Translation from Dutch into English with GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Friday, August 7

We have a brave attempt at a quarter to nine to leave for our weekend trip to Bruges. Did not work out after we went, we learned that we pin the PIN of the credit card with us. I did not have more in my head since we have a new since the last stolen in Lisbon. And pay in Belgium without the PIN would not just once, difficult as the hotel must be settled. So back home, PIN and still looked at ten past nine on the road. The trip was boring, many motorway. In Bruges, we have arrived here looking for a parking garage that we had chosen was full. Is preferable a TomTom in the car. About a quarter to twelve we have the car parked in a side street at Montovani hotel, our home for the next two nights. We are not in check but first went downtown, that was five minutes away, and of course we had specially selected. Coffee on an (expensive) terrace on the market, they do not have sandwiches on a terrace, only full meals. Because we do not feel we had a loaf in a sandwich shop where many good sandwiches were sold. Half past one we went to check, it's been a nice hotel and a good room with everything working. So fine. We have to celebrate a beer made in the courtyard of the hotel. That was not very cheap, a Grimbergen Double cost € 5.50. After we brought the car to the garage, where he would be fine the next day. Parking is not very expensive: € 7.80 per 24 hours. From the car park we went walking, first to the tourist office, but it was so busy that we have only beaten. We came first along the St. John's Church, along with the Our Lady graveyard with tombstones and stations. Our Lady church has a statue of Michael Angelo as a showpiece. While hiking we arrived at the Half Moon brewery visit, and when we once were but we did like a beer. Then we visited the Beguine, there were just house in the museum. It was nice to see, so therefore the nuns lived in the court. When the house was closed and we had to leave so we had a nice walk along the lake and love the friendly park. It was very busy at the Boniface Bridge, where a photo session and bride was and a very large group of young Italians put the matter on stilts. Fortunately, just a lot of noise and laughter, and not aggressive. I got some trouble with my stomach and have a bakery with a small ham sandwich met, so that was quickly resolved. Very easily we went back to the hotel to give us some to freshen up and change clothes. On the heels of the city for dinner. Excellent dinner at one of the many restaurants, menus with wine bottle there, nothing wrong with that. After having walked around we passed a pub specializing in many Belgian beers. Cambrinus is the name of a tent where they have more than 400 different species, each with their own glass. So hard to choose. Piet took a beer of the month, one of 10%, not so sick. I took only a Bruges Zot, the few minutes to think of wine with dinner. When I took a second Slaapmutske, Piet could not choose and did the same as the first. But he wanted to swap, so I'll have a beer by 10%, well. To conclude, we have taken a Grimbergen in the hotel and then go to sleep.


Saturday, August 8

Clock to expire, it's like vacation. Very easily, we showered and had breakfast. The breakfast was as good as the rest of the hotel, so good. Then we went via a different route went downtown. I have just bought water at the statue of Jan van Eyck. We went to the Belfry tower run from there because you have a nice view over the city. But it was so crowded that there was a long line for the climb. As Piet already in his back, and the low guards would not let it recover, and because I did not feel like waiting breathlessly for a tower to arrive, but we're not going to wait. Finally, there is plenty to see and do in Bruges without you all can see from above also. We went to a boarding point for a cruise on the canals. We have first taken a look coffee, good spot in the Sun We have a lot of luck with the weather, they had announced a lot of rain, but for now there was at that time not a drop fell, and the sun was shining very regular. The trip was fine, with commentary in four languages, so we could take our time to look around without ever having to listen. Nice! Through the Castle where we wanted to visit the Holy Blood Church (which was unfortunately closed), we have removed a sandwich for lunch. Pete was not hungry, so one was enough. We would go visit the brewery (not just the terrace, the brewery itself but ok) and there through the courtyard of the museum Gruuthuse have gone. We have a very nice tour, led by Andre had. He told a lot, and certainly with a lot of humor. When the tour was a voucher for a consumer for a beer included, but it was very nice weather on the terrace. As a result, we did three beers, we were finally on our rest. Another bottle Bruges Zot Ronald (25 years at the TU / e, so a party in the PVOC) and bought myself a glass and then walked back to the hotel. Along the way we have just pinned on the market. That was a bit difficult because the sun was right on, and you actually know what you did was blind. It all ended well. Stay in the hotel bath, changed my clothes and walked back into town. Is not it great when you walk five minutes from downtown hotel you have. I would like eel in green dinner that night, so looking for a restaurant that had stood on the card. The first restaurant was not what we do so again risen. This is not like Piet, but this time I dramde through. We ended up at a little Rozenhoedkaai. Find places, and one that my dish is on the menu previously, so beautiful. It was more expensive than the previous evening, but also very delicious. Piet could not even fish, and that is to say something! After dinner we just walked around the city, it was the closing day of Vowels, a music and dance. Overalls were different kinds of music to hear and dance lessons were given in several places. For this, we did not count, but a lot of other people do and it was a pleasure to look at. Yet again here to Cambrinus for a few special beers, it would just be a pub. Quickly to the hotel for a nightcap, we had to come with a certain minimum credit card bills. It turned out that not also true, but the beer tasted no less. A little chat with the night porter who did not close with the closing times of the bar and yet too late and with too much to his bed. Holiday fun continues!


Sunday, August 9

We slept through the alarm, but were out of bed at nine hours. Showering, breakfast, checkout and check-out. Then back into town. Along called Saskia still, whether we wanted to find something on the Internet. That was not so here, we were not here at the computer. We have still visited the basilica, the latter consisted of two churches: a beautiful church that is in full use on top of a church where no services were given more. The latter was easy, but its simplicity dead beautiful. There were also drawings and antiquities in the walls. But also the cultural part of our visit, we completed the last day, we went to the Chocolate Museum. Nice but not very special. So we do coffee again, this time in the sun on the castle, not very cheap. But a prime location and is excellent. And then a walk through the city. We came Hospices also some against, nice courtyards with small and less small houses still inhabited. Gradually, we came up in the Holy Blood Church, fantastic images, a lot of silver and therefore worth again to enter. In conclusion, we took a Fool of course also at the brewery, good habits you have to maintain. After all that sauntering and the last beer was time to go home. First, just as fuel, it's still cheaper here than in the Netherlands, although it did not save much. At the gas station were a number of British riders who had problems with the system with your credit card to refuel, so that we only have helped. Because it was warm in the car we made a stop halfway for a coffee. It was a chilly venue with coffee from a vending machine. Actually it was more of a service station with a large shop and some food, but not even the nicest kind.

Anyway: a great weekend to be repeated. There are probably a few more cities on the hour drive and we can very quickly.