A Day in Brugge: City of Chocolate and Tourists
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2008
1
18
65
Trip End
Dec 08, 2008
Brugge,
Belgium
Friday, July 18, 2008
I first have to say that Bruge is a beautiful city and I was really glad that I made the trek out there even know it was only about an hour from Brussels. The city is small and you can walk it from one end to the other in about 30 minutes. When I arrived I knew it was going to be a really relaxing couple of days because there just wasnīt that much to see here.
I took to the streets in search of one thing, a towel! I had needed one for about a week and was making due with the one I brought from home but I hated it. I searched high and low and in a place where the tourists rule? I had to get outside of the city limits for my quest to be successful. I finally hit this little dollar store and I had it. I had done something and feeling pretty pleased with myself I decided to reward myself with chocolate. I hadnīt had a lot since I got to Belgium so off to the suppermarket I ran due to the fact that it is half and I mean half the price there.
I cruised the streets for a little while longer and headed back to the hostel and that is where I ran into David. Traveling by himself for the first time, and also being on his first day in Europe I knew how he felt. He was quiet and a little nervous. How do you get loosened up in Europe, the only way I have found so far, DRINK! I thought it would be a good chance to try some more Belgium beer so Dave and I headed for the streets. One problem, everything in Bruge closes at 5:00pm and bars closed at 10:00pm. Seeing it was about 10:30pm we frantically tried to find something that was open. IRISH BARS, the irish never sleep, all they do is drink. So in conclusion I came all the way to Belgium to drink Guisness. It was cool because I was starting to miss my old friend from Dublin anyways. We headed in, some lady was singing mostly contemorary music so it wasnīt true Irish but still they had the black stuff.
We sat down and that is where we met these English blokes on a Bike tour from somewhere in Germany to France. We sat and talked to them for a couple of hours and after a few pints (we will leave it at that) Dave was starting to loosen up a little. We headed back to the hostel, chatted for a bit (thats when I found out Dave was in school to become a youth pastor, and I had a hand in corrupting the poor guy) and we headed off to bed!
The next moring I woke up late, really late! I only wanted to do a few things so here was the game plan!
1. Climb to the top of the bell tower
2. See the Famous Sculture by Michelangeo, Madona and Child
3. Put my hand on the blood of christ
So there I was climbing what felt like my 100th spiral stair case to the top of the Bell tower in the center square. Climbing the stiair case on a regular day is tough enough, but hung over is not the way to go. You get really dizzy really quickly. I always hate the climb but the views from the top are just not the same as from the ground. I headed back down the 366 steps and was off to the little statue.
I was pretty unimpressed but still it was worth the picture. I caught just the tail end of a free Choir concert in the Cathedral so that was nice. I then ran off to touch the blood because I knew that it was going to but ways in a few short minutes. When I arrived at the cathedral I thought you could go up and lay your hands on it and then move on. Unfortually, it was at the front alter with the preist and one by one people were going up and praying as they touched the priceless atrifact. I felt like an idiot because there I was in ratty old pants, and backpack and everyone else was there to actually worship the blood. On top of all that my Catholic prayers are really rusty and close to non existant. As I got the courage to go up and lay my hands on it I got this surge of comfort. It was really cool. I touched the small vile and prayed (Iīll keep what I prayed about to myself but looking back now it should have been about getting a good bike for the next day) I left the alter and exited out of the cathedral. A very small act but rather cool.
I headed to the grocery store and picked up some food and headed to the park, totally forgetting about Dave and not thinking that he might want to join me, oh well the guy has to learn independance. Cheese, crachers, and beer, Dinner of Champions. Wandered the streets for a bit and headed back to the hostel where I found Dave reading and hungry! I told him where the suppermarket was, Iīm still a nice guy!
The next day is history, literally, and you have already read about that ..............
