Our days in Bruges are now dwindling, since we move on to the Loire Valley region of France in just a few days' time. The overcast skies, chilly temperatures, and frequent showers have so far dissuaded us from taking a canal cruise, an activity that is almost mandatory when visiting the city that has been dubbed the "Venice of the North". The forecast for this Easter Sunday did not look very promising, but we held out hope for a break in the gloomy weather, and by mid-afternoon a few glorious rays of sunshine greeted us while waiting in line for the cruise boat. Although the sun's appearance turned out to be short-lived, at least the skies were dry during our 1/2-hour cruise. After spending the morning puttering around the apartment, we decided to have lunch at ... read more

It was not long after our arrival in Bruges that we became aware of the horse-drawn carriages transporting gawking tourists through the historic sections of the city. The rhythmic "clip-clop" of the horses hooves striking the cobblestone streets is a constant, and unmistakeable, background noise to which we soon became accustomed. So this morning, despite our initial reluctance to spend 50 euros ($65) for a "buggy" ride, we decided to give it a try. The carriage rides start and end at the Markt Square, after a 30-minute circuit that winds its way south from the square, past many of the historic landmarks, before reaching the Begijnhof. Here passengers (and the poor horse) get a short break before making the return journey to the Markt. The weather this morning was mostly sunny, although a bit chilly (mid-40s)--hardly ... read more

We were greeted by blue skies and sunshine this morning, and the temperature would reach 50 degrees later in the afternoon. Of course, Dee's first order of business this morning was to make her inaugural grocery run at the store across the street, which is really convenient; no lugging of groceries for blocks, as has been the case throughout much of this trip! Late in the morning we began exploring this quaint little town, which has the look and feel of a medieval village everywhere you turn. Bruges (or Brugge in Dutch) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. The historic city center, where we will be walking today, is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. During its "Golden ... read more

Our final day in Vienna turned out to be the warmest day of our stay, as the temperature reached 50 degrees by mid-afternoon. With blue skies, and sunshine, we were very comfortable as we walked, while many Viennese were enjoying themselves at outdoor cafes and the parks around the city. We had mapped out a pretty ambitious agenda, beginning with a visit to the Kunst Haus Wien, the museum founded by one of Austria's most important artists of the 20th-century, Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000). Hundertwasser, whose birth name was Friedrich Stowasser, is considered to have been a visionary who used his art to spread his message for a life in harmony with nature and individual creativity. We found his works, which encompass tapestries, paintings, prints, and architectural designs, to border on the surreal. He is a symbolic ... read more

The weather forecast today called for slightly warmer temperatures, with a bit of sunshine in the afternoon. But as we would soon discover, low 30s and the wind in our faces while walking made for a chilling experience. So this morning, in an effort to minimize walking, we opted for a taxi ride (instead of the tram) to reach the Belvedere palaces and museum, located on the southeastern edge of the city center. The two Belvedere palaces, referred to as the Upper and Lower, were built in the early 18th-century by the famous Baroque architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt to be used as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736). The entire complex, including extensive gardens, is one of Europe’s most dazzling Baroque landmarks, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prince ... read more