COBBLESTONES. CANALS. MORE BEER.The journey truly began Saturday night when I settled in and watched “In Bruges”, a satirical film about two hitmen who are forced to lay low in the touristy medieval town after a job goes wrong. The movie was quite entertaining, mainly because the entire plot revolved around the main character hating the fact he had to stay in such a boring town as Bruges. I wanted to watch the movie because it is a cult classic around here and besides making fun of Bruges the whole time, the film shows the quaint beauty of the town through its scenes of quiet canals and bustling squares. I was pleasantly surprised to find the city exactly as the movie portrayed it: a wonderfully preserved medieval town filled with Belgian delicacies and laced by a lovely canal system which has given the city its “Belgian Venice” reputation. It was definitely one of the more touristy spots I have visited here, but it was well worth the cringe. I started my exploration at the Grote Markt, one of the most popular squares near the center. The famous Belfry of Bruges is located here along with many other impressive and ornate buildings. It reminded me a lot of Brussels with all the detailed statues, fancy edgings and intricate sculptures, just a bit older. It was 10 Euro to get to the top of the Belfry, plus it was just leg day, so I decided to appreciate the iconic building from ground level. After having my fill of exploring all the touristy chocolate shops and bars near the center, I made my way to the outside of the ring to see some of the older "medieval" buildings and was delighted to stumble upon some windmills which used to be a main power source for the city back in the dark ages. Don Quixote would have been proud. The architecture was absolutely stunning everywhere through out the city, many of the buildings dating back to the 1200s. I visited a few cathedrals and was particularly awed by the beauty of these ancient works of art. Though these places were breathtaking, I couldn't help but feel a bit disrespectful tromping around what used to be considered holy ground for the sake of getting a good picture. There was an odd mix of believers attempting to pray and worship amidst crowds of bustling tourists paying 2 euros to light candles and touch a cloth that supposedly still had the blood of Christ on it. Quite a striking juxtaposition. In my opinion, the canals are the most beautiful part of Bruges. I spent a good part of the day just meandering through winding streets, following gently flowing streams and waving at tourists in little speed boats. It was a picturesque and peaceful scene. Many restaurants lined the canals and I found a lovely little pub which sold over 100 beers from local brewers where I wasted an hour or so drinking and reading The Sun Also Rises in order to prepare myself for my next adventure which will be in Pamplona, Spain. I have to say, Belgian beer is quite good, but I just don't quite understand the draw. Don't get me wrong, its refreshing, tasty...maybe its just because I haven't developed the palate for it yet, but it really doesn't seem all that better here than back home. Maybe there are more unique varieties or flavor notes, but in general its just beer. Nothing too amazing. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm sorry Belgium. To be completely honest, Bruges was everything I expected it to be. A tourist trap, but a beautiful one. I'm getting the feeling that most Belgian cities are similar. Many wonderful restaurants and local delicacies to eat, too many bars to choose from, and gorgeous quiet streets to get lost in. I think that if I had to stay here for two weeks like those poor hit men, I too would go a little insane, but for one day Bruges is a wonderful culture trip.
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AuthorAmy Renne Archives
September 2018
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