We met our good friends from Brookings, SD - Keith and Cathy Rounds in Antwerp, Belgium. They had arrived in Amsterdam earlier in the week so we connected up for a visit to the insanely picturesque medieval town of Bruges, Belgium.
Bruges has been a tourist attraction for anyone traveling through Belgium. By the 14th century, Bruges (Brugge locally) was one of Europe's leading trade centers. During the next century, the waterway linking the city to the sea silted up. This shut down the trade, leading the townsfolk and traders to abandon the city. At one time, the city had 40,000 people - as many as London at the time.
On our way out of Bruges, we bypassed Brussels to find the small town of Orbais where Keith's family lineage can be traced back. Stopping by an old church, we found next to it an old cemetery where the family name was engraved on some large memorial stones.
Local breweries abound in Belgium and one of the oldest is Zot from Bruges. If you need another flavor to try, just visit the wall of beers which leads to a beautiful terrace off the canal.
 |
| One of many canals that wind their way through the old city. |
 |
| Local Brew! |
 |
| The wall of Belgium Beers! |
 |
| Cathy, Mary and Keith on the bridge at dusk |
 |
| Possibly the most photographed corner of any village in Europe |
 |
| Great sound of horse and buggy on the cobblestone streets |
 |
| An example of exquisitely crafted facades and window arches |
 |
| Close up of the carvings above each window - some complicated story depicted here |
 |
| View from a cafe canalside |
 |
| Keith's family name "Balzat" from Orbais, Belgium |
No comments:
Post a Comment