The day started off with a stunning half hour (wished it could have been hours) boat trip around some of the canals. There is no doubt that water changes the feel of a city and this helps make Bruges so picturesque. Viewing the city, or parts of it, from the canal gives a totally different aspect. There are also some unusual sights along the canal.
After the “cruise”, we walked along part of the canal that the boat took us along and were able to have a good look at the land based stuff. We decided that we must have been very tired from the boat ride and the short walk so we stopped and had coffee and waffles in a small treed square before walking on. We ended up at the Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde with its white-coloured house fronts, tranquil convent garden founded in 1245. The complex includes a gothic béguinage church and about thirty white painted houses dating from the late 16th, 17th and 18th century. Practically all of these are built around a central yard.
The word béguinage is a French term that refers to a semi-monastic community of women called Beguines, religious women who sought to serve God without retiring from the world, as well as to the architectural complex that housed such a community.
We followed the map and walked through lots of side streets to get back to the house for lunch. It’s great to be so close to everything and be able to get back to the house reasonably easily in reasonable time. Deli bits and pieces and wine for lunch.
After lunch, we went our own separate ways, with Laura and Tom visiting the post office to post back 5 kgs of drinking glasses and more exploring. Gary & Jan went exploring in one direction and Rick & Gill in another.
R&G walked along some canals we hadn’t seen and stopped in Jan van Eyck (famous Flemish painter) square and visited part of the local library which was the 15th century toll house and eventually got back to the house.
G&J wandered through the streets, bought Jan’s present with the gift from Kris (thank you so much!) then sat in a lovely park to soak up the sunny weather and be mesmerised by the fountain. We then headed to a pub overlooking the canal where we both enjoyed a local Bruges beer (because Jan doesn’t normally drink beer and Gary did not have a drinking buddy daughter).
Need to start packing now. We have to get Laura and Tom to the station in the morning, then back to load the car with our stuff and leave by 10am. We’ve really enjoyed being in Bruges and being so close to the centre of town. ”Lady Lace” is in a great location, built in the 17th century, creaks and groans, lounge, dining, kitchen and laundry on the ground floor, 2 bedrooms and bathroom on 1st floor and attic bedroom on 2nd floor. It worked very well for 6 of us. ‘Bye Bruges.
