Thursday

It is 10:02 pm,so this will likely be quick.  Today was terrific.  All was quiet till 9:00 am when Sara said, "mama, papa, i'm awake I'm ready".  That is her standard thing to say.  So we all got up, dressed, gathered for breakfast in the dining room, and set out for our walk.  

There are "sights" here, like museums and things but the best "sight" is the town itself.  No kidding it is so much like time travel, back to the time of Columbus, or earlier.  The cloth trade made Brugge very rich and powerful, so all the wealthy tradesmen and some nobles lived here and the buildings are all still here like a time capsule.  The houses are usually brick, and I think each tells a story.  I never tire of just looking around as we walk.  

Our first stop today was the edge of town by the moat.  Well, it used to be the moat, now it is a peaceful canal.  There are four windmills there, up high on hills. We climbed up the hill and stood under the huge, towering, windmill.  Such strength.  You can just imagine how powerful they were from how they were built.  Sara  liked the windmill but was more attracted to the plush green park down a rock paved path.  We played ball with her, and she ran, ran, ran, and was so happy to play.  I took some time to cuddle with Julia by the moat, strolling under some huge trees that made rain drops land on my head when the wind blew, even though it was a sunny blue sky day.  I guess the leaves on the tree were so big they were like cups holding water.  It was fun, and Julia enjoyed it too.  

After that, we left the windmill area and started a 4.5 mile walk, all over town.  Oh, it was just fun.  We found side streets that were so awesome, it was almost like you had to pinch yourself.  The original houses that line the wavy, curvy, cobblestone streets rise up from the ground and seem to lean a bit.  Most have step gables, ornate brickwork around the windows, and look like something out of Charles dickens England.  

And it isn't just that there is 'some' cute buildings, the whole place is like that.  What a joy.  We found a cute outdoor cafe, and ordered lunch.  I soup and bread, dan had some sort of hot sandwich and fries.  (French fries are Belgian, not French!). Julia sat on Dane's lap for the meal.