Bruges

Today started with an all you can eat breakfast I thought was included in the price of our room. While just starting to feast on the huge selection of food and drink offerings I was asked my room number. After looking it up, I told was that we hadn’t paid for the optional breakfast. No way was I going to back out now. Too hungry! I didn’t even ask the price. When Laura came down soon after I told her what had happened. She also saw what was being offered and decided to go for it anyways as well. We indulged as much as we could in the litany of choices. The pleasure didn’t come cheap. But, sometimes in life that just doesn’t matter.

We spent the rest of the morning touring the town on foot using a free app that has a variety of walking routes featuring the city’s highlights. We chose one that is about 5 km long and guides you to the city’s most impressive historical buildings and features, many dating back as much as eight centuries! The stops of interest all included a short written description to give you insightful information.

Around noon we headed back to our hotel, grabbing some food at a grocery enroute to make ourselves a lunch. Laura searched out a bike rental place nearby and, after our lunch break, we walked there to see if they had a bike for each of us to use. They did, and it only cost us about $30 for both bikes. And we could keep them until closing at 7 pm.

With the bikes we headed to Damme, about 6 km away. We followed along a beautiful, flat, paved and shaded path to get there. Once there we parked the bikes and walked around to see this historic little town. Before heading back on our bikes we found a table for two at an outdoor cafe and relaxed and had a cold beverage while watching the world go by.

Near our hotel is a Chinese restaurant with a menu posted outside. Already yesterday I had noticed that they serve my favourite Indonesian bami and nasi dishes. Laura was interested so we went there for dinner. We both ordered Nasi Goreng with Chicken. The food was good but very pricey, and we didn’t like that we had to pay for water. Not sure if that is typical for all Belgium restaurants.

Brugge is a beautiful place to be. Unless you’re diabetic! The number of shops selling delectable sweets is incredible! Waffles, macaroons, nougat … chocolate, ice cream. I resisted all the temptations except for the beautiful macaroons being sold in a stand at a market. My mom use to bake them and they were always one my favourites! So, I had to buy a couple. I did well though because I would have got a much better deal by buying five!Read more