Fun in Brugge

Our week was pretty much the status quo. We spend a day doing laundry. It cost us 4.60 euro per load to wash (x2) then add 60 euro cents for eight minutes drying time (x3). In dollars this was $15.95. It costs a lot for laundry. It takes a day to do the shopping and it wears me out although it is getting easier as the time passes. Thursdays are the open market days in the center of town. I did get caught up in the market this time. I even bought a few things. Now I have to figure out how to send a few things home. I have to keep the weight of our suitcases in mind with everything I consider buying. Friday evening we watched a movie with Dave and Laurene then went to bed early for a trip in the morning. We got up Saturday to drive to Brugge, Belgium, the lace capital of the world.

It is a city about an hour's drive from Oudenaarde. The first thing we did was find the usual maps. We have to have maps wherever we go. They are great helps in not getting lost. The river beckoned our names so we boarded a boat for a tour on the canals of the city. Brugge is referred to as the Venice of Belgium but they didn't have gondolas.

The trip was not a long one but it was beautiful for the eyes. One of the bridges we passed under was very low (as you can see in the pictures) to go under it.

The guide told us about the structures along the way.

It amazes me how old things are here. Four and five hundred years old are nothing here. After the boat tour we stopped at a deli for a sandwich. Dad had a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. It was to die for good. The horse carriage ride looked like a lot of fun so we hopped on one for a ride. It also made a tour of the city center area.

The ride gave us a chance to decide what we wanted to see. As it seems in all European city centers there was a beautiful church.

Dad and Dave climbed to the top of the clock tower. I think it was three hundred sixty-six stairs to the top.

Laurene and I opted to go to the chocolate museum. We had a great time looking at the history of chocolate. Of course we got to sample some too.

Then we meet up with the guys and did a little shopping. We looked at some of the other buildings and statues.

Dave wanted us to hear a guy play steel drums, a didgeridoo and bells on his ankle. It was amazing to hear him play. He just set up with a container for people to drop money in for his CD or as a donation as he played.

After our shopping we stopped at an outdoor restaurant. As we contemplated the menu a local family just finishing their meal drew us into a fun conversation. We decided to try it and the food was excellent.

It was just fun to sit there at the table and listen to the chatter of everyone around us. The evening was warm and the waiters were friendly. What a great way to end the day.