Beautiful Bruges"It’s a fairytale town, isn’t it?" quote from the film In Bruges.
Bruges is a fairytale town complete with cobblestone streets, beautiful bridges, and houses that seem to have arrived directly from a child's storybook. The bridges exist troll-free and none of the houses are made of gingerbread or have small children cooking in their ovens. It seems to be a perfect medieval town, complete with swans swimming in formation down clear waterways reflecting the town's beautiful architecture. |
A Taste of BelgiumBruges was a treat for the eyes and the palate. It was the perfect city for strolling, as we enjoyed views of tree lined canals reflecting the images of 12th century cottages. Our guide, Danielle, taught us to "read" the ages of buildings by noting the elaborate brick patterns on their facades, and pointed out a multitude of Madonnas adorning street corners. (Apparently, the city would pay to put up a streetlight to illuminate each Madonna, making these lovely statues a wise investment.) But the real highlight of the tour was stopping by small chocolatiers to learn about Belgium's tradition of making the world's sweetest, tastiest chocolates. We tried creamy truffles made primarily of cocoa butter, nut-filled pralines, and the richest hot chocolate we've ever had.
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Who wants to be a carillon-aire?
Unlike the popular game show on television, which dares to ask the question "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the first question on the application for those desiring to be the city's carillon-aire must be the most difficult. For those wishing to play the city's famous Dumery carillon, the first question must be "Can you climb the 366 steps to the top of the belfry?" Once past the initial test, musical expertise comes into play. The perks of the job are amazing and include playing the 47 antique bells in the belfry, having command over the nine ton cylinder of the mechanical carillon, and a view from your office window that trumps anyone in town.
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A Climb... a brew...
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The wind in our hair and
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Picks of the Litter
Find of the day:
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Best dessert of the entire trip:
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Photo of the day:
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