Day: 20
Countries: 6 Cities:
10
Bruges, Belgium -->
The last train...
Friday 8 January 2016
Have you ever seen those little, circular, antique beer
platters with raised rims and old beer logos/ads on them, the ones like
waiters/waitresses before might have used to bear brews to parched patrons, (the
ones like dad had collected from bygone eras that still hang collecting dust on
our little kitchen/bar area in the basement)—yeah, those are the ones. Well, if
you can picture them, then you can
picture this place where we are currently sitting. Because they line the walls and ceilings of
this place. And the head-nodding/foot-tapping tunes of days from that same
bygone era, mingled with the din of conversation fills the room. Welcome to the
Delirium Café, home to the Delirium brand of beer and serving up some 500 other
types of brews.
Anyway. Started at the end and now circle back to the
beginning of the day… : Up around 9 after a decent night’s sleep. Cram
everything into backpacks and it barely fits in three. Go to this organic,
bread cafe for breakfast. Panic and don't know what to order so just go with
the bread option. Literally just different kinds of bread with a plethora of
options for different spreads, as well as fresh OJ and coffee. But it was
really good bread and good homemade jams and a variety to choose. The breakfast
place was cool but not quite as good or friendly as Books and Brunch.
After, shopping. Stop in a bookstore and get postcards. Get
sucked into a pajama store with huge sale signs, lured in by soft looking
jammies and 50% off stickers. The trap worked.
More excited about pajamas than I was about them when I was little and
had a miniature nightgown for my Barbie that matched my own. But after the same two tshirts and sweatpants
for the last few weeks, I’m more than a little excited to wear them (clean and
real pajamas) in my own bed with clean and comfy sheets. And more than one
dinky little pillow. Hmmm. If our trip
has to come to an end at least I have that to look forward to. And nothing
going on Sunday so can sleep and rest. Much needed rest.
18-19 hours away. That’s so unreal. But now that our trip is
basically over, now that all the fun and anticipation is almost done, and it
really is coming to an end, I wish we didn't have to go through the pain and
disappointment and hassle of traveling back. That we could just be back. But it
doesn't work that way. We'll still wish for it though, won’t we? Always.
Anyways. After the PJ store, we went back to H&M, though
not the same store. And we rifled through the sale racks again and found some
stuff to try on. And I walked out with a good sale finds. And I think I'll
miraculously be able to cram everything into my backpacks which is something,
indeed. (Knock on wood, though. We aren't home free yet).
After, we walked back toward our hostel and then just past
it to see the big windmills. And then we ate at this little restaurant called
de Windmollen that our tour guide recommended us yesterday. It was pretty cozy
and good. I had warm apple tart with ice cream and whipped cream. Because why
not. It's our last day. Won't have anything like apple pie for a while. And
today's was the closest I've gotten all trip. So I don't regret eating dessert
for lunch. Not one bit.
Then we grabbed our stuff and made the awful bus ride back
to the station, bumbling and bumping recklessly over the narrow, twisting,
cobblestone streets. Got there with enough time to walk and wait for the next
train to Brussels. Hopped on. Wrote postcards and sampled the Dumon chocolate
we bought yesterday. Shortest train ride yet and our last one. Sad day :/
Got off the train and navigated our way to our hostel fairly
easily. Nice hostel. Decent location.
Safe. Though it is a bit more stressful being in Brussels. You didn't
think about it when you were in Bruges. You didn't have to. But here. Here you
do. It's not bad or completely worrisome. Or unsafe by any means. You're just a
bit more wary. God keep your angles with us one more day please.
So we made it here alright. And I felt kinda worn and gross
so I took the time and showered before we headed back out. When we did head out
we walked about a mile going first to the waffle place which had been recommended
abd that looked so good. Maidon Dandoy. Had a Belgian waffle with fruit sauce
on it. Reminded me of the waffles from home with Mom’s homemade strawberry jam.
Yumm. So that was our pre-dinner snack.
We walked around a bit after that. Saw the peeing boy
statue. Then stumbled upon a restaurant we'd seen earlier on trip advisor.
Risotto and Parmesan. An Italian restaurant where they speak French in the heart
of Belgium which should be bilingual and speak Dutch and Flemish, too, if not
English but instead kinda snubs Dutch and Flemish. Anyway. At any rate the food
was pretty tasty. And then after dinner we went to the delirium cafe and that's
that. Back at our hostel. Ready for one last night of sleep on the road.
Night.
~
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