travel

Small World

Brugge, Flanders, Belgium
Saturday, May 12, 2012

Steve and Margaret decided to have a lazy day, so I resurrected my Brugge plans. Quick Google search and I discover that parking at the train station is only 3.5€ for the whole day and a free bus to the centre thrown in.

Gotta say I am not that impressed with Brugge. It's just like Brussels but smaller – full of market square cafés which serve very average coffee, too many souvenir shops, waffle shops and cheap chocolate shops. Once you’ve done the Markt and the Burg, you’re pretty much done for the day. It lacks the interest of Poperinge and the charm of Ghent.

So I’m going to sit here and make my 3€ coffee last as long as possible, use their free internet and catch up on the last three days of blog.

Later: had a bite of lunch then as I was inside the restaurant paying, all hell broke loose outside. Two police cars came screaming into the square with sirens blaring. I wandered down to get a better view and then this voice says "Hi Jax". It’s Phil – my mate that I missed yesterday (due to the utter failure of Orange Mobile France to provide a decent service.)

Phil was also sticky beaking at the coppers whilst his wife Roz was looking for him. We chatted for about 15 minutes and then went our separate ways. They had just arrived and I was just leaving, figuring I had exhausted all that Brugge had to offer.

I headed off to Oostende but having been told it is just like Nieuwpoort, I didn’t expect much. I wasn’t disappointed. It was exactly like Nieuwpoort and therefore just like the Gold Coast in Queensland. The saving grace was that I landed smack bang in the middle of a kite festival.

I headed down the coast, following the tram track which goes the full length of the Belgian coast, to Dunkirk. Here I bumped into a Boating festival. I hung around for a bit before heading back to Ieper where I bumped into the “pre” Cat Parade – the teaser for tomorrow.

The latest way to shop
The latest way to shopJust scan your item, and your shopping will be ready when you get off the train at home.
Chocolate = Fitness!
Chocolate = Fitness!I shall eat myself thin :-)
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Empty cafes at Brugge
Empty cafés at Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Brugge
Phil and Me
Phil and Me
Mobility scooter on steroids!!
Mobility scooter on steroids!!I want one
Kite festival Oostende
Kite festival Oostende
Kite festival Oostende
Kite festival Oostende
Tram tracks
Tram tracks
It looks like a witch but I'm sure it's not
It looks like a witch but I'm sure it's not
Now THAT's a big set of bagpipes
Now THAT's a big set of bagpipes
Fetch
Fetch
No problem
No problem
You make me swim
You make me swim
I make you wet too
I make you wet too
Teach em young
Teach em young
Dunkirk harbour
Dunkirk harbour
Pre Cat Parade
Pre Cat Parade
Pre Cat Parade
Pre Cat Parade
Pre Cat Parade
Pre Cat ParadeThese guys were so cool - they were all drumming on the cat's eyes. The two guys on the front were suspended on chairs.
Witchs
Witchs
Garfield
GarfieldThey were playing all the Blue's Brothers songs...
and the crowds poured out of the stands
and the crowds poured out of the stands
and danced
and dancedThis lovely lady in full Kimono was "shaking her booty"
and we all followed the cat's bum thru the streets
and we all followed the cat's bum thru the streets
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