December 2021, all booked up and ready for a train journey from Newcastle upon Tyne UK to Bruges Belgium. Three nights away in beautiful old city.
March 2022, our changed arrangements go ahead. On a train leaving a little later in the morning from Newcastle than we would like, but all in hand.
The trip to London is on a new Azuma train. All is on time despite stops in Durham, Darlington, Northallerton, York, Doncaster, Newark, Peterborough before our arrival at Kings Cross.
The final leg. Id cancelled our tickets from Brussels to Bruges because the previously made timings were out of kilter with our change arrangements, but we realise now that this was unnecessary, as it clear now that tickets are open for a 24hour period, (something not apparent on Trainline info).
A bonus! The tickets are a quarter of the price when bought at a station machine (and in addition, all tickets include a return trip if within 24
hours....). Armed with these we board a train earlier than expected and gain a few minutes upon our arrival time in Bruges.
A ten minute walk from Bruges Station along a canal path brings us to Les Invits B n B. A very attractive place. Smart renovation and posh fittings abound. Bart is our host and nothing is too much to ask.
We set off for some restauration. De Gastro is but after a long day reaching it seems a walk too far. Finally installed at a table we take a sigh of relief, one local beer (Du de Bourgognes) and a red wine (pinot noir). M finishes garlic prawns with relish, I try a Flemish beef pot with chips and salad. All good. The view across the road is the postcard canal shot of Bruges, the Rozehoedkaai and the Belfry illuminated and repeated as a reflection in the water.
After nourishment, the walk back seems less far (despite an erroneous shortcut chosen by my good self).
yoghurt, pastries, fresh bread, orange juice, a Belgian chocolate, coffee and a view on to a courtyard space with small pool.
We decide to take Walk Tour 1 from Guidebook 1. Armed with brollies we start up our street, Katelijnestraat, take a right at The Church of Our Lady, past the Gruuthuse Museum, along Dijver by the canal over the Blezekstraat Bridge under the arch way of the gold encrusted City Hall through the Burg and up to the Market Square with its bell tower, cafs, attendant wet and cyclists on vlocipedes of numerous designs and colours.
The sun remains cach but the sky lightens a little and we head west along the main shopping street, Steenstraat. Best shopping find is bijou Dutch kitchen utensil shop called Dille et Kamille. Like a mini HABITAT, it contains charming, understated and useful fayre. We buy easter presents in felt and beechwood, two drinking glasses and have to restrain ourselves from taking on much more cargo to the suitcases home.
Then to the Concert Centre. Its a twenty year old brick building. More elegant in form than you would describe as Brutalist, but its certainly the most modern looking edifice in all of central Bruges that weve seen, and it stands out.
The tourist information guy within is incredibly open and able Everyone here makes an attempt to tune in to their clients language then converse in it. He researches what live music is available on the two remaining nights we are around.
Theres a radio choir singing arrangements of popular song, or a celebration of the building in contemporary dance on the following night. The second option sounds a bit more original so we opt for that and buy a couple of tickets.
The geographical egg that is ancient Bruges, an oval shaped island, is bordered by canals within a marsh that leads up to the sea coast in the north. A footpath the canal, and we follow the nearest from the Concerthall heading south before turning left to graze the Minnewater or ‘Lovers Lake, a broad rectangular stretch of water off the peripheral canal on the way to the Begijnhof.
This Beguinage, is a green square enclosed by whitewashed housing and a church.
