          
Website Feedback
Closed Threads
IRC Updated
irc.quakenet.org #teamliquid
IRC Web Client | | New to Team Liquid? Register here! | | | | |
|
 betaben June 29 2009 17:41. Posts 503 | Profile Blog |
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5867.jpg)
Brugge, a fairy-tail city of hitmen and dwarves. Driving there early in the morning, the I was happy to find car parks offering free parking all day. Not really the best point to start on when visiting a one of the nicest medieval towns in Europe, but if you're driving, finding a good place is a godsend. The second thing I noticed as I consulted the nearby towns folk ("really? free? all day?") was that everyone in Belgium speaks English pretty well, even if they modestly say "only a luttle bit".
I'm on a budget, so I didn't go into most places; I also didn't read the important historical backgrounds of the buildings; I just walked around.
The refreshing thing I found out about Brugge is that there is not an "old quarter", as most of the town is as it was 500 years ago when it enjoyed prosperity as one of the world's best centre for weaving. The walled area is a Unesco World heritage site, and as you walk from the centre to the wall, you'll find normal people living in the age old streets. True, it is entirely supported by the tourist industry and most of the touristy center has a continental cafe on every corner, but that doesn't really detract from the ambience.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5884.jpg)
Brugge is infused with a pleasant quantity of waterways, such that they become a endearing addition to the town, rather than a required characteristic. Most have tourist boats zipping down them, some are blessed with lazy swans. It's 'The Venice of the North'! Along with Amsterdam, Stockholm, and some other towns which are the other Venices. (according to wikipedia, even Birmingham!?!)
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5870.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5979.jpg)
I arrived early on a rainy morning, so there were not many tourists. There are quite a few "notable buildings" to go and look at, I planned a route to get to most of them, but I think you could see half of them and not be disappointed; it depends when your boredom level for seeing yet another 600 year old significant building is exceeded.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5901.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5902.jpg)
There are two prominent town squares, Markt and Burg. The first is dominated by the 12th Century belfry which looks down onto a large central statue of -er- a famous Belgian, and the square itself is lined with grand medieval houses. Pity for me there were some big ugly tents on it. A trip up the belfry is about 8 euros, 300 odd steps up a tight spiral stair, and worth it for a panoramic view of the town. Hidden up the tower is a huge barrel-organ device which rings the bells in order. which I'm going to buy that when I'm rich.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5943.jpg)
On Burg, there's a large palace and the "Basilica of the Holy Blood" which contains some of Jesus's blood. We should get the cloning guys onto that. they should make ten jesuses and introduce them to each other on Jerry Springer.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5894.jpg)
I took an excursion out to the Northwest wall which was worth it just to get free of the growing tourist swarm, and found a couple of small local bars underneath a large windmill which served good Belgian beer. (although I only had one as I needed to drive later that day.) In retrospect, it would have been good to stop there overnight so as to appreciate the beer more.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5986.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-5971.jpg)
One the way back from the windmills, as my legs aching slightly from the walking and the climbing, I made a small detour to St Waldberg's church.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-6008.jpg)
I wasn't expecting much after reaching my quaintness limit, but I'm glad I went. Wearily climbing the steps, I was greeted by a benevolent old man; after a few friendly words, he proceeded to amble slowly back into the pearl-white interior of the church, which revealed itself to be tardis-like in proportions compared to the building front, opera music resounding round him as he went. I felt as if he was going to die that day, it was so cinematic; I sat down for a good half an hour in the cool white opera.
![[image loading]](http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt177/betaben/Library-6009.jpg)
As a cautionary story, as I left Brugge later that day my GPS system went mad, directing me the wrong way down bypasses and being constantly confused. After quite a fraught journey out of the city including driving on the wrong side of the road and the wrong way up one way streets, I eventually remebered that the GPS was still on 'pedestrian mode' - it thought I was walking. Never use pedestrian mode!
 |
|
|
|
 KrAzYfoOL Australia. June 29 2009 17:59. Posts 2729 | Profile Blog |
| haha and i just watched in bruges last night |
| | It's better to burn out than to fade away |
|
|
 Nightmarjoo United States. June 29 2009 18:04. Posts 1182 | Profile Blog |
I could never go somewhere like that. I'd just want to know when I get to leave. Just seems so boring.
The GPS thing is pretty funny though.
I liked the movie ._. |
| | 그래펄지 FIGHTING~ - www.broodwarmaps.net - for all your mapping needs |
|
|
 ghermination Croatia. June 29 2009 19:18. Posts 1655 | Profile Blog |
| What an awesome place... I've always been interested in history, and it looks like a really interesting place to go to. Old cities like that are always so amazing, and if you go off the places reccomended by the tourist guides, and just wonder the city and talk to some of the older residents you can learn a lot. I would be in uni for anthropology, but unfortunately i dont want to live in a library for the rest of my life. |
| | Blizzard hasn't made a good game since Diablo 2, prove me wrong. *Cannabis brownies: the breakfast, second breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea time, dinner, dessert, and midnight snack of champions.* |
|
|
 Gnojfatelob Belgium. June 29 2009 20:17. Posts 214 | Profile |
Zie je van bruhhe, zet je vanachteren 
I hate Bruges, I had to drive through it during my drivers license exam. No wonder i failed the first time...
But seriously though i've been there a couple of times on school trips when I was a kid and offcourse then I was not interested in old buildings. Something to do for when I am old I suppose.Last edit: 2009-06-29 20:19:52 |
| | Probably the best starcraft player in the world |
|
|
 RaGe Belgium. June 29 2009 21:09. Posts 7602 | Profile Blog |
| What's your next stop? Brussels? Paris? |
| | Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac, let me take you back. |
|
|
 7mk Germany. June 29 2009 22:26. Posts 1571 | Profile Blog |
very nice report
looks like a nice place |
| | "I like pants more than shirts" - savior |
|
|
 Artifex Belgium. June 29 2009 23:51. Posts 33 | Profile |
Damn right it's a nice place, I live there  (well, about 5 km from the center)
But seriously, like all cities it has its negative points of course. That doesn't stop me from loving it tho. |
| |
|
| So no fek United States. June 29 2009 23:54. Posts 1618 | Profile Blog |
On June 29 2009 17:59 KrAzYfoOL wrote:
haha and i just watched in bruges last night
And I have it home from Netflix right now. :O
Awesome pictures. :D |
| | #1 Shuttle fan - TeamLiquid CJ Entusman #36 |
|
|
| BreaK Canada. June 30 2009 01:20. Posts 697 | Profile Blog |
Hahaha, just watched that movie, its really good.
I have to ask, other than seeing the sights, is there anything else to do? Or is it as boring is they make it seem? |
| | formerly ClouD.BreaK ~~ gogo KTF! |
|
|
 VIB Brazil. June 30 2009 01:25. Posts 2067 | Profile Blog |
| Looks even nicer than the movie Good pictures. |
| | Great people talk about ideas. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people. |
|
|
 plated.rawr Norway. June 30 2009 01:30. Posts 318 | Profile |
| Love the pics. Looks like a great town to slack about in. |
|
|
| betaben June 30 2009 18:19. Posts 503 | Profile Blog |
On June 29 2009 21:09 RaGe wrote:
What's your next stop? Brussels? Paris?
Amsterdam. It's finding the time to write up.
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
 |
|
      
|