Blaney Travel Log: Brugge

Our living room

We got off the train in Brugge and during our 10 minute walk to our rented house we couldn't help but notice that our bags don't roll very well on cobblestone roads. We have since learned that ALL the roads are narrow and cobblestone. Kathleen wrote this real life tweet about her walk to our rental home: "I am a tired New Yorker facing an existential crisis about my career. I was just dragging my roller board suitcase down a cobblestone road in Bruges and had to pull off to the side of the road to let a horse drawn carriage pass. If Hallmark has taught me anything, it is that I will be a princess by Christmas."

I said earlier that we were trying to play into the

Steps in Brugge

stereotypes of the countries we visit. Brugge is about as old world as one can find. The streets, the architecture, everything seems not to have changed for hundreds of years. Even the house we are staying is a small three story house with a fireplace in the parlor/sitting room/dining room. I'll try to include photos.

Chocolate is everywhere

One in five shops seem to be chocolate shops. One in ten seem to be Christmas shops. Over the streets are Christmas lights. In one of the two town squares a Christmas market opens today. In the center of the other town square is the huge village Christmas tree which will be lit tonight.

In Paris, we learned of Pere Noel

Canal in Brugge

(Father Christmas). In Belgium the children anxiously await Sinterklass who comes each year on December 6th. He comes from Spain and gives sweets and small toys to all the good children children. Sinterklass rides on a white horse and is accompanied by his sidekick, Black Peter.

On Christmas children get gifts under the Christmas tree but this is not the same everywhere. In some families, they buy gifts for each other and put them under the tree. It is not Santa or SinterKlass that brings the gifts.

Belgium has three official languages, French, German and Dutch and we speak none of them. However, it does seem like if you may an effort, your effort is rewarded by kindness and English.