Bruges, Belgium

On our first Tuesday in Arras we took a bus to Bruges in Belgium, which was about two hours away. From where we were dropped off it’s a beautiful entry into the city as you cross the first canal and approach the centre. This trip we made a little side tour through a ‘beguinage’ which is a community of religious sisters that dates from the 1500s. Then we proceeded to the city centre, walking along the banks of the canals. In Bruges there are 12 kilometres of canals, reduced from 20, and no private boats are allowed, only tour boats. We all piled into a long narrow boat and had a lovely tour up and down the canals. Our guide was quite a character, keeping us amused in English, French and Flemish. In fact, as we boarded and told him we were Victorian, he asked if we knew Bells Beach. I was surprised to hear that there were 120,00 people in Bruges with 20,000 of them in the city centre, considering that the area is so quaint and old, with cobblestones and 16^th century architecture everywhere. After our boat trip we walked to the magnificent town square, a real focal point for Bruges. Some of the local delights you might sample could be chocolate or beer, but my favourite was the gaufre, or waffle. I was a bit skeptical about 6.5 Euros  for a gaufre with chantilly (whipped cream) and fraises (strawberries), but it was amazing! The students had a great day – and nearly everyone had a kip on the way back…..