Bruges, Belgium

                                                                                     BRUGES, BELGIUM

How does one spell euphoria? C...h...o...c...o...l...a...t...e! Belgium Chocolate! And if you were to ask Sam, it would be B-e-l-g-i-u-m B-e-e-r-s! Chocolate and world famous beers in the midst of a mid-evil village paved with cobbles, architecturally quaint buildings, lazy canals, bicycle transportation, and friendly people makes for a very relaxing R&R! Bruges is located in Flanders---an A-HA moment for me as the words to a long-ago memorized poem crystallized in the reality of time and place! In Flanders Fields! I AM HERE ! Awesome and sobering feeling. In Flander's Fields is a WWI poem describing the terrible battle in Ypres in1915. Growing up, I got to go to the VFW with my grandmother. (She sometimes played the piano for them.) Always, on the counter was a red, white, and blue cardboard display of paper poppies. You could buy them for a dime or a quarter. When you removed the poppy, the cardboard slit the poppy sat in would hold the quarter. Ten years ago, when we went to Europe, we found the fields covered with poppies--and the light bulb came on as to why the Veterans would be selling paper poppies! Again, I was awed by the sacrifice of our forefathers when I stood in Flander's county and the resurrected poem came up from the depths of my memory! (Isn't it amazing what we can pull up from our memories...and we can't remember what we wore yesterday!)

 Sam and I took the train from Amsterdam through many tulip fields to Bruges. Our hotel was a family owned B&B full of antiques and nicely decorated. I was amazed at the number of bicycles in Bruges and Holland as well! We rented bikes one day and rode along the canal out of town to a nearby village called Damme. We rode past fishermen, fields dotted with cows, and windmills into this 16th century village paved with cobblestones. An old church yard holds an unusual sculpture. A couple of small outdoor restuarants, a bookstore, and a souvenir shop seemed to be all that were open.

Another day our walking tour took us into several grand old builidings-a courthouse, a church, a brewery and a monastery. We passed countless chocolatiers, waffle stands, and shops selling lace and pubs selling beer. One boasted over 400 kinds of beer! Each Belgium Beer has its own trademark glass it is served in. Some are quite interesting!

We enjoyed some of the towns sights via horse-drawn carriage and some via canal boats. The weather was perfect; a little cool, but with a jacket-nice! We ate good food, drank great coffee (each time it was served with a little piece of chocolate or a chocolate-clad cookie).Wednesdays is market day in the square in Bruges. The square was transformed by flowers, plants, veggie stalls and fruit vendors! Portable trailers sold meats and cheeses. We had a great time wandering up and down the aisles enjoying the aromas and beautiful colors! I did not realize it, but the french fry really originated in Belgium! They are served everywhere!!!
Our time in Bruges came to an end all too soon for me. This is one place I would love to go back to.