BRUGES AND BRUSSELLS

No photographs! Why? The battery in the camera had run flat!!

We took the Eurostar from Ashford International which left at 6.58 am. Early start made worse by missing the M20 turnoff the M25 due to heavy truck traffic. Found ourselves 15 miles too far down the M25 and had to turn back and go like blazes once we got back to the M20. Managed the 40 miles in under half an hour thanks to the trusty Vectra racing along at 90 mph.

Arrived at Brussells and found a lack of information available as to how we were to find a train for Brugges - but finally managed and had an enjoyable one hour trip through lovely Belgium countryside.

Of course it was raining so we took a taxi to the Hotel where we were greeted by a most friendly lady and dropped our bags off.Following her directions we were in the Old City Square in no time and enchanted with the beautiful old buildings. Pity about the rain. We had an enjoyable lunch at a restaraunt on the square - Carol had a bowl of mussells you couldn't jump over. Then we wandered down to the tourist information centre through narrow winding streets and di some window shopping en route of course.

Back to the hotel feeling very weary and decided on a bottle of wine and cheese and ham rolls. The hotel gladly provided knives and plates for us. Early to bed.

Much refreshed and after a very nice breakfast we decided on an escorted bike ride through the town and country. We were the only two on the toour so we had the undevided attention of our guide which was super. The riding was quite easy and Len's fears of not being able to go the distance soon evaporated. We rode through the old city, out to the new part, and then onto the lane alongside the Napoleon Canal. We went 5 kms along the canal to the village of Damme, a historic place associated with the early royalty. It was here that Hilda told us about Napoleon's impact on the area. Firstly he had instigated a census requiring everyone to adopt a surname. They had previously only had one name. Some of the eople took this very lightheartedly and so there were several Fukkers/Shitters/Pissers registered!It was Napoleon who set France (and Europe generally) on the practice of driving on the right hand side of the road. This was because he used his left hand to hold a sword and defend himself and that allowed him room to engage his enemies - at least that is what Hilda told us!

Back in Bruggewe had a light lunch and then took a boat ride through the canals which gave a very interesting aspect to the City and its buildings.
We splashed out for a super dinner that night and decided that in the morning we would take the train back into Brussells to spend some time there before taking the Eurostar back to Ashford.

At the Brussells station we parked the luggage in a locker, and took a tram into the City centre.We got off at the Bourse and walked down a couple of streets until we were into the Grand Square which really does take the breath away. It is a large are with the four sides lines with magnificent building, all superbly maintained. Len went into the Brussells Museum while Carol did a walkabout. After a lunch of Kebabs (!) we took a city bus tour which was great value. It lasted for nearly two hours and visited just about every possible site of interest . The EEC presence is enormous.

And so back to Eurostar and Ashford, where we were surprised to find ourselves off the train and innto our car in no time at all and racing off back along the M20. Home by 10.30.