cmeyer54

I'm meeting my DH in Brussels and then taking the train to Brugges on 9/7 early morning. He will have to work both the 7th and 8th but we'll have the day together on the 9th. This is his second trip, my first. Since I will have two solo days, I'm thinking that I'll go to Ypres for one day and do some walking tours in Brugges on the second day. Any suggestions on a cathedral or two, museum or two? I'm guessing we'll do a canal tour together on Saturday. Honestly, we spent two weeks in Italy earlier this summer on holiday and I'm a bit over-churched and museumed at this point! Thanks -

PalQ

to escape from churches, Flemish art, lace and cute canals in Bruges, flea to nearby Blakkenburg, a classy seaside resort with lots of restaurants, seaside promenade - go with hubby for dinner - something different and just a few minutes from Bruges by frequent trains.

ChevyChasen

will you be there on the 10th? it is heritage day in flanders.

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/ev...8326.jml#dates

cmeyer54

We return home on the 10th - planning to take an early train back to Brussels and catch our return flight at noon. darn!!!!!

pixie

Had 3 nights in Brugges (a bit too long for just Brugges) but it's so lovely. Dinner at Brasserie Souffleur was excellent. Had a bad experience trying to rent a bike from the shop next to this restaurant (guy was so rude to me and not others, helping them adjust their seats, handle bars etc. just threw a bike at me and said there you go! I was a bit shocked and asked for help with the lock, he barely showed me, asked for a map he had none, and just went on helping another couple, even the guy he was helping looked at me surprised, so needless to say I left without taking the bike) think it was my one and only antiAmerican experience in my 32 day trip to Europe. Canal tour a must, ofcourse, Memling museum is quite good. I walked to Damme (not much happening there) there is a paddle boat takes 30mins to get there. I wish I had gone to Ghent. But enjoy it's a wonderful city. Mmmmmmm the chocolate and pastries, oh how I miss them!!

stardust

PalQ,

I think that with "Blakkenburg" you mean Blankenberge, which is indeed a seaside resort but for from classy! The classy one you're looking for is Knokke(-Heist) !

Tulips

And Knokke is easy to do by train as well. If you're over-churched and museumed, you could always go there, rent bicycles, see the Zwin nature reserve, have an excellent lunch (Rubens, on Rubens plein, or any of the places along the coast) then train back. Providing the weather's good, which it looks like it might be this week.

Felly

I think going to Ypres would be a good idea. You can rent a bike there and do the WWI self-guided tour (an outdoor historical tour would make a nice change from museums).

You could also spend the day in Antwerp. Nothing is very far away in Belgium by train.