be in it, it is ground smaller than your taste buds, and they only use high quality cocoa beans. It's famous because it's so delicious, it's made right, and the praline was invented here. At the end of the museum there was a demonstration and a guy made chocolates. We got to have one at the end. Mmmm mmmm mmmm...it was good! Dark chocolate filled with milk chocolate hazelnut.

I wandered out to the windmills which I really loved. I attempted to walk around the perimeter of Bruges in search of a hanging skull. I had no idea what i was looking for, but it sounded spooky-I like spooky. I got super beyond lost. Even with my map. For about an hour I just wandered and checked every street name with the ones on my map...none of them matched. It started hard core pouring rain. After an hour I finally figured out where I was and it was no where near where I thought I was. It was about 2:30 and I saw a little sandwich shop called Panos that looked good and cheap. I got a turkey sandwich an water for 4.70 euros. A local sat down with me. He was cute, but probably like early 30's. He was born in Bruges and works at a chocolate shop. It was the very chocolate shop I planned on going to that night because Rick Steve's suggested it! He was shocked to hear that I was from America. He thought I was from England. I must have an accent already ;) He was super nice!!

I said goodbye and went to find that darn skull again. I found the place I was looking for but no skull :( u was feeling pretty tired and pretty wet so I headed back to my hostel to rest. I got lost for another hour, but I loved it. The beauty of this place is really in the imperfections...the uneven bricks in the street...the peeling paint...it's just so quaint and pretty! Every front door is different. Not one is like another even if they share a building. They have mailbox slits and come in all colors and styles. I found yet another beautiful bridge. This one had locks on it, and if I remember correctly you put a lock on it after you kiss on it. Locking your love or maybe just your lips. I can't remember.

I made it back to the hostel. The funny thing is that I'm 90% sure u walked right by it thirty minutes earlier. Oh well...

I'm getting dried off and then I'm headed out for more! There are chocolates and parks awaiting me.

Warning: Picture overload. Sorry I can't organize or label them!

Night life in Bruges

I headed back out for a little more adventure after drying off and resting for about an hour. There were two parks I wanted to check out, plus I wanted a waffle (wafel) for dinner. I was lost again but as always, I turned the corner and voila! Exactly what I was looking for!

My first stop was The Chocolate Line, the chocolate shop my linch buddy works at. I totally saw him chocolatiering in the back. We waved at each other. We're pretty tight. I bought just three chocolates for 3.75 euro. This is the good stuff my friends. I got a dark chocolate raspberry one that was so freaking delicious i want to own a belgian chocolate shop. Actually, it seriously made me want to taste all the chocolate at all seven hundred million shops here in Bruges to find the best. I would. It was that good. I am thinking of saving the other two pieces for ma famille, but I just am not sure it will last two months. What do you think??

My next stop was Minnewater Lake. This lake is also known as "the lake of love" for obvious reasons. It was breathtaking! I am going to walk by again in the morning when it's light. I saw some joggers and even after a long day of walking I wished I had had room in my backpack for my running shoes.

My next stop was just around the corner so I was only lost for like five minutes instead of like forty five. This was the Begjinhof courtyard. Also spectacular. I found the swans home. There were like thirty of them. These are big swans people...not white ducks like in Kaysville. They float/swim around in the canals all day and they must gather there at night. It was so romantic.

This is where I found two stray cats. I only got a picture of one. For you, mom and Lauren.

I was now on a hunt for a waffle. No one told me everything closes at six. Everything except the bars that is...I found an ice cream shop with waffles so I ended up eating that for dinner, and I don't regret it one bit. Just look at the picture. Yum. Kenzie/lexa/Hillary and I did it right growing up...those ice cream topped waffles after sleepovers were so great! I enjoyed it on the Markt Square just across from the bell tower. It was surreal.

I don't understand how people LIVE here. To me it's like...having Delicate Arch in your backyard and thinking it's no big deal. Ah...what a life.

A few more things about Bruges before I forget. One, the only ads here are Audi's, BMW's, Volvo's, and Mercedes. It's lovely. Two, everyone rides bikes. The only thing I missed about home today was Sylvia, my beach bike. She'd be perfect here. For the record, no one wears helmets and they ride at night. Yeah, this town is made for bikes (the curbs are low enough or bikes to ride up) and they all have lights on the front of the bike, but still. I know how it's done. They all have baskets and bags on the front and back respectively. Some even have the little seats for kids. Three, the roads are so extremely narrow. Sometimes i have to lay flat up against the wall in order to avoid getting taken out by the side mirrors. Cars just go up on the curb as they please and bikers go on both the "sidewalk" and the road. Everyone is just everywhere. I'm getting the hang of it. Four, Lauren, you would love it here for many reasons, but especially because there are a million antique shops. I want to buy everything.

Currently hangin out here at the hostel with many others, many non American others. I previously said that no one speaks English, but that was a lie. Most everyone does, but just not very much since it's the third language they learned. I'm still afraid to talk.

They listen to good music at the hostel. REO. MJ. Come on Eileen...whoever sings that. I feel right at home! And now I'm going to bed. Travel day tomorrow.