I was surprised to see that Bruges, Belgium is not a listed city on weather.com. I found out why when I entered the city. Apparently we are the ONLY country that calls it Bruges. Nearly everyone else in the world calls it Brugge. And oh MAN you should hear Flemish people say the world Brugge. I swear it is the most hideous sound you'll hear. Something along the lines of: "bbbbbrrrRRuuUUuuuggggTTTHHHHHHE"
But for a city with an ugly name, it sure was pretty. The city was very unassuming. It just sat there, waiting to be noticed. It has canals all over the place, lots of forests, and (just like the rest of Europe) old buildings! Europeans must think that Americans are obsessed with old buildings. Tour guides are always like: "This structure was built in the 16th century" and every American tourist trips over themselves scrambling for their camera to take a picture of a 500 year old outhouse. Myself included.
Without fail, I get home, check my camera, and find 50 pictures of old outhouses and ancient benches. I never learn.
My list of Brugge adventures
1) Tricked into eating at a super expensive restaurant (I don't want to get into it...)
I had Flemish beefsteak. I think. I can't really remember what it was. But it was delicious. The two Spanish women next to me asked what I was eating and I couldn't remember how to say "beef" so I said "cow meat." They then smiled uncomfortably and turned around. 10 years of my life studying Spanish WELL SPENT.
2) Wandered into a nunnery
Really. We can't read Flemish so we just walked into this area. The signs started to say "quiet please" and "no photos" and then one said "please respect the nuns" and we started to get the picture. But by then we were standing in the middle of their courtyard. I wish I were joking. They actually had a really interesting museum that we toured. That's where I found this little gem.
AVERT YOUR EYES! HE'S PEERING INTO MY SOUL. Anywho, Benguine nuns are crazy. Honestly the whole place felt like an M.Night Shyamalan movie. And also slightly haunted.
3) Bruges boat tour!
These were everywhere. And as soon as we entered the boat, we realized that we were the only people in the boat under the age of 55. Then we looked around on land, and we were also the only people in the area under 55. Then we stepped back and realized that we were the only people IN BRUGES under the age of 55.
I exaggerate. But only slightly.
The boat tour was very interesting. It was translated in Dutch, then English, then German. (side note: Flemish=Dutch. But don't tell that to the "Flemish" people in Belgium. They'll get offended. In loose terms, Dutch-speakers in Belgium are Flemish. Dutch speakers in Netherlands are Dutch. It gets confusing). We saw the Belfry, which is apparently very famous, especially for its appearance in the movie "In Bruges." Which I never saw. But here it is!
It was also cool because there were swans all over the place, and they were so used to the boats that they just floated alongside us as we moved.
4) Carriage Rides
Not everyone knows this, but I am strongly against carriage rides. They are not romantic. They are a 20 minute forced horse-butt exhibition. And the whole time all you smell is horse poo. And 5-year olds on Razor scooters are moving faster than you. And you're forced to make small-talk with the carriage conductors (drivers? operator?) who are NEVER normal. When you get on a bus, are you forced to talk to the driver? What about train conductors? I'm just saying.
SHMANYWAY. Carriage rides. They're all the rage in Bruges. I flat out refused even though my traveling buddy was totally up for it. But this water trough was just awesome.
The drivers go to it, fill up their water bucket from the horse's mouth, and give it to their horse. While one driver was filling up a bucket, the man next to me reached out to pet the horse. The horse driver then shouted, "Sir! You touch my horse, I touch your wife." Then horse-petter then slowly backed away.
We did a lot of walking around, general touring, and some pastry eating. But it was just a day-trip, so we didn't have time for everything. All in all, beautiful city. I would definitely go back.
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