Christmas in Belgium

---

I decided to spend my Christmas this year on a Topdeck tour in Belgium. The journey included:

A train journey to London. The evening in London checking out Christmas markets etc then a drink with a couple of fellow tour-mates at the hostel before bed.

An early morning bus ride to the ferry and subsequent channel crossing to France. Bus ride to Brugge (Flemish translation, spelt Bruges in French) in Belgium. Checking out the Christmas markets and main square in Brugge. Nearly get hit by horse (they have better breaking power than ABS). Dinner of chips and mayonnaise (both of which were invented in Brugge). Drinks at the hostel before bed.

Christmas morning. Open Wrap-a-Crap present (Secret Santa except you don't buy anything for the person, instead wrapping some sort of item from your suitcase to give to someone else) (I got a toothbrush holder and socks!). Morning walk around town (including witnessing a proposal for the couple that came on tour). Christmas lunch which consisted of cheese balls and salad, meat, veg and potato gems, and strawberry mousse. Nap. Explore Christmas Day markets. Eat waffles with chocolate sauce and potato bake. Drinks at the hostel before bed.

Boxing day day-trip to Brussels. Walk around to see little boy peeing statue etc. Eat waffles with chocolate and strawberries. Investigate their Christmas markets. Have Christmas market picnic of potato bake, chips, and lasagna in a bread roll. Visit all the chocolate shops we could find (and leave only with samples...). Bus back to Brugge. Eat a 3 course dinner at a restaurant (deep fried cheese balls with a side of cheese, beef stew and chips, plain waffles). Roll home. Drinks at the hostel before bed.

Next morning, chocolate museum/demonstration thing (with free samples of course). Bus back to France, then boat back to England, and bus back to London. Go to Aldelphi Theatre at West End in London with left over new friends from tour. See Kinky Boots. Amazing! American BBQ dinner. Walk through Covenant Gardens. Tube to hostel in middle of night. Bash around trying to get into bed in the dark while five other women are trying to sleep. Old Italian lady shakes a pillow at me. I thought it meant "shut up". It actually meant "do you want your pillow that I stole from your bed when you didn't get home by midnight?".

Next morning bus back to Nottingham and back to reality.

---