From Ghent to Bruges
We got back on the bus to head to Bruges, also in Flanders. We passed these houses. This photo was taken from the bus.
From Ghent to Bruges
From Ghent to Bruges
The Belgian countryside, photo taken from the bus.
From Ghent to Bruges
From Ghent to Bruges
Houses that we passed on the bus.
From Ghent to Bruges
From Ghent to Bruges
These houses were on the outskirts of Bruges, photo taken from the bus. Eddie and I went to Bruges last year. I was glad to be able to come back here. Bruges is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval towns in Europe. The only complaint that people have who visit here is that they didn’t have enough time to see it all. It actually is a city that you need at least two days of much walking to see.
From Ghent to Bruges
Bruges
We had a long walk from where the bus parked into the town of Bruges. Another warning was issued by our tour guide––if you are not back at the bus by a certain time, we will not wait for you and you will have to take the train back to Brussels. Our first stop on our tour was to a lace shop to see lace being made. Bruges is the Belgian center for lace making. Photo is of a window of the lace shop.
Bruges
Bruges
The woman in the photo is a master lace maker. She started making lace at a very early age. There is a movie clip on this website of this master lace maker making lace. Go to Movies, Western Europe, Belgium, “Making Lace in Bruges.”
Bruges
Bruges
Display of the lace maker’s work.
Bruges
Bruges
This photo shows what the lace maker was making. If you wanted to buy this particular lace work (and from a master), the cost was 60 Euros. If you would settle for lesser work, you could buy a piece of lace in a frame for about 5 Euros at a different shop. Lace work is sold in many shops in Bruges.
Bruges
Bruges
Our tour conductor recommended a restaurant to eat at. Britt and Tammy decided to try mussels there (mussels is a very popular dish in Belgium––but you really are supposed to have ‘mussels in Brussels’ if you are a true tourist). I don’t eat mussels and everything else on the menu was more than I wanted to spend, so I took off on my own to find other food. I had a ham and cheese sandwich and then one of the famous Belgian waffles. Belgian waffles in Belgium are very sweet––a dessert rather than a breakfast food. I had mine with strawberries and cream. Delicious! Interesting that this sign is partly in English.
Bruges
Bruges
Then I went to buy Belgian chocolates. If a store was not selling lace, it probably was selling Belgian chocolates.
Bruges
Bruges
We were supposed to meet our tour guide at a certain time in this area to start our tour of Bruges. I caught up with Britt and Tammy again. It seemed to still be tourist season in Bruges, as carriage rides were still being given.
Bruges
Bruges
Our tour guide took us at too fast a pace through the streets of Bruges. Again, it was somewhat hard to keep up with her.
Bruges
Bruges
Another Bruges street scene.
Bruges
Bruges
Our next stop was the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk in Dutch. It was Belgium’s tallest spire. It started being built in 1220 and took 200 years to build.
Bruges
Bruges
Another view of the Church of Our Lady.
Bruges
Bruges
One of the church’s highlights is the scupture of Madonna and Child by Michelangelo (1504–5). It’s the sculpture in the middle.
Bruges
Bruges
Inside the Church of Our Lady. Our tour guide told us we had exactly 5 minutes to view the inside of this church. Then we were to meet outside. When I got outside, I didn’t see either Britt or Tammy and didn’t know if I should wait up for them or go along with the tour. I decided to stay with the tour. Our tour guide never told us in advance where our next stop would be––which would have been very helpful. I hoped that Britt and Tammy could figure out where we were going.
Bruges
Bruges
Our next stop was on the other side of the church, for a canal cruise. Still no Britt or Tammy (I told our tour guide that they were missing and I don’t think she cared at all). I went on the canal cruise, thinking that maybe I would see them on one of the bridges. Actually, Britt spotted me first––she and Tammy decided that they would also take a canal cruise even though they lost the group, but their cruise started from a different location. I knew that they would pass me again and when they did I stood up in the boat and waved my arm and yelled to Britt where they should meet the group––yes, Mrs. Obnoxious, Loud American at work. I did interrupt the cruise tour guide while he was giving his spiel, but I gave him a big tip and he forgave me. The canals in Bruges are wonderful. Following are photos I took of them while on the cruise.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
Church of Our Lady seen from the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal. The Belfort is in the background.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
On the canal.
Bruges
Bruges
Photo of the canal taken while walking.
Bruges
Bruges
Another photo of the canal taken while walking.
Bruges
Bruges
Still another photo taken while walking.
Bruges
Bruges
Our next stop was the Markt, Bruges main square and marketplace. A market has been held in this square since the 10th century. It is lined with 17th century. The statue is of Pieter de Coninck and Jan Breidel, who were 14th century guildsmen who led a rebellion in 1302 against the French. Britt and Tammy were very relieved that they finally caught up with us here. They said they weren’t the only ones of the tour group who didn’t get out of the church in time.
Bruges
Bruges
In the Markt––the Provincaal Hof (the Provincial Government Building).
Bruges
Bruges
The building on the right is the Post Office.
Bruges
Bruges
Another view of the Markt.
Bruges
Bruges
Another view of the Markt.
Bruges
Bruges
Still another view of the Markt.
Bruges
Bruges
The Belfort, also in the Markt. It was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was used to store the town’s charter. You can climb up to the top of the belltower––366 winding steps.
Bruges
Bruges
Entertainers in the Markt. Surprisingly, they were singing in Spanish.
Bruges
Bruges
Right around the corner from the Markt is another square, called the Burg. This photo shows the Stadhuis, one of the oldest town halls in Belgium. It was built 1376 and 1420.
Bruges
Bruges
Another building in the Burg.
Bruges
Bruges
Another building in the Burg.
Bruges
Bruges
Almost time to leave Bruges. Britt bought a Belgium waffle off this ‘car stand’ and I had an ice cream.
Bruges
Bruges
On the way back to the bus to take us back to Brussels. It was great seeing Bruges again and Britt really enjoyed seeing it and wished she had had more time to spend in Bruges––me too!
