Bruges, Belgium has the distinction of being one of those rare places I’ve visited more than once while living in Europe. I’ve been there in summer and over Christmas and it is such a delightful little town. I love it so much I’m hoping to experience it, someday, in the autumn and the spring!

Try the waffles

Let’s be real: one of the main reasons you are probably going to Belgium is the famous Belgian waffles, and you must try them immediately! Try the Liege waffle, named after a city/region, and take it for a stroll while you get oriented to the adorable Bruges. You can get it loaded with ice cream, whipped cream, the works–like I did below–but I think they’re just as delicious plain and warm from the waffle-maker.

Climb the Belfry of Bruges

You won’t miss the Belfry, smack dab in the middle of the main square, or Markt. There’s been a belfry on this spot since around 1240, when Bruges was in its heyday. The climb isn’t bad and the views are gorgeous! Go on a clear morning to beat the crowds, and ideally your first day, to help you get oriented to the little city.

Take a canal tour–from a boat!

This is quite a touristy pastime in Bruges (it’s not an undiscovered city by far!) but it’s so wonderful to see the beautiful city from the water. The tours last about thirty minutes and give you a good, quick overview of the city’s history. I loved learning the specific history of more of the distinctive buildings we passed.

Choose the best fries in the Markt.

Apparently there is a debate over which fries are better–the ones from the cart on the left-side of the Belfry or the ones on the right-side. Really, you’ll just have to try both to decide for yourself! It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it.

Visit the Groeninge Museum

If you are an art lover, this is a must-see! It’s a fairly compact museum with quite a few painting by important Flemish artists. Most of the paintings in this museum are from before the Renaissance, to give you an idea of how long Bruges history is.

View Madonna and Child

That’s right, there’s a Michelangelo…in Bruges! This tells you what a powerhouse Bruges was in the thirteenth century. This was actually the only piece of his to leave Italy during his lifetime. The Church of Our Lady, where you can find the statue, is also a beautiful cathedral to visit.

Visit the Chocolate Line

I know you’ve heard of Belgian chocolate–and it most definitely lives up to the hype. You can pop into almost any chocolate shop and be happy, I think, but you must visit the Chocolate Line–reputed as some of the best in the world. My now-husband tried the Cuban cigar flavor, mostly to say that he had, and I tried the lavender. This is a pricey spot that probably won’t be where you buy your souvenir chocolates, but it’s worth a visit just to try the most interesting flavors around.

Bicycle to the nearby town of Damme

Damme is a mini-Bruges a leisurely bike ride away from the actual Bruges. This was one of my favorite activities we did while in Bruges because you bike along a canal and past windmills. It is incredibly picturesque! It’s also nice to get away from the city and into the countryside of Belgium. The town itself is cute and has its own little church and is known for its bookstores and book fairs.

Find your favorite Belgian beer

Yet another gastronomic delight Belgian is famous for? The beer, of course! I quickly found my favorite (Kasteel Donker, if you’re wondering) but doing a tasting at a place like Cambrinus is another way to go. It’s not a hardship to taste a few before choosing the best, after all. Just remember, Belgian beer tends to be strong compared to most beer, so take your time unless you really want to party!

Get lost in the streets

Bruges is a magical little city that often does feel lost in time. However, there are a lot of tourists. Luckily, just a few blocks away from the main tourist center and the Markt, you’ll be able to find quieter, small streets to explore. Follow your feet and see where the charming little streets take you!

BONUS: Visit the Christmas festive-ness around town–from various Christmas trees, to a market, and more!

This one obviously depends on when you go, but I can attest that Bruges at Christmas is just as magical as you might suppose. There’s even a holiday-themed version of my favorite beer!

Have you been to Bruges? What would you recommend for a first-time visitor?

Originally published for Big World, Small Me. If you’re not already following Sara, you should! 

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Christmas in Europe, however, doesn’t have this rule. In addition, in case you haven’t heard, Christmas in Europe is completely magical. The only thing missing tends to be snow, depending on where you are (my hometown in Montana definitely wins on the snow front!). But, Europe has Christmas markets so…maybe it still wins ;).

I’ve been lucky enough to spend several Christmases in Europe, and very spoiled to visit quite a few markets over those years. Here are a few of my favorites!

Budapest

I had to give a shout out to my former home, of course! There are markets all over the city, some catered more to tourists, and some catered more to locals.

Cologne

Cologne, and Germany in general, might be the king of Christmas markets. There are no less than seven markets scattered throughout the city, each with a different theme. My favorite was the gnome-themed market, but the one by the famous Cologne Cathedral is a must-see, too!

Bruges

Bruges is wonderful any time of year, but Christmas is especially wonderful! The market there is tiny, but the whole city really feels like a Christmas market.

Prague

I couldn’t make this list without including Prague, of course! Prague is even more fairy tale-esque at Christmas, if you can imagine. There are a few Christmas markets scattered across the city, but my favorite is the one in Old Town Square, because you just can’t beat that ambiance!

Frankfurt  

We met our friends last year in Frankfurt and I didn’t have very high hopes for some reason–but the Christmas market we went to there, in the old square, was delightful!

Nuremberg

Nuremberg might be one of Germany’s most famous, and while it isn’t my favorite, the city is pretty much taken over by Christmas and it’s so fun to visit!

Brussels

Brussels also has quite a few markets scattered over the city, but really the best part is the light show in the Grand-Place, if you ask me! And watching with a waffle in hand…even better.

This week was also the final week of the Bake Along Bake Off with Amanda! I used this chance to….make more bread. Surprise! I didn’t have a really good bread bake this year, although this week was okay, and the signature challenge for the final week was three different types of rolls.

I’m going to play the pregnancy card (again) and let you know that I only made one type of roll. I mean, I’m nine months pregnant here!

The rolls I did make, though, using this recipe, Braided Brioche Rolls, were amazing!

And absolutely, totally informal, as Mary Berry would say.

I think it was cold in our house because they didn’t rise very much–until they exploded in the oven that is!

One (out of six…) of the rolls turned out fairly neatly, and became the star of the show. Still, the rest were equally delicious!

I can’t believe it’s my last bake for this year! And that this is my second year in a row participating. Some of my best bakes over the past two years: these cream puffs, this pizza, these tiny chocolate cakes, my first spun sugar, this amazing bread, and my pumpkin cake!

The best thing about the baking challenge is getting back in the kitchen–baking is so relaxing and creative. Also, it’s been my major form of nesting–our freezer is stuffed with baked goods for after baby ;).

Here’s to more baking the rest of this year, and next year!

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I had always dreamed of spending a Christmas in Europe–the markets! the mulled wine! the quaint villages covered in snow!–but when our Christmas in Europe rolled around, I felt quite homesick. So, like many an expat, to combat these feelings, I planned a trip!

We traveled to new places before and after Christmas, but for actual Christmas we decided to go somewhere we’d been before. We thought this would take the pressure off. I, particularly, suffer from the “I-must-see-every-new-thing” mindset and I didn’t want that to happen on Christmas, especially as most new places to see would be closed, anyway.

It ended up being a really lovely Christmas in Bruges. We managed to keep some of our usual traditions–Christmas movies, Christmas Eve service, Christmas pajamas–but enjoyed our days in Bruges. On Christmas Eve, we explored the little Christmas market, listened to music, and did all of our favorite Bruges things: walked by the canals, ate French fries, visited our favorite pubs and had our favorite beers. We also had a lot of cheese…because Christmas?

On Christmas Day, we talked with our families, opened a few presents, had breakfast at our inn, watched a few movies, and ate at one of the only establishments open: an Indian restaurant. It was a little lonely to be away from everyone, but loneliness doesn’t last long in the adorable Bruges.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

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Let’s start with the obvious

The beach

Cute canals and waterways

The canals of Bruges & Ghent

City views and sunsets

 

A selection of museums

Gardens and war memorials

 

Quite the choice in events throughout the year too

 Failing everything, good connections to the rest of Europe

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Although I had heard many accounts to the contrary (Andrea for one!), I wasn’t very excited to visit Ghent, Belgium. The guidebooks had more to say, certainly, but the phrase that I most remember reading about Ghent was that it was a “grittier, dirtier Bruges.” Which may be true, but in all honesty this does Ghent an injustice. I’m not sure it should be compared to Bruges at all, for they had very different vibes, even though are both canal towns in Belgium.

In addition to this phrase floating through my brain, my love for Bruges is true. I couldn’t imagine liking a city that was like Bruges, but worse. I was having a hard time opening up my heart for Ghent.

Then, I got there.

Upon first sight, it’s not impressive, and when we disembarked the train I was sure my suspicions of this being a waste of time were true (especially since Paris was our next stop). Waiting in the absolutely cold rain/snow/sleet for a tram that took a solid twenty minutes to show up didn’t help, either.

Note: Twenty minutes for public transportation is not that unreasonable. But in Prague, it is practically unheard of unless it’s three a.m.! I’m spoiled! 

Neither did our hostel. It was certainly clean and comfortable enough, but not charming, or cute, and was located in an area that seemed to be just banks and other shops that were closed. If we hadn’t been hannnngry, I would have holed up in our room and not left until the next day.

Luckily, my stomach protested this plan, and off we went in search of food.

Despite the cold, and the wet, and my general attitude, I slowly began to be charmed by Ghent. We ran smack into a canal, ate at a pub that sort of looked like my dream house, and as the darkness fell, we found incredible old buildings, explored tiny alleys, found a gorgeous clock tower, and came across perfectly picturesque Christmas market, even though Christmas was a few days past.

Whenever I mention that I’m not interested in visiting somewhere, E reminds me of Ghent (or Berlin, or the countless other places I’ve had low expectations for that have absolutely surprised me).

I didn’t get the best pictures of Ghent, because in my terrible attitude I didn’t bring my camera for that walk and didn’t expect to find anything too picture-worthy. Luckily, I had my phone, so I am able to share a bit of Ghent with you!

The moral of the story is? Give every place a fighting chance–and give yourself more than one night for Ghent.

^^the train station in Ghent is also really cool!

Linking up with Travel Tuesday! 

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Now that I’ve been to Belgium twice, I can say that my love for this little country is true. We spent a fairy tale few days in Bruges in the summer of 2013, and then traveled this past Christmas to Brussels, Bruges and Ghent. Going in the height of summer and in the middle of the Christmas season were fairly different experiences, but a few things were constant: the waffles, the fries, the beer, the chocolate, the charm, the friendly people, and the fact that Bruges is a fully discovered tourist spot (and will be crowded even in winter).

I feel that Belgium is often overlooked for nearby biggies Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Now that I’ve traveled in all of those countries (although only to Valkenburg in the Netherlands!) I think that Belgium still holds its own. Every time I visit Bruges, I don’t want to leave, and I after exploring more, I feel that way about the rest of Belgium, too. And not just because of the fries (but seriously, the fries).

Linking up with Skimbaco Lifestyle!

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p.s. I’ve been nominated to participate in bab.la and lexophiles.com “Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs” competition! Click the image to vote for me, if you’d like.

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I admit I’m feeling very good about Prague right now, and I’m looking forward to seeing what month six has in store!

But first…

(please excuse the length, this month was a big one!)

FIVE MONTHS IN PRAGUE: BY THE NUMBERS

TWELVE Christmas-themed English lessons. If you have to work, might as well continue to be festive, right?

ONE EVENING at the National Theatre for the Nutcracker!

THREE HOURS of chocolate overload with Andrea at the Choco Cafe.

2.5 WEEKS (and counting…) of the cold that won’t go away.

NINE Christmas movies watched to fully embrace the season.

FOUR Christmas packages received! Thanks to all of our fantastic family and friends for those, they are so appreciated! I love it all so much I’m hoarding it in one spot so I can look at it all…

ELEVEN Christmas Markets in total. Two in Prague, one in Valkenburg, one in Bruges, one in Brussels, one in Ghent, one in Paris, and FOUR in Germany. They all had their charms, but the markets in Cologne, Germany were certainly my favorite. Especially the Heinzelmännchen market, or the “Gnome Market” as known to us.

SEVERAL HOURS in Cologne hanging out with Jessi & crew and Sara & her Dan! I love spontaneous blogger meet-ups. (how did I not take any pictures of this??)

THOUSANDS of festive lights seen–on Christmas trees, adorning streets, in light shows, sparkling on the Eiffel Tower.

ONE water bottle full of champagne for New Year’s Eve in Paris. Nothing but class up in here.

SEVEN incredible, busy, overwhelming, crazy, confusing, beautiful, wonderful days in Paris.

400 STEPS up the Tours de Notre-Dame for my favorite view of Paris, and to visit the Chimera gallery, where I learned that the statues I actually thought were gargoyles are actually called chimeras. Gargoyles are actually the ornamental rain drains. Who knew? We had to wait in line for two hours, and we were supposed to be heading to the airport any minute, but I am so glad we made it up into the towers. I cried when I saw the chimeras and the incredible view of Paris.

45 MINUTES in a Christmas market cave.

SIXTEEN DAYS traveling through Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

EIGHT cities/towns visited during these sixteen days–Charleroi (Belgium), Cologne, Valkenburg (the Netherlands), Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Paris and Versailles (which is also a city, not just a palace).

SEVENTEEN PEOPLE talked to via FaceTime in Texas on December 27…I missed a family reunion on my mother’s side, but I was happy to be able to see everyone this way!

THREE Christmas phone calls. We missed our families and friends but it was great to see their faces on the holiday.

FIVE NIGHTS with a view of the Eiffel Tower from our flat (since it was a studio, we had a view from the table, bed and kitchen! #winning #smug).

TWO NIGHTS in a horrible flat in Paris with no heat and a moldy shower…we earned those five nights with a view and that smugness!

TOO MANY STAIRS to count. Paris especially seems to be the land of stairs–we walked up and down in the Louvre, up three spiral staircases to our flat, up and down in Versailles, up and down the Arc de Triomphe, up and down the Tours de Notre-Dame, up and down to the river…

POSSIBLY ONE MILLION MILES walked on our Christmas trip. Despite the amount of food and beverages we consumed (see below), E and I both lost weight because we were on the move so much!

A RETURN VISIT to our favorite bar in Belgium, Café Terrastje, for some of my favorite beer, Kasteel Donker, and some ham & cheese pasta.

EIGHT HOURS in the Louvre.

ENDLESS amounts of good food consumed, from potato fritters to waffles to fries (oh I love my Belgian fries!) to crepes to raclette to croissants to chips to macarons to salmon to steak to duck to lasagna to pasta to na’an to curry.

TOO MUCH glühwein, wine, champagne, coffee, cocoa and beer to count. Not that I’m complaining…

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QUESTION:

Even though it’s halfway through January, how was your December??

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Linking up with Nicole. 

The post Five Months in Prague (By the Numbers) appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Merry merry Christmas from Belgium!

I had some trepidation about Christmas abroad, away from my family and everything familiar.

While it was a strange Christmas, and certainly different, it ended up being a wonderful day.

We ate a delicious breakfast at our little hotel, wandered around the always charming Bruges (which was definitely not deserted on Christmas!), ate Belgium fries, had Belgium beer, exchanged a few small gifts, talked to our families, had Indian food that we’ve been craving for awhile, and watched a few of our favorite Christmas movies–namely Christmas Vacation, Love Actually and Die Hard (obviously). While I’m far away from almost everyone I love, Christmas was still full of what it should be full of–joy, laughter, family, love, gratitude, expressions of love from those near and far, Christmas lights, a festive atmosphere, a few little gifts, great food and fun.  What more could a girl ask for?

I’m grateful we decided to take a trip and try to make the most of Christmas in Europe. I’m especially grateful today, now that Christmas is over (tear) that we still have over a week of traveling, and week to look forward to in PARIS!

Wherever you are, whatever you do, I hope Christmas was wonderful for you and yours. As always, thanks for reading and sharing in my experience.

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I spoke of their amazing, fresh breakfast once before, but as our first time staying at a true bed and breakfast, this breakfast will be hard to beat. Fresh bread, fresh eggs, an assortment of real butter and jam, accompanied by delicious coffee and more.

I was immediately charmed by Calis (way before we had the breakfast!). It’s in a skinny building with winding stairs and friendly proprietors. The views from our room gave us a nice glimpse of the alley around Calis, and our white, fluffy bed was so tempting after the jet lag!

We stayed in the African Room, obviously themed, with an en suite bathroom (including a bathtub! one of my very favorite things!) and plenty of space. We chose this larger room for three of our four nights because we were belatedly celebrating E’s birthday. We stayed in a smaller room for the last night, although it felt just as luxurious (but alas, had no bathtub…a cool shower though).

I loved the little details of Calis and the fact that it is a small business. Everything felt thoughtful and I almost felt like we were family while we stayed. Calis solidified my love of these smaller, boutique hotels…when I can afford them! The personal details make such a difference.

Bruges and Calis were a fantastic introduction to Europe for us, although they completely spoiled us, especially since, at our next stop in Lille, France, we had a disgusting room–so disgusting we stayed for one night instead of the originally planned two! But that’s another story.

I’m so glad I did extensive research and ended up choosing Calis. Not only was it a great introduction to Europe, it was also essential to our recovery of jet lag. Comfort is important for jet lag, when you can get it!

To learn more about Calis and to make reservations, be sure to visit their website.

^^E in front of Calis. He doesn’t look it but we were both totally charmed.

^^the view from the African Room.

^^sunset!

^^our amazing breakfast! E is obviously thrilled.

I’m not sure if this is necessary but I received no compensation for this review!

Linking up with Nicole!

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