Beautiful Bruge

At breakfast I meet Jasmine who is traveling solo so we agree to join each other on a walking tour, when you are doing a short trip to places they are the best because they will take you to the places of interest but then you have the opportunity to go back to anything you find of interest later. Bruge is also a very walkable city and in my opinion is far nicer than Brussels. I often find the Capital cities disappointing but surrounding cities are a lot more relaxed. Our guide for the day is actually a historian called Eric and his knowledge and information about the city is immense. It's really hot today so as he takes us through the beautiful cobbled streets he keeps us in the shade. There is so much to see but as we stand In the market Square we are surrounded by multiple buildings all very different and with a huge neogothic influence. The white bear is the symbol of Bruge and according to history is from when the count of Flanders killed a white bear that was stopping people leaving the city. Between the hours of 12 and 1 the carillon keyboard of the Belfry plays the bells of songs ranging from queen to old classics and 366 steps up gives a full panoramic view of the city. The church of our lady is the church housing Michael Angelos Madonna and child. The house adjoining was owned by a wealthy man called Lodewijk van Gruuthuse, and rather than leave the house to go to church he had an entrance built and a private worship are where the priest would climb a hidden stairwell to give them communion. Gruut was also a beer that was made using herbs and in some areas in Belgium it's still sold.Read more