Sampling Belgian chocolate in Bruges COMPLETED 6/2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Sampling Belgian chocolate in Bruges COMPLETED 6/2
Ok, it's about time to get this show on the road, as this was already nearly a week ago now... where does the time go?
Tuesday 20 May – part one: “next time ask, don’t point”
Dates: Tuesday 20 May Adventurers: Me, Cheryl and Debbie, Mark’s cousin Destinations: Bruges, Belgium Resorts: None Meets: None Celebration: Enjoying another day out together, this time in Belgium!
This trip came about as a result of the successful trip that Debbie and I made across the Channel to Calais and Boulogne-sur-mer in February. At the time, I said to Debbie we’d have to do it again, and we talked about going when the weather was warmer. On that February day, we were very lucky with the weather, and it was dry, and not overly cold, but we figured if we waited until a bit later in the year, the weather should be good. I suggested going to Bruges in Belgium, as I knew it was only just over an hour’s drive from Calais, and Debbie immediately agreed.
She doesn’t work on a Tuesday, so it was a case of me arranging a day off, then going ahead and booking the Eurotunnel to drive over. The first week of May was out, as we were away on leave, enjoying our adults only break away, and the last week of May was also out, as it was school holidays, and neither of us wanted to deal with that, plus the fares usually go up during school holidays. That left us with Tuesday 20 May, so I went ahead and booked it.
I asked Debbie if she was Ok with getting an earlier train over, and a later train back, and she was fine with that, so we were set on the 8:20am train out, and the 6:50pm train back. This will be important in due course…
Debbie was round at our house at 7:00am, as it’s about a half hour drive down to Folkestone where the Eurotunnel terminal is located. It was an easy enough run down, and we pulled up, and just as happened the last time we were here, the system recognised the car licence plate, and pulled up our details.
We had enough time to go into the terminal, so we went in and used the restrooms, which have apparently won national awards, and looking at them, you can see why!
When we came out, there was a group of school kids, and let’s just say they weren’t being quiet. Debbie and I both marvelled at the teachers, as it looked like they were going to be a handful. We both said we wouldn’t be keen on taking kids to another country for a day…
We headed back to the car, and I had to grab a photo of this, as I just love this!
We headed straight through passport control, and were waved through both the British and the French ones. They really didn’t seem to care at all. We were luckily picked out for a security check, but it was only a case of swabbing the steering wheel, doors and boot (trunk) of the car, then we were cleared and on our way.
We drove up and had a few minutes’ wait before we boarded. When we got to the platform, as usual, I asked for the downstairs by indicating, and the very rude member of staff yelled at me as I went past him “next time ask, don’t point”. Well, I would, except you were so busy talking to your mate, and you were positioned a bit further up the platform that I was trying to get your attention. I was not impressed by his attitude…
We didn’t let it bother us for long, as we were soon settled in, and on our way under the Channel. Debbie was happy, as she’d asked me to bring some scrapbooks along, so I bought all the ones from our Alaska cruise and national parks trip in 2011, a total of four scrapbooks. She got through most of the first one, and during the rest of the day, she made it through all of them. I must admit I enjoyed seeing them again, as I remembered how good the pages were and how creative I’ve been. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that.
When we got to Calais, the first port of call was Carrefour to get some diesel, as it’s so much cheaper over here. Instead of the £70 ($115) I pay at home to fill up, I only paid £49 ($80), so that was a huge saving!
As we were there, I decided we’d park up and pop into Carrefour, and get some of the wine I’m partial to ( Hazel for getting me into this!) and we headed straight there. I found the type I like straight away, but there were about six or seven different varieties. I could see the one I’ve got before on the shelf, but I couldn’t see any boxes of it, then a French woman came over and recommended another variety, so I put a couple of boxes in the trolley, and we headed out with those (having paid for them of course! )
We loaded up the car and set off, although getting out of the car park was interesting, as they were doing some work by the exit, and the workmen didn‘t seem that bothered that a car was trying to get past them, which made things interesting.
It was about 20 minutes into the drive I realised that I hadn’t actually got anymore scrapbooks out for Debbie to go through, so I wasn’t popular. I wasn’t about to stop either, as we’d had a non-stop stream of lorries up until now. I suspect that a freight train from the Eurotunnel had just arrived, probably along with a ferry, as I’ve never seen this many trucks on the road in short succession. It was literally just like one long procession of them, and as the road was only two lanes, they were taking up one, that only left one for the rest of us. I was very relieved when finally we were past them all and the traffic eased up.
Soon we were passing the border and were into Belgium, and as usually happens, I started to see cows almost immediately. Of course I couldn’t photograph them while I was driving, but I did acknowledge them all.
The drive to Bruges was very straightforward, once we were past all the lorries, although once we came off the motorway, it was interesting. They seemed to be doing a lot of work to the various roads, and at least twice I went round. First I saw a sign that said “K&R” and as I was looking for the park and ride car park, which would be labelled “P&R”, I assumed that the K was Flemish for the P, if that makes sense. Well, it wasn’t – it referred to kiss and ride, i.e. just dropping people off.
I managed to find my way into another car park, but a) there weren’t any spaces, and b) the barrier was up when we drove in, so it wasn’t giving out tickets, as they were doing work on it. However, as we said, if they finished that work, then we could be in trouble when we came to leave the car park, as it was under barrier control, and without a ticket, we might not be able to get out.
Finally, I spotted some bits that seemed familiar from the last time I came here with Mark two years ago (where does the time go? ) and sure enough, I’d found the car park at the main station that I’d actually been looking for, so we headed in there. It’s only €3.50 ($5) for the whole day, which I think is excellent value. There were no spaces on the ground level, but I quickly found a space on the upper level. I lathered up with sun tan lotion, as it was in the mid 70s and pretty warm, then we headed off.
I got some photos of the station and the area around it…
Great start to your Belgian chocolate day! I have taken scrapbooks before to help others pass the time, and like you, I'm always amazed when I look back at what I've done. I think sometimes in the process, it's easy to miss for yourself what great work you are doing.
Tuesday 20 May – part two: we’ve got to get one of those!
It’s about a 15 minute walk to the centre of Bruges from here, and it was a very pleasant walk. We stopped to get some photos of each other here…
Then we had a choice of walking along the riverside…
….or taking the road straight ahead….
We opted for the latter, saying that we’d walk back along the river. It was a lovely route…
… except for the work they were carrying out in one road. What is it with Bruges and roadworks at the moment? Neither of us could believe how disruptive this work was in a residential area. If you look carefully, you’ll see some properties have ramps into them, but others don’t. I hope the ones without aren’t occupied, otherwise I’m not sure how you get into your house.
The first major sight we found was St. Salvatorkathedral, which was first built as a parish church between the 12th and 15th centuries, perhaps explaining why it doesn’t really look like a cathedral. It became the city’s cathedral in 1834, after the previous cathedral, which had been in the Burg (you’ll learn all about that in due course) was destroyed by the French army. As you can see, this was just beautiful.
As you can see, it’s in a beautiful square…
Nearby was what looked like a fast food van that you’d maybe find at the fair, only this one was selling waffles. Well, of course we had to get one! Now the big decision was what the heck to get… honestly they had so many different options.
Finally, after much soul searching, we went for the waffle coated in chocolate, with whipped cream and strawberries on top.
Oh wow, this tasted as good as it looked! Debbie and I were both very concerned about the mess we were going to make with it, as I was wearing light coloured crops, and Debbie had a white top oon. Somehow though, we both made it through the entire thing with no incident, which we were both very impressed with!
All fuelled up again, we carried on walking along one of Bruges’ main shopping streets. The architecture was just beautiful here. I love the style of the houses here. You only ever see them in Belgium or in parts of Germany. No-one else seems to have adopted them, which makes them very unique.
Signing on! I have such good memories of a trip to Bruges about 15 years ago. Keep saying I must get back there. One day... And until then I'll live vicariously through your trips!
Signing on! I have such good memories of a trip to Bruges about 15 years ago. Keep saying I must get back there. One day... And until then I'll live vicariously through your trips!
It is a wonderful place. If you make it back there, do let us know - we can always pop over to see you!
Gorgeous day! I was there in January, so quite different weather. The waffle choices all looked great, although I love mine just plain (only in Belgium, or Denmark, though!).
Gorgeous day! I was there in January, so quite different weather. The waffle choices all looked great, although I love mine just plain (only in Belgium, or Denmark, though!).
I can imagine! We were there in March a couple of years ago and we really lucked out with fairly warm weather. It does make a difference, especially as it's such a beautiful city and it's lovely to just walk around it.
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Well, I would, except you were so busy talking to your mate, and you were positioned a bit further up the platform that I was trying to get your attention. 
I was not impressed by his attitude… 
Hazel for getting me into this!) and we headed straight there. I found the type I like straight away, but there were about six or seven different varieties. I could see the one I’ve got before on the shelf, but I couldn’t see any boxes of it, then a French woman came over and recommended another variety, so I put a couple of boxes in the trolley, and we headed out with those (having paid for them of course! 
) 
Well, it wasn’t – it referred to kiss and ride, i.e. just dropping people off. 
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Bruges is such a beautiful city! Love the waffle! 
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