Bruges

After Brussels, it was Bruges, Belgium for us. Via the local train.

A tiny medieval town. In its heyday (12th-15th centuries) it rivaled London in terms of commerce and population. And thanks to its canals, has also been called the Venice of the North. Turns out it's a World Heritage UNESCO site.

Charming. Old churches and guilds and windmills and beautifully preserved Gothic architecture and dragons everywhere. And religious statues on the corner of every building.

Some of the religious statutes were more modern than others...

Priest watching over the vial of Holy Blood, you could get up close and touch it if you wanted.

Curiously, there is a church there called the Basilica of the Holy Blood because they have some of Jesus's blood. The story goes, in 1150 King Baldwin III of Jerusalem gave it to his brother-in-law, Count of Flanders Diederik van de Elsas who brought it, triumphantly, back to Bruges with a grand procession. And to this day, they reenact its arrival every year. It's not always on display, but it was when we went so we got a close up view. Like I said, curious. It was the first of many relics we'd encounter on our trip.

Bellissimo, Michelangelo.

We also caught sight of our first (of many) Michelangelo statues. Madonna of Bruges in a little church called, appropriately, Church of Our Lady. It's allegedly the only Michelangelo statue to leave Italy during his life time. That's how affluent and influential Bruges was in its day.

Mr. Yin in the Béguinage where they will let him visit, but not live.

One of my favorite things we saw in both cities of canals were these little cloisters of white houses bordering big, green courtyards. Begijnhof in Amsterdam or Béguinage in Belgium. Catholic women who wanted to serve God, but not retire from the world by making official vows lived here from the 12th century on. They're incredibly peaceful and lovely. I wanted to move in, but they won't let Mr. Yin live there.

We did decide if we had to get married again, we'd do it here.

(A note on the special hanging pouch: I carried the camera case and Mr. Yin carried everything else--snacks, water, guide book, etc. in his European man purse. So I didn't have to bug him every time we walked into a building, I tied my sunglasses on to the camera case. Not cute, I know. But neither is anything else I'm wearing. And it worked.)

The bitty Bump and me trying to get inside the Town Hall.

The main square in Bruges is just about as Gothic as it gets. Guilds and churches and cobblestones. So cute. We don't have many pictures of it, however, because it was Belgian Independence Day and they had rock concerts going on every night. The stage was set up right in the middle of the square blocking all good photo opportunities.

Our little street.

We stayed in a great bed and breakfast, run by a couple about our age and their two-year-old. It was down a road, just off of the main square. For breakfast, they would offer you coffee, tea or chocolate milk. Seeing as we were in the land of delicious chocolate, I opted for the chocolate milk. And was delighted every morning when it was hot chocolate. Mmm. Belgium and its chocolate.

The view from our room. The tower in the back is in the main square.

Old school wind energy.

We loved wandering around and discovering beautiful architecture and curiosities not mentioned in our trusty guide book. Most of it was just there, no signs or explanations. Just a lot of cute quaintness.

I think Rapunzel might have lived here. Either that or it's the Guild for Watchmen.

Mr. Yin in time out.