Yes, we have become frenzied travelers. Up before sunrise for a refreshing jaunt around the Red Light District, a speedy walk to the Bloenmarkt (sp?) where we viewed beautiful tulip bulbs instead of tulips (since it is the winter season) and a quick breakfast before the train to Brussels, where it rained all afternoon but this does not seem to phase the tourists. Learned all about the city at the City Museum. Apparently there is a lot of awesome medieval history and architecture, but it all got destroyed, burned, or sacked at various points in the last 8oo years. To look at it now, you'd never know that it was once a double-walled ducal city. The most exciting tourist attraction today is the (in)famous Mannequen Pis and his several hundred hand-made costumes which he sports on various holiday occasions throughout the year. Unfortunately we missed his Pere Noel attire (which he displays only Dec. 21-25) and we are too early to see him in Elvis Prestley costume, but we (along with hoardes of other tourists) got to see him in his original birthday suit. Pictures to come.
Highlights of Brussels: Waffles. Chocolate. Need I say more? The light show in the Grand Place was cute, but not quite Bellagio-esque in artistic grandeur. More like an Epcot light-show set on real-life architecture.
Low point of the day: Walking along cobble-stoned streets in 40 degree mist for nearly 2 hours before finding a hotel. Who knew all the other tourists had also read Rick Steves' guidebook?
(Not-so) surprising fact: Best Western is just as quality and twice as expensive in Brugges. Lauren & I will greatly enjoy our family-sized room with separate bath and shower, extra pillows and towels, free Internet access and buffet breakfast. If the last available room in the city has to be this expensive, then at least it's a nice one!
Flemish word of the day: Aanmelden. I think this means "Sign-in." Apparently you need to know these things when blogging in a foreign country.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment