Sunday in Brugge

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Yes, the previous blog just ended - go figure. We got to our house in Brugge without event on Saturday and quickly found the local "Express" Market (larger stores are in the suburbs) and got cereal and milk (KS got her favored soy milk, Jean picked up what turned out to be Buttermilk - suddenly my soy milk looked pretty good :-) We settled into to our selected rooms and it felt wonderful to sleep under a down comforter and not be digging through suit cases! Ahh, we had arrived.
We found a wonderful restaurant to have dinner at "Oud Handbogenhof" and I was immediately grateful that Jean took some German in HS - as her translating a menu is far superior to mine!

We inquired when services or mass was held at the Cathedral, since we had found the church on the way to the restaurant and looked for a schedule and found none. The Owner's response was "Only one service, at 10am" when Jean commented that she had looked for a posted schedule, the woman replied, "Everyone knows, why post a schedule". So now we are some of the "everyone that knows"!

Sunday morning we headed out the door as the church bells began to ring - they ring them for 15 minutes, giving no one the option to not attend :-) The cathedral St. Gilliskerkhof was built in 1410 and was absolutely beautiful! I think the average age of the parishioners before the grade school children came in was about 80, but I so admire how active and bright eyes everyone is! The mass was said in Flemish - and I heard alot of "phodas" and the priest was very animated but am sure I missed his theme in the homily.

Was wonderful to attend mass here though! Then we went in search of a bike rental place, we had three that we could walk to - found two, then the third was closed, so returned to the first. We biked home on our new 6 speed bikes!

We rented bikes from T'Koffiebonje at Hallestraat 4 which is very close to the Market square and not far from our house. Our bike rental journey took us through the center of Brugge, and all the way back to the Brugge Central train station - it is such a historic and wonderful city.

Sunday evening we took our maiden trip on the bikes, and headed out to Damme along the canals. We instantly felt like we were "back" riding in the countryside and enjoying the sounds and smells. Was about a 10k trip out and back - felt great to just be riding in Belgium again!

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Photos

Train Station
The helpful Train people in the red hats!

Train Station
Jean on the train platform as we waiting for our train to Brugge

Train platform
AMS train platform

Train ride
Was great to rest and doze as we rode from AMS to Brugge - beautiful countryside

Train ride
Jean Reads

The Cathedral
St. Gilliskerkhof Cathedral where we attended Sunday morning mass

Cathedral
No, the priest did not speak from here - it is actually located at the back part of the church

Stations of the Cross
Is wonderful to think of the history when these were painted.

Organ
A young man did play this organ during mass, was wonderful

Comments

[Colleen and Tim]

Great pictures. Aunt Jean, when you get a chance, grab the camera and turn it around on the photographer, we need some proof that she was there too! Glad you two made it safe and sound.

[N Fjellstedt]

Looks wonderful
It looks great and so much fun - I like the flatness of it!!!! The buildings look so interesting and the biking "lanes" look so inviting - wish we were there- looking forward to seeing more -- I hope I have not made any errors in what I am doing - take care and great biking - waiting for more pictures and news hi to you both --- nancy

[Sewpippy]

Go Nancy!
You are doing great with following our Blog - Jean thinks our pictures will get you to come over here! The Bangkok pictures were from when I met my "Other" sister - no biking that trip! Kathleen