Bruges is a very pretty, very old town. It was important early on, then its fortunes declined, saving all the pretty old buildings from redevelopment. It also survived WWI and WWII, probably because there is no industry there except tourism.
We found it to be oddly laid out. Because we are Modern Dorks, we downloaded apps instead of maps and guidebooks. They were all crap. So by the time found the tourist office and a proper map and obtained .50 euro pieces for the toilets, 2 hours had passed. Then, by the end of lunch, (Moules Frites and local beer for the COG, Lamb Carbonnade and local beer for me) 3 hours had passed.
Notice the excellent dragon park benches.
The Tourists - we were tourists, of course, but there were so many tourists. And it's not even high season. There did not seem to be any business in Bruges except tourism. Which always feels a little odd. Like Disney World, only without cartoon characters to pose with.
There were other things to pose with, of course. Like Living Statues of Gargoyles.
and
But mostly it was just pretty.
There's a horse drawn carriage at the back of this street. There are many of these and you can hear them coming by the soft clop clop of the hooves. To keep the streets clean, the horses wear a kind of chute under their backsides, with a hefty container attached.
As always, check the COG's blog for better pictures.
5 comments:
Bruges IS a very pretty town, I agree. Its architecture is so northern!
I'm surprised that it was so crowded with tourists in late October! I wonder what the experience would be if you stayed in the heart of Bruges for two nights so you had time to visit the museums. It strikes me as a nice place to wake up.
I loved Bruges, but that was back in 1983. I don't remember too many tourists, and we were there high season. We stayed in one of those hotels overlooking the water, even tho we were poor tourists.
Lovely town.
Oops I meant poor students. Tourists, too, of course.
I loved Bruges, but that was back in 1983. I don't remember too many tourists, and we were there high season. We stayed in one of those hotels overlooking the water, even tho we were poor tourists.
Lovely town.
The COG and I thought it might be like Mont St. Michel, where there are tour groups whizzing round by day, but more quiet and peaceful in the evening and morning.
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