A half day in Brugge

Trip Start Jun 05, 2006

Trip End Aug 01, 2006

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Charlie Rocket's Brugge

Flag of Belgium Brugge, Belgium
Thursday, June 8, 2006

Well today started off like any other day for me--you know, except that I got up at 6:30 [that`s right, in the morning) in London--we had planned to get out really early to take an early train to Brugge, Belgium--but due to a series of complications, such as that our Eurail pass doesnt cover trains to the continent, and the chick that checks people out of the hostel in the morning didnt show up till 7.30--we didnt get to Brugge till around 2 in the afternoon. Yet this did afford us a chance to walk along the Thames for a bit before our train left, so we got to see some of lovely london from afar. SIDENOTE: you may note the zeird punctuqtion in this e,ail--that�s due to this backwards--- layout on the keyboard; zhich i hope is still somewhat readable.

But anywho, so we ended up having to actually pay quite a bit for the train to Brussels; though it was scenic and very nice; and then we switched to a train for Brugge, took a bus to our hostel, which it turns out is a very american-themed bar as well, called Charlie Rockets--go figure

Jill and Kelly in front of that big church

. But we did get to wander the meandering cobble stone streets and stare at the several gorgeous cathedrals and canals that were completely spared by WWII bombings. I hadnt even planned on coming here, but after a little goading by Jill, based on a recommendation from her grandmother, i have to say im quite glad we came. The city is quite small, but it is just jam packed with gorgeous architecture and has that vibrant multicultural feel you expect, but everyone we ve run into still speaks good English, which is quite helpful really. The thing I liked most was this huge tree-filled courtyard near a church and surrounded by quaint old buildings, where you would ocassionally see a nun crossing to go to the chapel. According to the guidebook you re supposed to maintain silence and not take pictures without special permission. So at one point Jon and I watched from afar as this nun comes from way across the courtyard, crutching ferociously toward this crass old tourist who was sauntering, camera in hand, at almost the same speed until he got held up at the end of the path and we were just hoping upon hope that this nun would catch up and rap him upside the head with her cane. Alas, she just walked past into the church and he kept on taking pictures and talking loudly to his wife.

So then we headed outta there, up to this swan-filled pond that all the canals run into--it was just a gorgeous day, and the sun filtering through the trees making cool shadows on the grass, the clop of horseshoes on the cobblestones in the background just made the day seem perfect. We all suddenly realized how lucky we were, not only with weather, but just in having the opportunity to see any of this in the firstplace. I will definitely post todays pictures when i get a chance.

Tomorrow we plan on getting up, uh, not QUITE so early, and climbing to the top of this one cathedral that gives a good view of the city, and then heading to Amsterdam in the afternoon. But, more on that later.

Ciao for now,

Matt

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