a beautiful day in beautiful Bruges!

We watched the weather for days before we came to Belgium. We had been here before and found it rainy and cool, so we wanted to visit Bruges this time on the nicest day forecast for the week that we would be here. 

That day turned out to be Sunday- which would not have been our first choice but worked out well anyway- so off we went- via train from Brussels Centraal station- and then a bus in Bruges into the city center to start a walk we had found in a guide book.  It started in Markt Square - we stopped for frites at a stand (only OK) and then moved on to follow the walk around the old town.

after we got passed the Markt and Burg squares we found a boat trip on the canals for a respite from walking and also to get a different perspective on this charming city. (Also the last time we had done this was in the rain under umbrellas in these open topped boats.)

then we continued the walk and after that we decided to stop for a drink. some more walking and then some retracing of our steps back to the Burg Square to sit a short time before our dinner reservation at Pergola.

(we need these signs on our garages)

The restaurant was lovely and the service very welcoming- we had shrimp croquettes (both), white asparagus (for me) and jamon iberico bellota (for Phil) - then Phil had lamb with foie gras and I had the sole meuniere... we skipped dessert (for once) and had some chocolate on the train home - having earned it after a fast paced walk back to the station for our train back to Brussels.

the starters-

the mains-

and here is all that was left of my sole when I was finished! LOL- I think I did a very good job of fileting the fish- lots of practice on my opponent's witnesses I guess- LOL (only kidding)

and so we had a very successful foray to Bruges this trip- and the weather is not expected to hold up so better "strike while the iron is hot" as they say!

We plan a quiet day tomorrow (weather is supposed to be uncooperative) and then Antwerp on Tuesday when we are supposed to get a bit better weather... then off Wednesday to Amsterdam (train tickets already purchased!) stay tuned!