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Bruges |
part 2 |
Sunday 28 November 2004
Our
hopes for a bike tour today are immediately quashed once we wake up by the sound
of rain pouring down on the streets. It keeps on raining, so we have to abandon
the idea altogether. Instead of that we choose to explore the North
Eastern part of the old town by foot armed with an umbrella. The rain is a bit
of killjoy, but in this quiet part of the old town - away from the crowds - is
still interesting. We stroll along the Spiegelrei, In
the afternoon we visit the Stadhuis
(Town Hall) where the Gothic Hall is the pride of Bruges. The Hall was heavily
renovated in the 19th century and the frescoes, commissioned in 1895 illustrate
major events in Flemish history. The Renaissance Hall is more historical
and is housed in The
estaminet de Garre is only yards away from here in a tiny alleyway off the
Breidelstraat (easily missed) and offers a wide range of Belgian beers. We opt
for a sweet Kriek (cherry beer) and a Tripel van de Garre (strong Golden Ale). At night we eat at the Vlaamsche Pot. A tiny little restaurant with red chequered table cloths and traditional Flemish dishes. I take the waterzooi with chicken, while Erik opts for the Flemish stew. Friendly service. After dinner go for a walk looking at the beautifully lit monumental buildings.
Weather:
rain, 10ºC/50ºF .
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where once foreign merchants had their town houses. We pass the Jeruzalem
Church, once a family chapel, built in the 15th century as a copy of the Holy
Sepulchre church in Jerusalem. It is located next to the 
painter
who lived in Bruges for 11 years until his death in 1411. Here is also the toll
house from which the dukes of Luxembourg for centuries excercised their right to
levy tolls. The Toll house is 15th century, but was heavily medievalised
in the late 19th century. 
the
neighbouring 
