soapdragon Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Yup, The Franklins are on the move again! We are off to Bruges for a few days at Feb half term and I wondered if anyone has been recently and has any pointers? We are travelling by Eurostar ( a first for all of us!) early on Tuesday morning (after an overnight stay in London on Monday) and should arrive around 2.30pm. We then have all the following day and virtually all of Thursday as we need to leave Bruges station late afternoon/early evening. We are staying centrally and, apart from Historium and Groenigs (sp?) museum are not sure what else will fit in! Also, if anyone can make any food recommendations (long shot!) that would be helpful! Thanks, in advance, peeps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Yes. We went on the canal boat tour. It was very touristy and we really enjoyed it and everyone on board seemed to enjoy it. If you walk along the canal there is a convent to visit and the streets are cobbled and quaint. I think I'm right in saying it's polite to learn the basic Belgian phrases like thank you etc but not polite to use French as a substitute. There are loads of places to eat everywhere and you tend to get pulled in by waiters looking for customers but that's ok. Prepare to pay more for anything. Lots of lovely scenes to photograph and post on here. There is a steam boat that takes you for a very relaxing trip up a canal to a small village and back but I can't remember the details. Bruges is nice to stroll around and eat ice cream and chocolate. I also hope you enjoy your night in London. Have a great trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 Thanks for that, PL. I think we may miss the canal trips as all the tourist blurb I can find says they rum March to November We'll certainly do lots of walking and I am looking forward to chocolate and chips (tho' not eaten together ) As for our London overnighter - we are planning to leave home mid morning and take the train locally to Paddington then u/g through to St Pancras. Have booked Premier Inn near there so will dump suitcase and probably head off to The Museum of London (not only fascinating but free !) Neither boys nor OH have been there but I love it and am looking forward to going again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I love that museum too. I love how you wend your way through the history of London. It's like walking through a story book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Never been to Bruges, but apparently there is a chips museum. There is also a Brugge city card, with which hou can visit many sites for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Silly question - potato chips or those in a casino? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 Potato chips! National dish of Belgium, eaten with mayonnaise - yum! That's my culinary requirements sorted for the trip then Not to mention the chocolate - maybe I'd better pack a size bigger jeans for the return journey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 We had them when we went to Brussels. They are good. And chocolate and lace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Went yonks ago, so don't remember much - was tiny, so easy to walk around, and rather pretty. Canal tour was good, but most of the town is very touristy. Personally, I wouldn't bother going back after one day, but then I prefer to be off the beaten track. Do go off down side streets and strike out beyond the town I have to add that the shine was rather taken off the trip for me because I was treated to it and we went on a coach/Eurostar and I hate coach travel - we seemed to be on the bluddy thing most of the day. I like to me master of my own destiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share Posted February 17, 2018 We went, we saw .... and we came home again! Lovely city and, in spite of truculent teenager and whingy choc obsessed 10 yr old, it was, in the main, great! Did lots of walking and found some gems....Historium was the highlight (can be Googled and is def recommended!) Esp the Virtual Reality bit. Too cold for a boat trip on the canals but some great museums with lovely Medieval paintings and, boy's favourite, chocolate museum where you got to eat as much as you wanted. I have to say it was very interesting to try chocolate from different countries (Peru v Costa Rican) and learn more about the early history of chocolate. Eurostar going out was a doddle and so well organised but, from Brussels, it was chaos! I think they just don't have enough room to 'hold' two trainsworths of people, as St Pancras does, so there was a HUGE long line of passengers waiting ages to be processed! As always, the secret of a good city break seems to be to build in some 'wander time' as we discovered some lovely buildings and shops with (to us) very funny/odd names. I also got to visit a proper Kipling shop, albeit briefly, which was Heaven! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Sounds like a great trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Glad you had a good trip Soapdragon. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Glad it went well. I agree that just wandering about can be fun. I like just watching people going about their business in foreign countries. It's the same but different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 People watching is fun, PL and I also enjoy going round supermarkets in other countries (or, rather, mini markets as we are usually in a city centre) looking at prices, brands etc. Odd, as the weekly supermarket run at home is NOT my favourite thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
