Day 16 - Zeebrugge/ Bruges, Belgium

We have arrived in Zeebrugge, Belgium and the weather, grey and wet ☹️ but we are prepared. So the ship info said to get to Bruges from Zeebrugges (the port), it was shuttle, shuttle, train and/or bus 😳 so we researched a bit, cut out the middleman and are just shuttle, then bus. Bus ride was about 20 minutes long - we passed very green fields and a large number of wind turbines. We were dropped off just south of the old town and set free. Beautiful walk through the park and then aaahhh - first impression, medieval village with cobblestone streets, stone buildings side by side, canals throughout…very surreal. Horse and buggy seemed to be the mode of transportation du jour. Some bicycles but foot power was definitely the way to go and this was probably the busiest stop for tourists that we’ve seen so far on the cruise and the stores with Christmas decorations…lovely. We walked through the Béguinage (nuns & religious lay women occupy this ancient, tranquil complex with exhibits of 17th-century life) and then stopped in at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of our Lady) - beautiful church, but the opulence 😳. This particular church is famous for housing a white marble sculpture of Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo around 1504. Then up, down and all around the various streets and squares checking out the three most popular things…waffles, beer and chocolate and yup, we enjoyed all three; even a chocolate dipped waffle on a stick. Check out the 2be beer wall - upwards of 1250 bottles of beer and we only sampled 4 while sitting outside on a terrace overlooking a canal…pretty sweet. We tried to get into a brewery tour when we first arrived, but their first opening wasn’t until 5:30pm. Back to the ship and enjoyed another evening comparing adventures and sharing stories with our Canadian and Aussie friends. The other Canadians head home after we return to Southampton on Monday ☹️, but the Aussies stay on until Rome 😊Read more