Brugge (BROO-ghah) was our first European adventure back in November. My mom and I decided (rather last minute) to take a quick weekend getaway so she could live the Belgium experience.
Brugge is kind of a little known tourist attraction, I hadn’t heard of it until moving to Europe but I highly recommend it to those planning a Eurotrip. You just can’t beat the pointy architecture, plethora of cafes, and churches.
I really enjoyed seeing everything so colorful as opposed to brown and snow/ice-covered like it was last Thanksgiving.
After sitting in traffic for an hour, missing our turn to our hotel twice, and nearly wrecking the car in the typical European tiny parking garage (I don’t really want to talk about it)…our first stop was for carrot soup to warm up at bit (the wind had a bit of a chill to it) and mom had her first Belgian beer. She wasn’t sure what to order but I told her, you can’t go wrong. Your really can’t, not in Belgium. There is no such thing as a bad beer.
We sat outside, sipping our drinks and watched people go by. It was perfect.
We had dessert across the street at my favorite chocolate shop. Dumon’s chocolate shop is a famous family run shop that is just large enough to hold about 4-5 people inside. But the smell is mouth-watering and the chocolates will only have you coming back for more.
The shop is tucked into a corner as if forgotten when the rest of the street became modernized with shops and restaurants. I think that’s what makes it so quaint and unique. Almost out of a Harry Potter movie…no?
We purchased an assortment of chocolates and were on our merry way. I inherited my adoration for chocolate from my mom so being the chocoholics that we are, we splurged on the 500 g container. I had a few weeks where it didn’t taste or sound good during this pregnancy but fortunately, that’s no longer the case. Um, yeah…phew.
After spending the afternoon wandering around seeing the sights of the city, I somehow managed to find the Viper Pilot and I’s favorite pub…’t Brugs Beertje. A hidden gem in a narrow alley that I would normally avoid. The tiny little place has over 300 beers on the menu (and hot chocolate for pregnant ladies).
Off the beaten path = best place in town.
A bit overwhelmed by the beer menu, as most would be, my mom asked the waiter for a suggestion (I suppose they’re pretty used to that).
waiter: How strong would you like it?
mom: Oooh, medium strong…I like a dark beer.
me: Mom, he means volume alcohol.
mom: Oooh…so, medium?
waiter: Spicy? Sweet? Dry?…
Oh, the options. I love all the beer options. She ended up with a 7% dark beer with caramel notes and she really, really really liked it. Of course. I don’t know how you couldn’t like Belgium beer (personal opinion).
{Oh how I love (and miss) Belgian beer.} Meanwhile, I drooled all over my Belgian hot chocolate. Literally drooled. We split a cheese plate and a huge bowl of surprisingly good spaghetti (Italia does it better though).
Our walk back from the pub found us at the city’s greatest waffle maker, Laurenzino. Because when in Belgium, you do as the Belgians do. Eat waffles, chocolates, and drink beer. Or maybe that’s just what I think the Belgians do…
We each had a freshly made warm waffle topped with ooey-gooey, melted Nutella.
After walking for what I’m sure were miles and miles (I may or may not have gotten us a wee bit lost on our way back to the hotel) we got back to the hotel to catch up with the four-legged furry friend we all know and love.
The fearless, ferocious Elmer.
We took her for a walk and crashed back at the hotel. All this sight-seeing is exhausting!
Hope you’re all enjoying your weekends. Nice weather where you are, I hope?
PROST!
On a more sobering note…
The beautiful city I so dearly love is fighting off another fire. Please keep the residents, animals, firefighters, volunteers, and all those involved in Colorado Springs in your thoughts and prayers. Community does not burn down!