Lazy Days in Brugge

We have really taken a slower pace on this trip….and we are loving it! We rented an apartment so we knew we had more free time to explore, sleep, eat and just enjoy being in this lovely city.

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Our apartment is very enjoyable. It is 3 stories and the steps are very steep. We really have to be careful to not go slip sliding down the steps! The apartment is on the horse drawn carriage route so we get to enjoy the horses and buggies all day and into early evening. This is our front door, courtyard and our view from upstairs.

our front door and horse  our courtyard courtyard across the street

The bad news is we seem to have brought the rain with us. It has rained every day except today. We just get out the umbrellas and keep on going.

Kathy and Robert Ludwigs (Madeline’s cousins) drove from Rixensart and spent Saturday with us. Kathy always has a plan for our outings. Her rainy day plan was to go to the coast. We drove about 30 minutes to the town of Knokke (the Hilton Head of Belgium). We stopped at a tiny Chapel dedicated to fishermen lost at sea. The roof was even shaped like a boat hull. Then we visited a small gallery and viewed some fishing themed photographs. After lunch we drove to the town of Blankenberge. Here we visited the Belle Époque Centrum -a cool museum that had interactive displays of the Art Nouveau Era. The beach here was so much nicer and the sun finally came out so Robert and I walked down to the water and put our hands in the ocean. The wind was wicked and blowing like crazy. We came home with sand in our clothes, hair and in our ears!

tiny church fishermen church P1000496

finest watering place tiles stained glass  cloudy day at the beach at the beach with k and r beach at b

The rest of the week we have been touring the city, eating yummy meals, enjoying the sites, museums, and churches. I drank 2 beers during this trip. Now I can say I have had 4 beers in my life. 1 in Egypt, 1 in Prague, and 2 in Brugge. Prague was my favorite!

swan on a nest tiny shrine swans IMG_20140513_084645_875 IMG_20140513_065634_949 view from our window castle boat ride IMG_20140511_140452_612

Tomorrow we travel to Paris. It will feel like we are returning home. I am anxious to see the neighborhood in the spring. Susan says it is cool and rainy in Paris also. I am sure it will improve in the next few weeks. I hope you enjoy just a glimpse of Brugge and surrounding cities.
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Thanks for stopping by today!