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Published: June 25th 2011
The first thing we did was to check the weather report - 70% chance of rain in Antwerp, so then I checked Brugge (where we spend 3 weeks, 2 years ago), there was a mere 30% chance of rain in Brugge. It was raining already in Antwerp, our shoes had not dried out yet and we were dubious to spend another day wet.
SO - off to the train station (by foot) we headed. When I went to use my camera on the way to the train station - I found that it was water logged from yesterday! DRAT DRAT DRAT. We jumped on a train to Brugge as I was oh so sad to not be able to take pictures. When we arrived in Brugge we felt like such veterans as we jumped on the city bus to the Centrum - although we were glad to go to a new city this time (Antwerp) it was great fun to return to the familiar city of Brugge. Great memories of all the family that joined us here and what great fun we had (except for the illness that was passed around). We headed to a local plaza and had lunch
LUNCH in Brugge
Local Draft beer is always the best!outside - enjoying the local food and people watching. I pulled out my camera - removed the battery and set it in the sun - thinking/wishing it might dry out!
After lunch -and wandering around Brugge - in search of our favorite little chocolate shop that was down the street from the house we rented - I kept trying to see if my camera worked - and alas! It worked! Lighter in my step and with a smile on my face we continued on our walk to the chocolate shop - and then - the we saw the heavy shudder door CLOSED - sniff sniff - oh well, lets go to the pastry shop :-)
We re-visited the canals, and the facades and enjoyed a day in Brugge - that was sunshine and a hustle bustle of European and American tourists - such a hub of activity! We weaved in and out of the children's clothing stores - surprised to find Disney and US clothes - not much that was cute European style! We looked for lace stores (Jean was looking for lace curtains) and only found table clothes and doilies.
We walked through town, back to
the train station - and jumped on the 6:18pm train to Antwerp. The trains were very very full - so we trudged along the cars and managed to find seats. We took no notice of the placards on the windows written in Flemish. But I did immediately note that our car was FULL of 10 year old LOUD RAMBUNCTIOUS boys! My gosh - there was not a one of them that could sit still or keep their hands and feet to themselves! We kept hoping they would all get off at Gent or some stop very soon. The only luck was that they got off 2 stops before us - after they de-trained, the conductor came and removed the placards - ahhh, we bet they said that the car was reserved for the school group!
Learn Flemish and be warned or deal with the din!
We got to the Antwerp train station and decided that pizza at the station sounded mighty good - so a leisurely dinner with cold beer (my oh my - beer with lunch and dinner WOW). As we walked the short distance back to the flat all the Orthodox Jewish families were coming and going
Our lunch table looked out to the plaza
Such a combination of locals on bikes, tourists in groups, horse carriages, students and seniors with very heavy cameras! to Synagogue - love to admire the traditional wear of the men with hats and long side curls.
Another great day in Belgium
Kathleen and Jean Biking Belgium 2011
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