Oct 08, 2011

We started the day with a yummy continental breakfast at the hotel which used to be an old bank building then wandered back down to the town square to find a hole in the wall and get some cash and bought myself a head hugging hat and scarf to contend with the cold and another cap which I loved. The jury is still out if I buy a warm jacket as well….maybe, maybe not.



Some of the many old buildings we saw on our way and yes the date on the building on the right really is 1669 but that wasn’t the oldest building in the town

The streets were being tidied up after last night’s festivities and the only thing left in the square were some stacked up plastic chairs and the empty stage where the very good rock bands were playing last night as the locals are in the throes of celebrating the end of ‘The season’ here. Shame it rained so heavily but there was mulled wine available so the sturdy ones could stay warm….we went and had dinner instead.



Massive Barge on the way to Delft

We returned to the hotel and packed up the little Peugeot with the luggage for all of us and headed off and the weather has been pretty crappy most of the day so haven’t been sorry I’m off the bike…..in fact I napped on and off nearly all the way here. Anyone would think I was a bit snookered….and they’d be right. We only saw 3 motorbikes on the road all day but hundreds of pushbikes around towns and villages.



The canal tour boat we were about to climb onto which was interesting and also kept us dry for a while

Our hotel for the next 2 nights is on a canal and we are on the top floor up 3 neck-breaking sets of stairs. Norm asked the young hotelier what he thought he was doing to old people putting us up there…he just laughed.



We had some delicious apple cake and hot chocolate in the little café on the left and marvelled at the lean on the church steeple which we heard all about on our canal tour

Bits and Bobs:

After my jogging / power walking jaunt from the bike shop to the hairdresser in Faversham my leg muscles are screamingly sore and the ball of my right foot is really painful…..if I was a horse I’d be put down! The troops took pity on me on our way back to the hotel and we stopped around the corner from our hotel for a drink and we have now booked to go back for dinner



The view from our table

Last nights’ accommodation:

Hotel Heritage
Niklaas Desparsstraat 11
8000 Brugge Belgium

What a thoroughly delicious old beautifully maintained building. We felt like we were in a royal palace and the staff were brilliant and spoke beautiful English which was a great bonus. It was a ‘nice place to just melt into’ and a short walk to the main square and a plethora of magnificent old buildings and incredible sights in this very picturesque little city.



Hotel Heritage