Bruges or bust!

You know it's going to be a good day when you have a Starbucks coffee machine in your hotel room!

After getting warmed up with some jet fuel we headed out. First stop was the explore Castle Gravensteen.....it's cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we set off in search of the local train station. Sadly we missed the train by about 1 minute, but we didn't mind as it had started to rain a bit. We were prepared for it, but it's always better if you don't have to be out in it. The great news was that by the time the next train arrived, the rain had already passed.

 

 

A short 30 minute trip later and we arrived at the Bruge train station. A quick look at the horizon and we spotted a number of very large steeples and towers, so we knew which direction to head in.

My mother had spent some time in Bruges when she was younger and she often talked about it, so we had to put it on our to do list. We are both very glad that we did. It's a spectacular place. Surrounded and crossed by canals and history everywhere you look. I took tons of pictures today and can't post them all, but I will post enough to give you a feel of what it's like. If you get the chance, you should visit!

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped in to visit with the royals

 

Then we wandered some more, taking it all in

 

 

 

 

 

There are some old buildings here

 

And of course.....Belgian chocolate!

 

 

We wandered a bit more, taking in the sites

 

 

And then we went in search of some Belgium beer. Our dentist (Dr. Fraser) has been following our trips for a number of years now and when he heard we were going to Bruge he highly recommended a visit and tour at the Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan (Half Moon Brewery). He was right!

We started our visit enjoying a Blond Zot on their patio, it was very tasty, well except for the bit that I spilled.......oh the humanity!

 

Then we went on a tour of the brewery. We saw the modern equipment, as well as the original equipment from when they opened in 1856. As part of the tour we learned that this is the only remaining brewery within old Bruges. At one time there were over over 160 of them. The tour also includes displays that were almost like being in a museum

 

 

At one point we ended up on the roof overlooking old Bruges

 

 

Then we ended the tour in their bar/restaurant and got to enjoy some more beer :-)

 

 

Then we set off to explore a bit more, in search of some other well known Belgium specialities. We found some Frites!

 

 

And of course, Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream

 

A bit more exploring, and some goophing around

 

 

 

Then as we started to make our way back towards the train station, the swans came out to wish us farewell

 

 

Bruges is a place you must visit if you have a chance. A short train ride back to Ghent and another walk around old town. A chance to take in the last little bit of the scenery as the sun sets on Belgium

 

Tomorrow we hit the road again.....even the Autobahn, woohoo!

 

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If this is Wednesday, it must be Belgium

We had planned to get an early start but we must have been a little tired from all the walking the day before. When I rolled over and looked at my watch it was already 9:30. I don't think I've slept in that late for years!

We packed our bags and then walked down to the local Starbucks to get our morning fix before heading out. A short walk and we were back on the RER Train headed back to Charles de Gaulle airport to pick up our rental car. There are plenty of car rental places right in Paris but trust me, you don't want to drive in downtown Paris! Sometimes it's scary enough just walking across the road!

We eventually got to the airport and had a little wait to get our car. It turned out that we got a significant upgrade for no extra charge. We are going to be dropping the car in Switzerland at the end of the trip and it turned out that they had a nice car that needed to go back there....it even had the 2015 Swiss Highway Pass on it so we won't have to buy one when we cross the Swiss border....score!

After going in a few circles trying to get out of the airport we were finally on the road. One stop to stretch our legs and grab a bite to eat on the way, and a mere 3 hours later we arrived in Ghent, Belgium. Jo had wanted to visit this town as her mom grew up here. We decided to stay in the old part of the city. The hotel is amazing, and we are right beside a castle!
This is Castle Gravensteen which is right outside our front door

The first thing we did after checking in was to go for a walk around the old town. There are canals and very old buildings everywhere.

This is a VERY old beer hall

Many of the buildings are from the 1700s, some of them much older.

But every once in a while a little bit of modern sneaks in

Massive churches everywhere you look

And more canals

Here is an old hospital from 1363

And you find little memorials like this in every town

A few shots of the hotel we are staying in.....it was originally built as a mansion in the 1600s. It was later a school and it's been all updated as a very nice place to stay, yet it retains the old charm. It is named after the castle next door

A bit more exploring and then we started to get hungry. Spotting this special for my friend Darren

And after wandering the streets a bit more we found a small place where we enjoyed some local beer and a fantastic pasta and seafood dish

Then it was off for another well earned sleep. Tomorrow, we go for a train ride in search of..........

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