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Published: June 26th 2009
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Hi Everyone!
Yesterday I rented a bicycle and rode down from Bruges to the coast. I had a bottle of Diet Coke, my mp3 player was playing Twilight the audio book and it was a beautiful sunny day. A moment of pure bliss. Along the way I rode through a small town called Damme. It was quite adorable and had 3 used bookstores, though the only English books I found were the Harry Potter books. I hung out on the beach and watched people fly kites and generally frolic in the ocean. The bike ride was about 4 hours round trip. Unfortunately I forgot my sunblock so now I am a crispy critter. You would think that someone going to the beach would remember their sunblock, wouldn't you?
They conveniently pave the bicycle paths here, even in the country. And along the path are numbered signs that correspond to the free map. You ride your bike to each number and then that number directs you to the next one until you arrive at your destination. The trip to the beach was supposedly 36 km. I got lots of exercise. Which is good because for lunch I had two chocolate covered waffles.
I also visited the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Apparently during the second Crusade someone brought back this relic that is supposed to contain the blood of Jesus. They keep it on display and you can view it for a fee. (It didn't seem worth it to me.) They take it out for their Friday services (why Friday? not sunday?) and once a year on Ascension day they parade it through the streets of Bruges. At least its not a golden calf, right? In any case, the building itself is an interesting blend of Romanesque and Gothic.
This morning I walked through the city some more. I saw a few more churches and admired the canals. I think they might have some kind of penal code here that requires that everything be gorgeous. People are probably required to plant flowers and keep swans in their back yard. Despite the age of the city, I am informed that almost all the architecture here has been restored and rebuilt to look medieval. So despite the fact that everything looks 600 years old, it is probably only about 150 years old. So only as old as the United states government and not as
old as the dirt its built on.
On my last day here in Bruges I went to the Chocolate factory that turned out to be a Chocolate museum that depicted the history of chocolate. There were demonstrations where they made chocolate in front of us and then gave us samples.
Interesting chocolate facts:
1) Cocoa beans were used by the Aztecs as a form of currency so you could actually grow your own money.
2) A healthy slave could be purchased for 200 cocoa beans.
3) While cocoa is native to south america and they have been drinking it there for more than 2000 years, Europeans were the first to add sugar to it, and the filled chocolates that we love today were invented in Belgium.
4) The reputation for superior quality chocolate is Belgium is actually regulated by the government. There are strict laws about the amount of pure cocoa used and the minuteness of the grain.
The best chocolate I have had here in Belgium, and I have made it my mission to sample as much as possible is the Cote d'Ore Truffle bars I bought at the grocery store, a three pack for 1,20 Euro. Don't
worry I stocked up. 😉
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jennys mom
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bruges
Bruges is brugifull! (can u fit a few chocolate waffles in your back pack?..when will you be home again?) Can they still grow their own money? if so, could you bring a few plants home too? Can't wait to see pics from the netherlands! lol, luv, mom