Medieval Town of Brugge
Trip Start
Unknown
1
95
109
Trip End
Ongoing
Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Yes there isn't a whole lot to do in the town and I think maybe two nights would have been enough but staying the extra couple for nights allowed for more discovering in the small winding back streets. I had a bit of a stomach ache on the first night which hampered my sleep so I slept in and missed breakfast but that's okay I wanted waffles anyway. My search wasn't what I expected, the waffles was really light and crunchy and only had a little chocolate sauce so I was disappointed but would try again elsewhere before I left - surely this isn't what is so famous. We then walked into the two main churches, which I can't remember what they were called and don't have my leaflets to remind me, but I do remember one of them was particularly interesting because it had a sculpture by Michelangelo and also had the tombs of two electors and they were the traditional medieval tombs where a sculpture of the person is placed on top with their hands clasped together in prayer pointing to the heavens.
I then went to a cupcake store that really did look like heaven on earth and the cupcake itself confirmed that it was heaven on earth it was sooooo good. So much icing, so sweet, so deadly, so worth it. There isn't much to do at night here other than hang out at the bar at the hostel which isn't that exciting. Mel and I had a bit of a spat, can't remember what over, think we were both just tired. We haven't spatted (is that a word) since NYC so we've done alright but it's been over three months now so it was bound to happen but was forgotten by the next day.
The following day I went on a bike tour and it ended up just being the guide, five girls from America and me. The American girls were really nice, most were studying in Edinburgh and had come over for the weekend. The tour took us to the countryside town of Damme which used to be a big trading town but a flood destroyed their trade prospects and most people moved away and today is a small town of about 700 people. Our guide told us many tales, the most memorable one was about a guy who's name I can't remember but he was an annoying guy who was sent to Damme because he rubbed people up the wrong way where he was from originally. Soon he started to annoy the establishment in Damme and they asked him to leave but he refused because he had fallen in love so they had him arrested but the guards couldn't handle him because he was that annoying so the establishment sentenced him to death but granted him one wish before he died, the only thing he couldn't wish for was his life. So he wished that he be hung in the middle of the town square completely naked and his body was to be left there hanging and every morning everyone from the establishment had to kiss his arse. There was no way that was going to happen but the establishment couldn't lie and kill him without granting him the wish so they let him go but insisted he leave Damme which he did.
After the tour I walked around the town, had a real Belgium waffle that was awesome and also had to get another cupcake and this time I got a famous hot chocolate with it. Both were divine but I did feel the effects of a sugar overload.
The following day was a crappy raining day. You couldn't do much, so I planned just to do some shopping. Mel and I left the hostel separately, we had planned to have brunch somewhere and then met up but would you believe it the place I chose which I had never even seen before was the place Mel was sitting at - freaky.
So the last day in Brugge was literally a wash out but I still enjoyed my time here and would thoroughly recommend it.
Comments
HI Manda, speaking of brugge, Mum and I was there many many years ago, in fact Mel was with us there too, Mel was only about 1 year old, we had a lovely time, we were actually staying in NUMUR, cannot remember how far it is from Damme, however it was nice.
Mmmmmmm......Chocolate!