In Bruges

...minus Colin Farrell, sadly, but still my favourite city in Belgium so far. I've only been to Antwerp, Liege, Bruges, and of course Leuven, but I can easily say I enjoyed Bruges the most. It's picturesque and the perfect classical representation of Belgium. Belgians will often tell you that Bruges is too touristy and "Disneyland" for their taste - they prefer the similar yet less busy city of Ghent - but I have no complaints. Sure it was a little crowded here and there, but I'm used to dodging bikes when school's out in Leuven, so it didn't bother me for a moment. Once I make it to Ghent I'll let you know who wins the battle of the Bruges. (Side note: Bruges and Brugge are the same place, so if you Google it then the city could show up either way). Enjoy this post on my family's trip to Bruges on March 30th.

The cutest little city of canals, bridges, and peaked buildings.

I didn't even up the saturation on this one - the sky was actually that blue. 

 Church of Our Lady Bruges

This place, The Old Chocolate House, was not messing around. Their sign, mostly hidden, in the photo above reads "taste the best hot chocolate in the world", and they aren't just saying that. This wasn't one of those hole-in-the-wall 'world famous pizza' type situations (as if the pizza next to a 7/11 is really world famous). I can honestly say that the hot chocolate here was the best and most unique I've ever had.

When walking into The Old Chocolate House you first get a peek at their retail shop, where you can purchase assorted chocolates, spreads, and the chips they use in their drinks.

From left to right: dark, salted caramel, and milk chocolate x3 all in 100% chocolate cups.

The server brought out our chocolates of choice on a silver platter, literally, and then followed close behind with bowl-sized steaming hot cups of milk and mini whisks. He gave us the rundown - basically you just dump the chocolate into the milk and stir. It sounds so simple, but the quality of the chocolate really makes all the difference. I opted for dark chocolate so only ended up using half of my chips, which meant leftovers to take home for enjoying on a rainy day. Everyone at the table, aside from my mom (with the salted caramel), chose to go classic - but they do offer a variety of concoctions and add-ons that I'd love to try next time. 

Did I forget to mention that they also make fresh, crispy, and delicious waffles? Well they do. 

The belfry of Bruges is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre and is one of the city's most prominent symbols. Good thing my mom, dad, and I watched the movie "In Bruges" before coming to Belgium, because it made seeing this tower and square much cooler. Something about being featured in films or on TV makes cities and landmarks seem almost unreal. 

The bell tower's courtyard

1 of 1000 outdoor brasseries in Bruges (not a fact, but it's probably not a stretch). 

Now, enjoy some pictures of what Bruges is most visited for: the picturesque and postcard-worthy buildings, bridges, and canals.

What a poser 

Vogue 

Another great showcase of Belgium's signature architectural design, the crow-stepped gable (a.k.a. the stairway-type peaked roof).

That about wraps up Bruges. What I didn't manage to get pictures of were all of the adorable streets and shops we browsed and explored. Nearly every shop, inside and out, carried on the city's almost "grandma's house" theme. It seems as though the "Disneyland" quality of Bruges that some Belgians aren't a fan of is what keeps the city cute and toy-like; so even if it isn't completely authentic, I definitely appreciate the maintenance of the aesthetic. 

After loading up on souvenirs and chocolates, we headed home to Leuven. I definitely plan on going back - until next time, Bruges!

- Alexandra