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Brugge (Bruges)

"The beautiful is less what one sees than what one dreams." - Belgian proverb

Imagine the charms and cobble-stoned streets of Heidelberg and the Dutch flair of Amsterdam merged together in one compact city. What do you get? Brugge (Bruges)! It's a wonderful city, although very touristy. You can't walk by the Markt without being in the angle of someone else's camera. You can't wander by for five minutes downtown without running into some shop selling laces or chocolates, or cheap postcards... when the beautiful view of the city is not downright postcard material! Leave the touristy area and you find windmills, parks where lovers kiss passionately and teenagers pester ducks (hello, avian flu!). I could have done without the rainy weather!

Running tour - After I checked in at my hotel, I got out and immediately, I saw this at the Markt. The same runners I ran into while leaving the train station were being greeted with cheers, joyful band music... and flying glasses of water. Within an hour, everything (and I mean everything) was cleared. Stadthuis (City Hall) - Solo posing proudly in front of this landmark. Same place as the previous picture, one hour later. The line-up you see behind are people waiting to take a two-minute carriage tour around the Markt. Statue - Me posing in front of a statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck at the Markt. They were two leaders of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. Canal - I don't know what I could write or say that would enhance the beauty of this picture. So, just contemplate! Sint-Janshuismolen (Windmill) - Me trying to look sexy on this picture that proves that no, windmills are not only present in the rural Netherlands, but also right outside the touristy areas in Bruges. This windmill is still in use today and, as you approach it, the smell of flour is very present! Minnewater (Lake of Love) - I love swans. And fortunately, I found many in this beautiful park, with a not-so-beautiful story of being a former ammo dump. Tulips - In the vicinity of the Minnewater, I couldn't resist the temptation of trying out my camera's macro photography function. And then the rain came. Under the umbrella - The rain didn't stop me from taking a boat trip through the canal, with a great guide who spoke very good English and a little bit of Spanish, as on the boat were also two women from the USA and a couple of Ecuadorians. Canal - Only on a boat could you take pictures this low. Thanks Doug for the great suggestion of taking a canal boat trip. I had a lot of fun! Tintin-like models - Is it me, or Tintin (the comic strip character) even has an influence on models in small clothesshops? Mailbox - Another addition to the mailbox saga, this time at t'Zand, which was converted into an amusement park for the week-end. Bruges being such a touristy area, there are many maps like these around. Belfort at night - One of the landmarks of the city is the Belfort (Belfry). This is, unfortunately, the best picture I have of the Belfort. Top of the Belfort - On my last morning in Bruges, I climbed the 360+ stairs up the Belfort, pushed that door (indicating I was the first to do so that day) and enjoyed the view. On your left, you have the Sint-Salvator Cathedral. Hotel Nicolas - A nice, although small room at an amazing location (just two minutes walking distance from the Markt) at an amazingly low 50.00 EUR per night, breakfast and friendly staff included. I recommend it! No TV, but with a city this beautiful, who needs a TV? Special thanks to Jordan for finding this place.

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© 2006, Sergio Ortega. Last update: 2006/06/24.
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