Bruges/Belgium

27.7.2024 Bruges

I had booked a city tour with Cecilia Wigley for today. First, a free shuttle bus took us to the terminal. A paid bus took us from the port of Zeebrugge to Bruges, half an hour away. Our group gathered at the bus stop there.

Our large group was split into three. I was now in a group of 17 participants. We were assigned a friendly young man named Jeroen as our tour guide. We spent the next three hours with him, exploring the sights of Bruges and getting gastronomic recommendations.

Our tour ended on the market square in the middle of the city. We now had about two hours of free time. I was a little hungry, so I went first to the "Frietmuseum", which has a theme of "Belgian French fries". The Belgians insist that they, not the French, invented the fries. The museum shows a lot about potato varieties, production and the history of fries. Attached to the museum is a canteen where you can supposedly buy the world's best French fries. Yes, they were good, but not overwhelming. At least I wasn't hungry anymore.

Next, I wanted to follow a recommendation from our tour guide and go to the "Bourgogne des Flandres" brewery. On the way there, I bought a small selection of pralines in a shop that advertised the "best chocolate in town."

At the "Bourgogne des Flandres" brewery, I actually only wanted to try the beer of the same name, but then decided to go for the "Flight of Beers" offer. Six small glasses with all the beers they serve there. The total amount was just right to keep my head clear and find my way home.

Just before the bus stop I found a food truck that sold Belgian waffles. I bought one, ate it and thus completed my culinary program for Belgium.

The attractive singer Patricia Bernier had a solo performance in the theater on the ship.