Blankenberge

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Breakfast this morning was another chance to meet old crew members, our waiter had served us breakfast on our last cruise too. He remembered everything, right down to Gary loving eggs Benedict.

We decided this morning to take the shorter trip to blankenberge rather than spend time travelling to bruges. Really glad that we did because it's a fantastic town.
The weather, initially, left little to be desired. Very cold and the icy wind was funnelled between the buildings and right into our faces. It warmed up though and, right now, I'm writing this whilst sat outside a small cafe drinking a coffee. I had an Irish coffee and Barbara wanted to taste it.... she ended up just planting her entire nose and face in my drink... pictures will be submitted for proof. We have already had a couple of classic barbaraisms...."mum, did you bring your hearing aids?" "Pardon?"
Classic.... lol. Last night was shameful though.... In the restaurant the waiter was actually very funny. He offered us all dessert but we were too full. Barbara said "oh no, tooooooo full" so the waiter said "gym?" And, very quickly, before mum could answer, said "gym, gym beam?" As in the bourbon. Mum was like " oh no, not going to the gym" and the waiter tried again offering a gym beam. We all laughed because we understood the joke.... but mum kept on saying that she didn't want to go to the gym. I tried to then explain that the waiter had made a joke and, oh my God, Barbara says at the top of her voice...

"Thay'm shouldn't make jokes if thay'm are foreign!!!"

I had to walk away I was so embarrassed lol. Cannot take this lady anywhere! It appeared to be lost on Barbara that we all got the joke. The other classic was when we settled down to watch the football. The conversion went something like this...

Dave " it's liverpool and Newcastle"
Mum "ohhh I thought you meant Leeds when you said that"
Dave "what?"
Mum "it's you talking about Newcastle making me think it's Leeds and liverpool"
All of us...."what????"
I swear she lives on another planet.
We have just stopped again for another coffee and have just had a cool little ride on an electric train around the town. We had the entire train to ourselves which was really nice.

I love this town, it is very much like a British seaside town but with French influence on the architecture. Considering its a Sunday, there is quite a lot open and we have had fun wandering around and popping into coffee shops. Dave, who thinks coffee is the spawn of satan, wants me to tell you that he's detoxed and had one mint tea and one green tea. So... I told you.

Ok so hours have passed and in now writing this whilst sitting in bed having had a lovely evening in crooners. We loved blankenberge, even though it was a Sunday, lots was open and we enjoyed walking around and stopping off for coffees. It would have taken ages to get into bruges and we think that time was better spent enjoying a lesser known town. The sea front was really spectacular, quite unusual too with its mass of private beaches. There were lots of kite surfers enjoying the wind too.

Once back on board we enjoyed more crooners time before our evening meal. The restaurant was awesome as usual and we all really enjoyed our meals. Barbara had an entire lamb to herself.... Dave and Gary had jerk chicken and I had nut free lentil cakes, it was all very tasty. Yet again, the head waiter knew us from a previous cruise and he went to great lengths to make sure that I felt and was safe. I just love princess cruises!

Dave and I spent the evening at crooners meeting new people, anyways an amazing time. We already have crooners buddies!

Bed time now though and tomorrow is a sea day! Nice and chilled.
Ta ra

Sorry for the small and sideways photos.... will sort that out when we are home xx

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Comments

[Stuart]

All sounds like an amazing start to the holiday

[Mum]

Hat
Is that my hat ?