Blogs from Brugge, Saint-Raphael, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, Europe - page 7

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I thought that Holland was a pretty place but Belgium was just gorgeous!! Some says because Belgium was not that important city during world wars, so somehow the ancient arquitecture is still well conserved. Building shapes, old cathedrals and lovely chapels, antique shops, little bridges, beeeeeeer, smells, old streets, people around chocolates, very touristic of course but is so charming...I don´t blame lovers and honeymooners, really. But, its something more than just the "intellectual air"....quiet, unpredictable curvy streets, definitly gothic! I don´t really know. I really wanted to climb the bell tower, nothing really hard, but I could realized that the city had a charming arquitecture....a french touche, a drop of german..got it! It´s a Flemish spirit around, Flanders land..... Unique!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------... read more
Good morning Brugges
Ready? yes!
Government Building


So my previous blog may have not been the most chipper, but this one is. Things seemed to have improved (baruch ashem, knock on wood). My luggage is still with me, which may have a bit more to do with the fact that I've been taking transportation overland rather than in the air but it could have been accidentally taken off the bus in Strasborg when I was taking the bus to Paris. My clothes haven't been dyed or destroyed in some freak laundry accident. And most of all I am truly enjoying myself. Coming back to Europe I am reminded how much your senses can be awakened, in particular in Brugges. I was there this past weekend. It's funny because I had more than one person tell me Belgium is boring and Brugges only derserves ... read more


Hey everyone! I'm back from Belgium and I'm so glad I was able to catch the early train back to relax before I fly out tomorrow to a new country and continent. No doubt, I'm gonna be beat when I head back to the states. What can I say about Belgium? It was awesome! Like much of Europe there is still so much to explore. I ventured out to the Flanders region of the country. I headed to Brugge, Monday and was there for 2 days. It was quite an experience to get there since the original train ended up getting cancelled, so after leaving Lisa's apartment at 7am expecting the train to leave at 7:35, it turned out that it was cancelled... boo!! I had to then take 4 trains to get to Brugge - ... read more
Bell Tower
Market Square
Belgian waffle

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur » Saint-Raphael » Brugge February 14th 2010

A short(ish) drive through France brings us to the northwest of Belgium and to the city of Brugge. Brugge is the capital and largest city of the prvince of West Flanders in the flemish region of Belgium. But, if you think you're about to get a history lesson then think again........(and Wikipedia doesn't seem to be working!!) And, this place is gorgeous......particularly as its snowing and very very white! We head straight to a local hostel, Charlie Rockets (great place, check it out!), de-camped then did what all the great travellers of the past and present and head straight for teh bar! Yep, it's beer-o'clock! Note to self.....Look at their faces when talking to the barmaids! Now, what colour was her hair again........??? A chat at the bar, a game of pool or 2 and a ... read more
Me in 3D
Frozen Lake
Horse n Cart

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur » Saint-Raphael » Brugge January 13th 2010

I love Brugge! How could you not? What is Belgium known for…umm let me fill you in…the most amazing beer in the world, chocolate, mussels/frits, and waffles (well among other things). My goal for the short weekend I spent in Brugge was to consume as much of the before mentioned food/drink as possible….and I have to admit, I did pretty well for myself! I hopped on a train from Paris (Nord) to Brugge early Saturday morning (2.5hrs), which put me into the small historic city around 10:30 in the morning. I had spent all my time the night before researching the Belgium beers and unfortunately didn’t have any place to stay that night. So my plan was to first find a bed for the night and then start my world wind tour of the city. It ... read more
I love Belgium
Waffles!!
Brugge City Center

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur » Saint-Raphael » Brugge December 12th 2009

Having gone to Brussels in 2007 and having a fantastic time there, I had been dying to get back to Belgium and visit Brugge (Bruges) - so when Mum and Dad announced they were coming to visit us in the UK and do a bit more European travel as well, it seemed like the perfect opportunity! And I mean, Belgium - home of chocolate, waffles, beer - how could it ever be less than fantastic!! I left London early on the Saturday morning Eurostar to meet up with Mum and Dad in Brussels. They had been staying in Paris and then trained up to Belgium the day before. After meeting up with them, we had a wander around and, of course, compulsory chocolate tastings - mmmmmm yum! There were loads of Christmas markets set up too. ... read more
Charming market squares
Brugge Belfry Tower
Horse and carriages

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur » Saint-Raphael » Brugge December 2nd 2009

Bruges Walk through town Katie and I spent our first day in Bruges exploring the small city. We went into the basement of the Crown plaza to see the ruins of an ancient church. Then we went to a church that claims to hold some of Jesus's blood. We were there for some ceremony for they take it from it's special spot on an alter to another place on the pulpit so people can touch it and pray. It was interesting to see, but the whole thing seemed a little whacky to me. After the church, we walked through Markt, the main square, but there wasn't much activity. Next, we headed to the other edge of town and walked through the park along the river. We walked along to the gate over the river that was ... read more

Europe » France » Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur » Saint-Raphael » Brugge September 21st 2009

This weekend we decided to go to Belgium! We left early Zaterdag* morning with a car that we hired. Along the way we stopped of at a place called Damme. Mum couldn't stop saying how spectacular it looked. There we got ice-creams and had a look at a town hall that was built in 1316!!! We got to Brugge in time for lunch. Mum and Dad remembered Brugge as 'a quiet little village' but it was packed with people. On the way to the markt (centre of town) we stopped of to buy some Belgium chocolate that was lekker*. Also while we were walking a lady gave Harry Sam and I each this huge thing of chips because she didn't want any more but Harry didn't feel like any. After looking at another really old building ... read more
view from top of town hall
us on a bridge in Gent
the castle that we went in


Brugges for a day. We have caught up with a friend we met on our Kumuka journey through the middle east to stay with him at Den Haag, Netherlands for a little while. So why not jump across the border to Belgium and visit Brugges as we have decided due to time restraints that we would have to drop Belgium altogether. So a 3 1/2 hour train trip each way we headed to Brugges for a Beer and Chocolate fix. With just a short walk from the train station we made it into the town square for a quick coffee and work on our plan of attack for our 6 hours in town. Deciding on a 1/2 hour river cruise, visit to a brewery, purchasing some famous Belgium chocolate and squeeze in a quick beer before ... read more


Before leaving Antwerp, Riet and I packed up my beer glasses and went to the post office to send them off to the US. There they told us that they couldn´t send glass. I persisted and they said they could send the package but there was a good chance some glasses would break. So we went around the corner from the PO and found another cardboard box to wrap around the other box for padding, and returned to the clerk in the PO to send it. It just barely weighed under the 5kg max for 26 euros. I came to find out later from my uncle that 5/11 glasses did in fact break. Sad, but hell, the glass were free anyways! hehe, off to Brugge. Riet sent me off at the train station and directions how ... read more




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