Memories, mussels and the Menin Gate COMPLETED
About This Page: This is a discussion on Memories, mussels and the Menin Gate COMPLETED within the Globetrotting: General Trip Reports, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; Originally Posted by CitrusSwirl I just found your trip report and am so happy I did. I was an exchange ...

**chezp** · 03-31-2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CitrusSwirl

I just found your trip report and am so happy I did. I was an exchange student and lived in Liege, Belgium many, many years ago.

We would go on day trips to Brugge occasionally and your report and photos have brought back many happy memories. I remember going on a boat ride on the canals at sunset and it was beautiful... and I could go for some good chocolate right now.

Thanks and I'm looking forward to more!

Glad I could help bring back great memories!

**chezp** · 03-31-2012, 12:54 AM

Memories, mussels and the Menin Gate – part seven: this cleaned up well!

We walked down the main shopping street...

.... and I had to go into C&A. It’s a chain that used to be in the UK, but they closed them all down about 10 years ago now, but they kept their European operations going. I used to buy a lot of stuff in there, so I liked to check it out whenever I get the chance. I had had a look earlier in Cite d’Europe, but didn’t find anything, but here, I did find two tops. I loved walking in here, as it was just like walking back in time to when we still had then at home. Nothing’s really changed in their shop design in that time and that’s really nice to see.

We soon headed off the main shopping street, as I figured we’d take the scenic route back to the station. The square we peeled off in was beautiful....

... although it was a bit odd to see this here!

I have no idea whether this claim was true or not, as we didn’t test it – maybe next time...

There were some wonderful little details on the buildings here:

And yet again, there were some amazing chocolatiers doing some amazing things:

This guy was working.....

... on this!

Soon we were passing Onthaalkerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw, the Welcome Church of Our Lady, which was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. As you can see from the photos, it had obviously been through a thorough clean-up recently and it looks amazing now...

We kept browsing shops and finally I managed to get some postcards at just 30c, rather than the €1.10 that they were charging at the Markt!

As we walked, we came across another of Bruges’ many canals.

Next: what an amazing sight!

Wendyismyname · 03-31-2012, 01:14 AM

I really like this:

Of course Mark would say all the right things!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 03-31-2012, 06:18 AM

More great pics!!

cubfancolleen · 03-31-2012, 06:39 AM

Love all those little details in the buildings!

**lauriep** · 03-31-2012, 08:07 AM

Beautiful photos of beautiful buildings! The church looks amazing with the exterior so clean!

KMB733 · 03-31-2012, 08:38 AM

More beautiful pictures!!!

DawnK · 03-31-2012, 10:47 AM

Love the pictures. Is that Giraffe chocolate? Cam would be in Heaven!!

jenseib · 03-31-2012, 11:08 AM

Fabulous photos!
I'm just catching up.
I love all the buildings...and the chocolate too! YUM!

**chezp** · 04-01-2012, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnK

Love the pictures. Is that Giraffe chocolate? Cam would be in Heaven!!

it is!

**chezp** · 04-01-2012, 12:53 AM

Memories, mussels and the Menin Gate – part eight: what an amazing sight!

Soon we saw the horse drawn carriages turning down a little side road and I figured that was where I wanted to go and, sure enough, there was a sign for the Begijnhof, where is where I was heading. On the way there, we passed another lovely little square. This city is packed with them.

Nearby was this cute drinking water fountain – and look what was in the background!

We followed the clip-clop and crossed over the canal, getting some lovely views both ways.

Then we were at the massive doors that lead into the Begijnhof, which was founded in 1244 as a place for nuns to live. Nowadays, it’s home to Benedictine sisters, who moved here in the 1930s. In we went and inside an amazing sight greeted us and one that I had never expected to see.....

Obviously they plant bulbs here, as they were all over the grass and in full bloom now, with literally hundreds of daffodils everywhere you looked. It was such a lovely sight and despite the signs not to walk on the grass, we of course all did. Bad me!

We wandered through to the other end and out to Minnewater at the other side, admiring the beautiful buildings here. The one next to the weeping willow is the sluicegate house.

We walked along the canal, knowing that it would take us back towards the station and it was a lovely walk. It was just starting to get a little colder now, but it still pleasant out.

Next: “I recognise you”

**lauriep** · 04-01-2012, 05:27 AM

What a wonderful walk by the canals. Absolutely beautiful photos! What perfect timing to be there for the daffodils. I love the area around the Beginhof. If I'm remembering correctly, that's where parts of the Audrey Hepburn movie "Nun's Story" were filmed.

cubfancolleen · 04-01-2012, 09:27 AM

Those daffodils were gorgeous! How lucky to have been there when they were blooming!

DawnK · 04-01-2012, 09:39 AM

I love daffodils..they are so pretty.

The 10th picture from the end of your post looks like a puzzle I did a long time ago. My Dad I used to put together a lot of puzzles when I was growing up.

disney_duke · 04-01-2012, 11:14 AM

Finally catching up here.... Bruges looks like a wonderful place to spend a day. Or quite a few days! The photos are beautiful. The chocolate looks yummy.

The horses are cute! And I'm glad Mark answered correctly!