Thursday, December 15th began in sunny, but cold, Bruges. I find that people don't stir very early in Europe and towns like Bruges, which are day trip destinations, tend to be especially sleepy in the morning and just a great time to wander.
I walked to a breakfast place called That's Toast
Then I went for a walk through an area of town I hadn't gone through the day before.
Saint John's Hospital (founded in the mid-12th Century)
Church of Our Lady
Next I went to the Beginhof
This is a place where religious women live. They aren't necessarily all nuns, though Benedictine nuns do live in one of the buildings. There are signs up telling you to be silent, so it's usually peaceful to walk around.
After walking around until about 11:30, I checked out of the hotel and took a train to Brussels. My hotel in Brussels was very near the Central Train Station so I walked about a block and checked into my hotel.
I set out to get some lunch, walking through the Grand Place
As I walked to lunch, I stopped at a shop and got a sampling of cookies.
For lunch, I went to a place I had read about, but then I saw them in other cities, so I guess it's a chain. You have to eat outside and there are no heaters. It was a bit cold at 35 degrees!
I got shrimp croquettes and didn't love them.
It was right beside a Christmas Market at Saint Catherine
Operation No Waffle Left Behind!
There were Christmas Markets all over Brussels
I stopped and bought a load of cookies at the place I had visited on the way to lunch. The store was called Maison Dandoy and I didn't taste one thing there that wasn’t wonderful.
At that point I went on a self guided chocolate tour.
I went to Corné Port Royal...
Leonidas...
Neuhaus (where I purchased several gifts), and Mary.
Mary is the only handmade chocolate in Belgium today, she was the first woman chocolatier, and is still the choice of the Royal family of Belgium. It was also my favorite.
At this point I decided to go do some serious shopping. I walked through the Mont des Arts
This is the Musical Instruments Museum but it is also a pretty Art Nouveau building
I walked on up to Louis Vuitton to buy something other than cookies and chocolate.
I had saved my birthday money and been hoping the exchange rate stayed in my favor. Luckily it did, so I got a new wallet.
LV's decor was legos
On the walk back to the hotel I saw this pup inside a shop. I guess he was store security.
My purchases of the day
I walked back to the Grand Place to see it all lit up at night
They had a nativity
Every hour they had a light show...
I then went to find a dinner location. The first two places I stopped turned me away. One was probably legitimate. The second place claimed they didn't have a table, but approximately 90% of the restaurant was empty. I had the same experience the first time I visited Brussels. I think they don't like seating a party of one. I ended up at a place the lady at the hotel had recommended. I had quiche, salad, and really good pomme frites.
I walked along various streets to see their different decor...
I tried to get a waffle at Maison Dandoy, but it was near closing and they didn't have Liége waffles, only Belgium and I really wanted a Liége so I headed to find another place.
The second waffle place I walked to had just closed, but I eventually found a place!
I had two hotels booked in Brussels for the longest time and finally settled on Le Dixseptieme.
I was so pleased with that choice! It's in a great location and not a cookie cutter big hotel.
I had the Standard Double Room and it was very large. Basically like a suite with a living area.
It had a separate toilet room
The sink and tub were in their own room.
It was a great day! I enjoyed wandering around two places I had been before. I had only done day trips to Bruges and Brussels prior to this trip, but seeing them again and in different seasons was great!
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