Europe Trip Recap – Belgium
After spending two nights in The Netherlands, we were excited to take a train to Belgium. Going in to this trip, I was most excited about our time in Belgium. They are famous for a few of my favorite foods – beer, chocolate, and fries!
To kick things off, we had to take three trains to get the Bruges due to some construction on tracks somewhere, but we enjoyed our time relaxing and reading. We also enjoyed talking to other train-riders throughout the day. We met a girl from Canada who was one month into a three month European trip by herself.
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| The amazing train station in Antwerp |
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| Windmill in Bruges |
Along the way, we had about 30 minutes in the Antwerp train station which was a really cool looking station. Once we made it to Bruges, we took a bus from the train station to the center of town. After a 10 minute walk, we checked in to our B&B. The B&B (B&B Eleven) we stayed at in Bruges was our favorite hotel of the entire trip.
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| View from our room during sunset in Bruges |
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| Bruges, Belgium |
The owner of the B&B got us set up with the bikes that we had for our time there. We rode around the ring of Bruges, saw some windmills, swans, and just enjoyed riding around the cobblestone roads through Bruges.
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| Belgium beers! |
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| Belgium waffle with strawberries and chocolate |
The next day we headed into Bruges on our bikes. We went on a brewery tour that included amazing views of the city. After enjoying our free Bruges Zot beer, we walked around some and enjoyed Belgium waffles before heading over to the Frites Museum. Yea,… we should have listened to Rick Steves on that one. Definitely not worth the price of admission.
Next up, we tried to climb the stairs to the top of the bell tower. I say tried because about 2/3 of the way up, I got all claustrophobic and we decided to turn back. After enjoying some chocolates and a nap in the hammock at our B&B, we enjoyed an amazing dinner, including Flemish beef stew for me. This is another food experience I plan to recreate at home this fall.
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| Cemetery in Damme |
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| Bike path in Belgium country-side |
After a day of enjoying all sorts of Belgium foods the day before, we woke up the next morning with a plan to hit the road. We grabbed our bikes and headed out of town to Damme along tree lined canals. After Damme, we headed to Sluis where we enjoyed lunch and Hubby had his Belgium mussels. We knew we wanted to head up to the North Sea, so we grabbed a bike map and hit the road again.
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| Putting my toes in the North Sea |
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| Belgium country-side |
The bike trail system in Belgium was amazing. Intersections are labeled with a number. When you’re on the trail, it will tell you which way you to go to get to your intersection. So by stringing together a series of intersections, you’ll find your way. Once we made it to the North Sea, we enjoyed the beach and getting our feet wet. As we were riding around the Belgium countryside, we saw more cows than I’ve ever seen in my time in the Midwest. We ended up clocking about 60 km on our bike that day.
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| Windmill on way back to Bruges |
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| Chocolates from The Chocolate Line in Bruges |
Our last day in Belgium was quite sad. We had enjoyed ourselves so much in Bruges that we just weren’t ready to leave. Hubby and I both agreed that the day in the Belgium countryside was one of our favorites of the entire trip. We got up and checked out of our B&B before catching a train to Brussels, but first we went to check out the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Church of Our Lady. Both were quite impressive. We only had one night in Brussels and it was pretty forgettable. It was grey and rainy and we just weren’t much in the mood to be out exploring Brussels.
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| Inside the Church of Our Lady |
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| Chimay label in Brussels that made us laugh |
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Thank you so much for sharing Jen! I completely understand where you’re coming from and how you feel…do nice things for yourself
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 8:50 am
You do the same Fiona
Thank you so much for sharing. This is UNREAL. My husband Jeff ran the Boston Marathon this year, and I spent the day traveling around on the T watching the marathon with my in-laws. We ended the day just a block from the blast sites – I shared my story here: http://decoratethis.blogspot.com/2013/04/bittersweet.html; Jeff’s story here: http://iwasbornready.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-2013-boston-marathon.html.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:05 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your and Jeff’s stories. What a day you guys had. I’m glad you’re safe.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
I added these links to the body of the post.
It definitely does help to put some words together. And I feel the same way- even though I was volunteering at the 10k, i can’t help but wonder why wasn’t i volunteering at the finish line so I could’ve helped?
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
I agree – it was therapeutic to write this up.
Thanks for sharing Jen. I haven’t lived in Boston for 4 years now, but my husband and I had a similar reaction. We both wanted to get “home” to the city we love, a city that becomes part of your being no matter where you go next.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:11 pm
I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Living in Boston leaves such a strong impression…
I’m a longtime reader, first time commenter. First I want to give you big virtual hugs regarding the events in Boston. Your feelings are no less valid, no less important. My heart goes out to you. Also, I want to say, welcome to Cincinnati! I live east of the city and am a transplant from Seattle. Cincy is growing on me, and slowly but surely I’m starting to tell people that I’m from Ohio not Washington. 🙂 Best wishes to you and thank you for sharing.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
Jen – thanks so much for commenting. I realize that at some point I’ll say I’m from Ohio, but the events of this week just my my heart tied even tighter to Boston…
I’m so glad all of your Boston people are safe. I can completely relate to your feelings of helplessness, I felt the same way after 9/11. It’s hard to be away from family and friends and a city that you love when tragedy strikes.
Big hugs for you and your crew.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks Jene. I’m sure it’s very similar to how you felt around 9/11.
I feel the same way–Boston was my home for four years of college. I love that city. I feel like it is MY city. I wish I was there, locked in with friends, watching the news and hugging them. I feel so helpless on the other side of the state, so far away.
As soon as I’m able I’m going to the city and having a moment in the Common before heading to all my favorite places. My heart aches for the city, I wish I was there.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:15 pm
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who feels this way. We are trying to make plans to get back to the city sometime soon as well.
Oh I so know how you feel.. I live in Michigan. I’ve been here for almost 10 years, and I still call Boston home. It’ll always be home to me. You’re not alone!
beantownbaker — April 21st, 2013 @ 6:07 pm
Glad to hear I’m not the only one. I definitely think Boston will always feel like home to both me and Hubby.
I know exactly how you feel – I am a 2004 graduate of Virginia Tech. I was at work when the April 16th incident happened in Blacksburg, and I felt SO far away, and SO hopeless – the only place I wanted to be was in my beloved Blacksburg.
To make matters worse, I flew to Missouri the next day (for work) for 3.5 weeks. It seemed that the people out there had ALREADY moved on from the tragedy – it just made NO sense to me. I cried most of those 3 weeks, and since I was out there by myself it was a struggle.
I have always loved Boston, and I know that that community will love and support one another, just as Blacksburg did (and still does). It was the sixth anniversary this past Tuesday, and with everything happening in Boston, and the thoughts of VT and Blacksburg, it was an extremely long and tiring week.
Stay strong.
beantownbaker — April 22nd, 2013 @ 11:46 am
That sounds like a horrible situation for you in the aftermath of the VTech tragedy. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your story.