Stromboli's Rolling Log: Day 7 April 20, 2017 Sailing to Ghent, busing to Bruges.

NARRATION FOR BRUGES IS BELOW

A day late but it was lost!

Scraping the excess from the chocolate molds

Lots of goodies on the shelves

Worker making chocolate out of molds.

A few photos to whet your appetite. Chocolate store has it all.

The Romans put these cobblestones down between 300 and 800 AD.

A passage way from the canals to the city

for the fire hoses to bring water in case

of fire.

The main canal in Bruges

Did you see that sun? All day long it shone on us . What a glorious day? The plan was to get started early (8:15) on the buses (or busses if you prefer) see some of the backroads on the way and then tour the downtown plaza of Bruges and some of the shops that are world famous for diamonds, chocolate and beer.
Our guide today was a wizened lady of 63 , who lives here and knows the city like the back of her hand. No imported guides here! "Christa" was full of wit and quick as a rabbit and sharp as a tack. There was more than just the buildings and history as she made it live with insertions of her experiences, the effects of the many nations that have conquered (and not conquered) Belgium, and how those events made Bruges what it is today.
But first, let me tell you that VikingInc. really takes care of its people on these trips. Some of the folks have limited mobility and walking long distances, and walking quickly, is just not what they can do easily. So, today they had what we called the 'leisurely" coach. That bus and the guide (Christa), moved very deliberately although covering and explaining all the places and vistas that we would see at any pace.The difference was made up in more limited time to explore on our own. So we were delighted to get a taxi ride to the plaza as the bus drops us off about a mile from the plaza in town where there was bus parking. Ruth was delighted and even though still very tired because of the 2000 year old cobble stones that the Romans placed there, she was much less exhausted. Christa stated that..."Yes, the Romans put down the cobblestones (with slaves and workers), but 2,000 years later you cannot walk on it comfortably with Italian shoes."

Because of the intermarriages, of the Kings and Dukes from various countries , many new buildings had to be built to satisfy the pride of the women when another structure might be higher or bigger than theirs. So some of the photos will explain that.

The Belgians were very hospitable over the centuries and allowed many immigrants and despondent folks to enter the country. They were among the first in Europe to build homeless shelters and care for the indigent.

We learned how to use the $.50 toilets as Christa had a women who opens one up early just where we started on our tour, and although she was late getting there, did get things going soon after. Christa stated that she "might change jobs and become a "toilet pee pee'" lady as it was quite lucrative with all the tourists.

Although there are some churches and buildings "buried" essentially, Bruges is a medievally intact city with none of it's buildings destroyed by recent wars (WW1 and WW2) as it was bypassed by all foes. The eastern and southern parts of the countries did see major battles especially in WW2 at the infamous "Battle of the Bulge" at Bastogne and the surrounding areas.

Our extra time was spent both in a pharmacy and a chocolate store, buying some tape (Ruth's ankles) and gifts for folks at home. One street had at least 1 dozen chocolate shops and of course countess beer stores and what i call"semi bars" as it was both a sit down arrangement and carry out place. Restaurants abounded as well.

Interestingly , none of the churches have tours allowed, and you can enter any on your own. Christa said that the country is 99% Catholic, but I did check that out and found that about 60% is more accurate. The religious believers are getting much less every year. About 25% do not believe in God or any diety, and many have no affiliation with any church.

It was a good day, less strenuous, and still fulfilling. Tomorrow we head for Zeeland (sea-land) and the Delta Works at Walcheren. The largest dam and power facility on the North Sea, it allows the rivers to ebb and flow, yet keeps the floods under control. See you tomorrow.The average # reading the blog has been about 25 from the USA alone.
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