While staying in Amsterdam, we took a one-day excursion to Bruges, a beautiful city in Belgium just a 4-hour bus ride away!
The bus had to park a ways from the city center, so we got the first taste of the Belgian city while crossing a bridge to a very peaceful convent. The silence was so loud one could literally hear a pin drop.
Bruges is a rather older city, as evident in the architecture.
Nonetheless, a short walk brought us to the city center, where our guide gave us a walking tour of the city. She introduced to us excellent restaurants, chocolate shops, and more! Belgium is known famously known for chocolate and waffles, so we were sure to try both, but only from localized stores that were a little more unique than world-famous Godiva.
The main square (pictured above) is literally lined with chocolate boutiques on all sides. Our guide made sure to steer us toward some of his favorites like Galler Chocolatier, and my mom also shared with us one she remembered from her first visit in Bruges, Leonidas.
After eating lunch, we took a short canal cruise (again!, but very, very different than those in Amsterdam) around the city. The guide taught us some history while we gasped, absorbing the splendor of the scenery. Bruges is also popularly known for swans, and there was certainly no shortage of swans along the water!
Soon we were set to find the desert, and stumbled upon this unique waffle place, where individuals chose their flavors and toppings, made to order:
However, we couldn’t possibly leave without trying the original, authentic Belgian waffles!
With only about an hour left before needing to return to Amsterdam, we spent the rest of our time souvenir shopping: chocolate, lace, yet another Belgian intricacy, snow globes, and beer for my parents!
I only regret that we could have had more time in the postcard-picture-perfect city, but I know I’ll be back!
Young Girl. Big World. 