A Trip to Bruges
It was the movie "In Bruges," made in 2008 with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, that prompted us to say, “Let’s go there some day.”
The last leg of a three-week trip, we opted for two days of rest and relaxation in Bruges (also known as Brugge), taking a one-hour train ride from Brussels. Locals understand French but are offended when tourists assume that their native language is French; it is actually Flemish/Dutch. (We were advised to stick to English.)
We stayed at Hotel Van Cleef, a lovely 16-room boutique property right on the water at the edge of town. This photo was shot from our two-story guestroom on the top floor. Swans, by the way, are an integral part of the Bruges canal scene. Protected and cared for by the city, they number around 250.
We met Andy McSweeney, a local photographer, and joined him for a tour, which was a great way to see the city and capture some of its distinctive details while avoiding the most crowded and touristy places. He even brought a folding bike for Jana to ride along as we walked and photographed.
An hour later (after this morning shot was taken), this marketplace and row of restaurants will be mobbed. One of the local favorite foods you'll find on menus, French fries, or ‘frites’, with mayonnaise have their own Frietmuseum! I sampled a Belgian waffle with milk chocolate AND dark chocolate at Chez Albert; but, sadly, many of the chocolates sold in Bruges are not even made in Belgium.
Despite being occupied by the Germans in both world wars, the city was spared destruction. With its sheer volume of canals – and over 80 bridges – Bruges is known as the ‘Venice of the North.’
Can it get any more picturesque than this?
Stepped gable parapets are emblematic of Bruges’ 12th-century architecture. It is said that the greater the number of steps, the greater the wealth of the building’s owner. (It also served a practical function as the way a chimney sweep reached the top of the roof.)
The Basilica of the Holy Blood houses a vial believed to hold cloth stained with the blood of Jesus.
Bruges crafts some of the most luxurious lace in the world. Beware of fakes made in China.
Sint-Janshuismill windmill was built in 1770, and is the oldest windmill in Bruges.
While we're into moody black+white shots, I'll close with one of my favorites.