Brugge can be overwhelming. Many of the guidebooks, web guides, and travel forums I consulted prior to my trip say you can spend one day in the city and see everything there is to see. I'm here to tell you that couldn't be further from the truth. Although I didn't like Brugge at first, I learned (eventually) that like any other city, it needs to be savored--slowly--to be … [Read more...] about Burnout in Brugge’s Grote Markt
Belgium
Dealing With Disappointment In Brugge
I knew I’d have a strong reaction to Brugge. As the single most visited city in Belgium, I had great expectations for Brugge as a destination and figured it would be a traveler’s wonderland. The scant research I’d done before my trip told me to expect one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities. As a history and architecture buff, as well as a student of medieval … [Read more...] about Dealing With Disappointment In Brugge
Riding the Rails in Belgium
While some wince at the idea of traveling anywhere by train, I welcome the opportunity to sit back and watch the world flow past my window like a moving picture. So when it came time to travel from city to city on my recent trip to Belgium, I knew that taking the train would be the perfect option for me. And although the experience wasn’t completely flawless, I’d definitely … [Read more...] about Riding the Rails in Belgium
5 Reasons It’s Okay to Love the Manneken Pis
When I arrived in Brussels I had no fixed plans. I had prepared myself to walk around and simply explore and find the city’s treasures on my own. However, there was one well-known attraction that didn’t interest me in the least. Call me stuffy or call me a prude but at no time did I have any intention of seeking out Brussels’ most famous resident: the Manneken Pis. … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons It’s Okay to Love the Manneken Pis
14 Things No One Tells You About Traveling to Belgium
Whenever you plan a trip, there are lots of resources in print and online for all the various things you might want to see and do. As I prepared to travel to Belgium, I did a lot of reading about which attractions were worth visiting, where I could eat the best frites, and how to make the most of my time there. But then there's the stuff the guides leave out. Here's my list of … [Read more...] about 14 Things No One Tells You About Traveling to Belgium