Bliss

I am not sure I can do Brugge justice in one post. We waited for Saturday so Brian could join us. Although it had of course changed in the 21 years since I'd been, no longer smelling of chocolate as I had recalled and being more commercial, it thankfully retained all the charm of my memories, especially 2 blocks plus away from the Centrum Markt and Berg square. After an ideal lunch, a brief stroll took us to Delisa, a coffee and chocolate stop where we simply had to stop. Hot chocolate (steamed milk plus chocolate block on a stick) made the girls smile.

I had to cull through 241 photos to select these few. I'm not sure what makes it so blissful. Bucolic of course, peaceful, stunning at every turn, it feels like the people who built this town across the centuries and those who live there today really care, genuinely appreciate and further beautify their homes and town. So many gorgeous churches, and they transform the corner of a house into its own place of worship with religious icons embedded into the streetscape. Fanciful door knockers, local lace curtains in every window, colorful doors and flowers.

The canals give waterfront an entirely new meaning. In case it is not obvious, the terrace on the right is wet because it is directly on the canal. We walked and walked and walked, taking in almost every "top 10" sight the map promoted. The girls were joyous, skipping and strolling and observing.

Along the edge of the original town, we climbed one of the windmills, complete with millstones and English explanations. Marveling our way back to the center of town, we did stop at the understandably most photographed spot. I was and remain almost speechless.

Thankfully my family humored me by walking farther. Scenic bridges, quaint buildings, myriad swans, petite almshouses, opportunity for sketching, taking me back to 1990 again. We all loved every minute of it even though in the traditional tourist sense we did not do much at all. I would go back tomorrow.