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Back in March this year, a work opportunity came up to travel to Bruges, Belgium. Now the only things I vaguely remembered about Bruges were that it was in Belgium (I was near top of my class in geography, thank you!) and it was the location of “In Bruges” with Colin Farrell, a dark comedy/crime film by Martin McDonagh. Now I’ll be honest, after that movie I felt like unless I wanted to be collateral damage in a hit gone wrong, I’d best steer clear of this city!
But it was a WORK trip, so the tax deductibility of this adventure seemed like a risk worth taking! Fast forward to March and upon landing at Brugge Centraale train station, I found myself in the most gorgeous, romantic and enchanting town, known as the "Venice of the North". It oozes history which has been incredibly preserved at every turn including the medieval Belfry and Stadhuis (city hall) in Burg square, to the Bridge of Sighs and Lake of Love (Minnewater). It is also a cultural hub with a number of museums like the Gruuthusemuseum, which journeys through the 17th-19th centuries, Museum of the Church of Our Lady and the Hanseatic quarter which was an important international trading hub between the 13th-15th centuries.
I arrived on market day so as I walked through the market on the way to my 4-star hotel, The Grand Hotel Castelbergh, I took in the aromas of the meats, cheeses and flowers on display.
As I roamed the cobblestone streets along the houses and navigated most of the bridges, I’d suddenly find monumental cathedrals interspersed among them and it spun me out! Where was I? How can such a magical place exist? I mean I was sharing the cobblestone streets with horse carriages - how delightful!
Sometimes, in small villages or towns, it's easy to think you can just pick up a map and guide yourself around but I actually believe that there is nothing better than getting the proper low-down from local guides who impart so much knowledge and interesting facts that a pamphlet skips. Not to mention they add a bit of character to the journey and our guide did just that on our 2-hour walking tour of Bruges - highly recommend it.
Now, the highlights of this trip for me were several fold frankly and in no particular order: Belgian chocolate and waffles (preferably one on top of the other!), exquisitely crafted toys which took me back to my childhood, and luxury accommodation at one of the most amazing 4-star hotels in town. These more than sufficiently satisfied the child and grown ass woman in me!
If I may harp on about the food a bit more, please do not leave Bruges without visiting these incredible eateries and they range from casual sit-and-watch-the-world-go-by to fancier must-book-in-advance options. Het Paradijs is a trendy and chilled eatery (closed on Sundays) that is also part of a non-profit organisation called Sobo that creates sustainable jobs, which is cool. Margritt is also a cosy and laid-back spot with delicious breakfasts and lunches. Cafe Vlissinghe is the oldest cafe in Bruges but still kicking and it's super charming but my favourite thing about it is it has a garden where you can play petanque (the French version of lawn bowls for us Aussies!). If you feel like dressing to the nines and getting all dolled up for a fancy dinner, L.E.S.S Eatery, which stands for Love Eat Share Smile (OMG I love this!) is a 3 Michelin-starred restaurant with a Spanish twist and I would strongly recommend booking well in advance for this one to avoid getting all dressed up with nowhere to go!
What have I learned from Bruges? Well, that sometimes only good things come from mixing business with pleasure! Bruges will forever hold a special place in my heart!
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