Brugge

Trip Start May 20, 2008
1
54
73
Trip End Sep 15, 2008


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Flag of Belgium  , West Flanders,
Thursday, August 21, 2008

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16th c. mathematician and engineer gets statue 16th c. mathematician and engineer gets statue 1959 movie The Nun's Story is set entirely in town 1959 movie The Nun's Story is set entirely in town 4 of the original 1403 gate houses to town remain 4 of the original 1403 gate houses to town remain 400 ft. spire of Church of our Lady photogenic 400 ft. spire of Church of our Lady photogenic
Again no hotels along beach;sit well back of dunes Again no hotels along beach;sit well back of dunes Almost all old buildings in Brugge made of brick Almost all old buildings in Brugge made of brick Another of the original 1403 gates to the city Another of the original 1403 gates to the city As usual there was plenty of rain during visit As usual there was plenty of rain during visit
At times canals resembled the Katy Freeway At times canals resembled the Katy Freeway Back patios nicely decorated along canals Back patios nicely decorated along canals Basilica of the Holy Blood completed in 1149 Basilica of the Holy Blood completed in 1149 Beautiful Stadschouwburg is one of many theaters Beautiful Stadschouwburg is one of many theaters
Beguinage-medieval womens movement,vow of poverty Beguinage-medieval womens movement,vow of poverty Belfry carillon 47 bells;employs full-time ringer Belfry carillon 47 bells;employs full-time ringer Belfry dates from 13th c.-separate UNESCO listing Belfry dates from 13th c.-separate UNESCO listing Belgian waffles served hot and fresh all day Belgian waffles served hot and fresh all day
Bernie has nice restaurant and tea room in town Bernie has nice restaurant and tea room in town Bikes extremely popular w/designated lanes Bikes extremely popular w/designated lanes Bobby wisely recommended Brugge Bobby wisely recommended Brugge Brugge escaped the world wars largely undamaged Brugge escaped the world wars largely undamaged
Brugge even has a French Fry Museum! Brugge even has a French Fry Museum! Brugge got city charter in 1128 Brugge got city charter in 1128 Brugge historic center-UNESCO World Heritage Site Brugge historic center-UNESCO World Heritage Site Brugge is a very serene, tranquil town Brugge is a very serene, tranquil town
Brugge is home to the College of Europe Brugge is home to the College of Europe Brugge much better than Ghent about having benches Brugge much better than Ghent about having benches Brugge printed first ever book in English Brugge printed first ever book in English Brugge reached commercial pinnacle in 14th&15th c. Brugge reached commercial pinnacle in 14th&15th c.
Brugge's grand town hall dates from 1376 Brugge's grand town hall dates from 1376 Built between 13th&19th c. town had 20 windmills Built between 13th&19th c. town had 20 windmills Burg Square was the original heart of town Burg Square was the original heart of town Busy port since town only 15 km from North Sea Busy port since town only 15 km from North Sea
Cafes show popular step-gabled facades Cafes show popular step-gabled facades Can't figure out purpose for Toyo Ito Pavilion Can't figure out purpose for Toyo Ito Pavilion Canal tour made buildings seem even larger Canal tour made buildings seem even larger Canals in town limited to only 20 tour boats Canals in town limited to only 20 tour boats
Chuck has some famous relatives in Brugge Chuck has some famous relatives in Brugge Church of our Lady easily stands over town Church of our Lady easily stands over town Church of our Lady Gothic facade dominates skyline Church of our Lady Gothic facade dominates skyline Church of our Lady had beautiful stained glass Church of our Lady had beautiful stained glass
Church of our Lady started in 1220, finished 1350 Church of our Lady started in 1220, finished 1350 Climbed 366 spiral steps of Belfort first thing Climbed 366 spiral steps of Belfort first thing Concerts often held in busy Market Square Concerts often held in busy Market Square Controversial new concert hall attracts big names Controversial new concert hall attracts big names
Cool&windy conditions limited crowd at Ostend Cool&windy conditions limited crowd at Ostend Costs $1.35 to send a postcard to the US Costs $1.35 to send a postcard to the US Ducks had nicely decorated back stoop Ducks had nicely decorated back stoop Easy to do lots of walking in Brugge Easy to do lots of walking in Brugge
Easy to find lace but forget finding an ATM Easy to find lace but forget finding an ATM Even bicycle parking garages have multiple stories Even bicycle parking garages have multiple stories Famous Flemish painter from 15th c. lived in town Famous Flemish painter from 15th c. lived in town Finding a public toilet was next to impossible Finding a public toilet was next to impossible
First canal view walking into town from train stn First canal view walking into town from train stn First time I've seen live hens&chickens at market First time I've seen live hens&chickens at market Foreigners make up 3.5% of town population Foreigners make up 3.5% of town population Fruit always looks so good at local markets Fruit always looks so good at local markets
Great to see that bicycle locks aren't required Great to see that bicycle locks aren't required Great, wide sandy beach in Ostend;need warm sun Great, wide sandy beach in Ostend;need warm sun Greenbelt typically just inside canals&ring road Greenbelt typically just inside canals&ring road Gruuthuse Museum showed lives of wealthy Gruuthuse Museum showed lives of wealthy
Had very nice hotel room, just not close to town Had very nice hotel room, just not close to town Hard to find an Internet cafe in town Hard to find an Internet cafe in town Hear American music played everywhere Hear American music played everywhere Helpful when buildings had birth year on facade Helpful when buildings had birth year on facade
Home prices in Brugge are stratospheric Home prices in Brugge are stratospheric Home to Bourse, worlds first stock exchange 14thc Home to Bourse, worlds first stock exchange 14thc Horse-drawn carriages popular means of transport Horse-drawn carriages popular means of transport Hotel is 7€ cab fare each way to town center Hotel is 7€ cab fare each way to town center
Hotels are supposed to be entirely non-smoking Hotels are supposed to be entirely non-smoking Hundreds of swans&ducks protected in this area Hundreds of swans&ducks protected in this area I think breakwaters are to prevent beach erosion I think breakwaters are to prevent beach erosion Lamp Museum houses largest collection in world Lamp Museum houses largest collection in world
Like every European market, tons of flowers Like every European market, tons of flowers Like many cities now, Brugge has chocolate museum Like many cities now, Brugge has chocolate museum Many buildings besides churches have spires Many buildings besides churches have spires Mark would have known the riders but not me Mark would have known the riders but not me
Market had every infomercial product for sale Market had every infomercial product for sale Market Square is heart and soul of Brugge Market Square is heart and soul of Brugge Mayo on French fries? Only David Heiland! Mayo on French fries? Only David Heiland! Mean annual income was $20k in 2003 Mean annual income was $20k in 2003
My favorite dog on a different day in his window My favorite dog on a different day in his window My guidebook didn't even mention many buildings My guidebook didn't even mention many buildings My hotel is 25 minute walk from edge of old town My hotel is 25 minute walk from edge of old town Name Brugge derives from 'landing place' in Norse Name Brugge derives from 'landing place' in Norse
Narrowest of dozens of canal bridges Narrowest of dozens of canal bridges Next door to hotel shows how far from town I am Next door to hotel shows how far from town I am Nice to have TV so I can watch some of Olympics Nice to have TV so I can watch some of Olympics None of the town bus lines goes close to my hotel None of the town bus lines goes close to my hotel
Old city gate at Kruisport were built in 1403 Old city gate at Kruisport were built in 1403 Old town Brugge has definite egg shape Old town Brugge has definite egg shape Oldest bridge in town dates from 1400s Oldest bridge in town dates from 1400s One of few remaining wood-fronted homes One of few remaining wood-fronted homes
One of several circles announcing UNESCO honor One of several circles announcing UNESCO honor Only 4 of the original 20 windmills remain Only 4 of the original 20 windmills remain Original gates to city also help limit car traffic Original gates to city also help limit car traffic Original lock house for town;canals are freshwater Original lock house for town;canals are freshwater
Ostend - largest town on Belgian coast Ostend - largest town on Belgian coast Ostend another day&still no sun,but windy Ostend another day&still no sun,but windy Ostend had wide variety of seashells Ostend had wide variety of seashells Ostend has done excellent job protecting dunes Ostend has done excellent job protecting dunes
Ostend is 20 minute train ride from Brugge Ostend is 20 minute train ride from Brugge Palace of Bruges Liberty now houses city archives Palace of Bruges Liberty now houses city archives Palace of Brugge Liberty built in 1525 Palace of Brugge Liberty built in 1525 Photos so much better had there been sunshine Photos so much better had there been sunshine
Plenty of Belgian chocolate but seldom a Coke Plenty of Belgian chocolate but seldom a Coke Plenty of great jogging paths around the town Plenty of great jogging paths around the town Poor photo of Michelangelo's Madonna&Child1504 Poor photo of Michelangelo's Madonna&Child1504 Pro cycling teams were staying at my hotel Pro cycling teams were staying at my hotel
Quintessential Brugges dish is mussels&chips/fries Quintessential Brugges dish is mussels&chips/fries Resting was easy to do after so much walking Resting was easy to do after so much walking Saturday market is big event, even in the rain Saturday market is big event, even in the rain Scenic view out my hotel window! Scenic view out my hotel window!
So many great photo ops throughout town So many great photo ops throughout town Sometimes long lines for canal boat tour Sometimes long lines for canal boat tour Sun comes out and everyone is happier! Sun comes out and everyone is happier! Sun finally came out in Ostend but still not warm Sun finally came out in Ostend but still not warm
Surrounding area is pasture and corn fields Surrounding area is pasture and corn fields Swans are symbol of Brugge;more than 100 Swans are symbol of Brugge;more than 100 Swans are wondering who locked them out Swans are wondering who locked them out Think locals are on holiday;much closed Think locals are on holiday;much closed
Think they overpaid for Toyo Ito Pavilion Think they overpaid for Toyo Ito Pavilion This dog had same spot every day watching tourists This dog had same spot every day watching tourists This little houses totally outshines its neighbors This little houses totally outshines its neighbors This swan is obviously yoga master:I'm envious! This swan is obviously yoga master:I'm envious!
Town canals handled some surprisingly large barges Town canals handled some surprisingly large barges Town designated European Capital of Culture 2002 Town designated European Capital of Culture 2002 Town is in Flanders, the Flemish part of Belgium Town is in Flanders, the Flemish part of Belgium Town magnet for painters and merchants in 15th c. Town magnet for painters and merchants in 15th c.
Town seemed very quiet;many stores closed Town seemed very quiet;many stores closed Town streets restricted to locals & public transit Town streets restricted to locals & public transit Unemployment rate was 7.4% on 1/1/2006 Unemployment rate was 7.4% on 1/1/2006 Unfortunately my hotel was not close to old town Unfortunately my hotel was not close to old town
Where was your country when this was built? Where was your country when this was built? Windows in this building are Murano glass Windows in this building are Murano glass Wonder how foundations to these houses are done Wonder how foundations to these houses are done Yachts line canal w/Ostend train station in back Yachts line canal w/Ostend train station in back
You'd never know Brugge had 125,000 people You'd never know Brugge had 125,000 people
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