See Bruges with your Valentine.
Written: Nov 18 '00 (Updated Nov 21 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Place to kindle your romance.
Cons: Boat ride closed in November.
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| GeraldLui's Full Review: Bruges |
Review Topic: Sights & Attractions
Review Topic: Sights & AttractionsI would like to thank you all of you who wrote so enthusiastically about this place. Having read your epinions on Bruges I feel I should go and experience it myself. Bruges is a historic town about 40 minutes from Brussels by train. From Brussels Midi Station it cost us 780 BEF for 2 persons. Once arriving in Bruges station we decided not to take a cab, as we have no luggage for a day trip. We enjoyed the short walk into town centre. The place is magical. The mixture of old bricks buildings, canals and cobblestone walk ways make me feels this ancient town like the ultimate ‘Liliput Lane’ Village.
Bruges is not small with a population of 120,000 but the historic town centre surrounded by a circular canal is only 2 km wide. It is ideal to be explored on foot at leisure, by boat or house drawn cabs. The main mode of transport by local school children and locals is bicycle within the inner town. This place reminds me of Cambridge, England more then Venice but I have not been to the later.
Depending what you are looking for Bruges is a wonderful place for a short holiday or at least a daytrip. The main market square ringed with Gothic and neo-gothic buildings consisting of the Provincial Palace, Central Post Office, Town Hall, Treasury or Belfry and old merchants are a great place to start the exploration. The house drawn cabs start at this square. There are many café and restaurants facing the square as all over the town but for us the main joy is to walk around down the narrow streets, cobble lanes and alone the many canals. All the houses are made from bricks and are lovely restored and maintained. To the east are 4 windmills on raised platforms what were the old fortification walls.
The shop windows looks very interesting especially the chocolates shops. Other then eating-places shops are closed for lunch from noon up to 2pm. The churches are usually open for visitors and a visit to the beguine now occupied by Benedictine nuns is a must as the St. John’s medieval hospital and the church along Minnewater.
As you explore it become almost like a sport to see how many couple is walking hand in hand or kissing. I guess the place has that romantic effect on all the occupants. Walking so close to my companion makes it warm enough even in winter.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: GeraldLui
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Member: Gerald Lui
Location: Scotland
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 11 members
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