It is a glorious morning as we dock in Zeebrugge. No storm here, although we can tell it definitely passed through from the water everywhere. We have managed to rearrange our shuttle bus into Bruges for today. Obviously not much the shuttle company can do if the ship doesn’t come in. Making our way over to the meeting point, we are (surprise!) the first people here and begin to engage in a wonderfully funny and great conversation with Mark, one of the “hucksters” for the shuttle. That guy. He was hysterical, and took a liking to Ed, who he kept calling the expert on Bruge and telling everyone who came up to talk to Ed. It was priceless. The bus didn’t leave for a while (it was late, but all times are suspect here as Mark makes sure we know), so we have plenty of time for banter. Total entertainment!

Finally on our way, we all (there are a good number of us now), troop up the street to the awaiting bus and settle in for the 30 minute ride into town. Depositing us at the back of the Minnewater park, we quickly make our way into town, with another passenger traveling solo who wants to tag along so she knows the way into town and back. Sure. The more the merrier.

We pass the swans and the Begijnhof castle, as well as the cool horse head drinking fountain, winding our way across canals, past the cathedral, through the oh so scenic town before finding ourselves (as always) on Simon Stevinplein, the square where we have eaten many times and now stop for a cappuccino to warm us up. (Simon Stevinplein is sort of like Placa Reial in Barcelona, we always seem to end up there!)

From here it is a really short walk to the Markt, the main square in Bruges. We bid our new friend goodbye, wishing her a lovely day (and saying a silent prayer she will make it back to the bus), then head toward the Staidhuis (City Hall) and the Brugse Vrije (Liberty of Bruges), the Bruges museum that is the old courts building where the elders presided over the area. But on the way, oh, we are bad. There is a waffle place – really just a little hole in the wall, selling the most amazing waffles. We watch people walking around eating them, and well, simply cannot resist. Ordering a caramel coated waffle, we now are the people who have the food others are watching and salivating over! It is so, so very good, and so, so very Dutch!

Reaching the square, we realize we’ve been past the Stadhuis a bunch of times, but never entered, honestly thinking it was a church since the Basilicia of Holy Blood is nestled in the corner of the square. And to our defense, the Stadhuis looks like a church! Regardless, we wander in, buy our combo ticket for here and Brugse Vrije and proceed upstairs to the Gothic hall, the political heart of Bruges, which, ok, reminds us of a church. I mean seriously, it is an ornate Gothic style room with lots of polished dark wood and murals lining the walls that depict the history of Bruges, from medieval times with battles and commerce depictions and crests of cities and the first charter to Bruges. Once painting even incorporates the artist who completed all the murals, along with his son. There is also this great bas relief model of Bruges in the Old Chamber, which is actually closed, but where the restrooms are located, so we get to snap a few photos after our rest stop. Pretty wild. And gorgeous. And opulent. The description card even says the chamber was “intended to exude a grandeur which befits the status of the college of alderman in a wealthy, flourishing city.” And that it does. In spades. Oh, and the current city council still meets in here monthly. Wow.

Moving next door to visit the old courts building which functioned as a court of law from 1795 until 1984. The facade of the building is the exact opposite of the Stadhuis – all white washed brick with gold trimmings, including a golden Lady of Justice sparkling in the sunshine.

Inside we approach a woman behind a plexiglass surrounded desk. After some stuttering and broken English, we finally figure out that this is the City Records office as well as a tourist site, and she was confused as to which we wanted to visit. Showing her our tickets, she nods her head, hands us the explanation cards and points us to the appropriate room.

Inside the courtroom, we find a very dark, very wooden room with a massive fireplace on the right. The mantelpiece of which was built in 1528 as a tribute to Emperor Charles V for freeing Flanders from French rule. There are putti (what I call Cherubs) on on each corner, oak, marble and alabaster features with a huge sculpture above. There is also a painting on display depicting a 17th C court session, where you can see all the features of the room we are standing in – allowing us to feel like we were transported back in time.

Touring complete, now we’re just wandering. Meandering through the lanes and canals, snapping pictures of the Bell Tower we have climbed on previous visits and the different architectural features that make Bruges such a lovely city. It is too early to eat yet, and we don’t want to just walk around aimlessly, when we spy a cute little bar called De Belleman Pub. The owner is a lovely lady who may or may not speak English, but is very welcoming and friendly in any language! We have a wonderful time enjoying the sunshine and listening to her chat with some other patrons – obviously locals.

More wandering ensues as we essentially circle back around behind the clock tower and the Stadhuis heading for De Halve Maan brewery for lunch. Being one of the original breweries is, of course, a draw for us (we’ve been here before on tours), but two of our driving reasons are 1) it is on the way back to the bus, and 2) before leaving home, we had this huge discussion about Bruges and Belgium with Adam at Haw Creek Grocers and he remembered a joker symbol at this brewery he liked – De Halve Maan. So of course, we had to go and take pictures and send them to him! Not to mention, the restaurant is pretty great too. Grabbing a table for two, we split a huge charcuterie plate, along with our beer and wine and enjoy people watching as the place fills up. We were really lucky to arriven when we did – by the time we leave, there isn’t an empty table to be had.

Time to head back to the bus. Which means, yes, more wandering and more pictures! How can you not in a town this adorable? We go back past the horse head fountain, in better light, but with some jerk sitting on the side of it and not moving – on purpose. Sigh. People. Then past the real horses with their drawn carriages, back past Minnewater and the swans, down a quintessential Flanders street with attached houses lining the curving street, looking like they are concave and curving as well and finally into the park proper.

Arriving at the bus pick up spot we find that this is the pickup spot for ALL buses – cruise tour and otherwise. There are tons of people here, a lot of ship people who are milling about aimlessly and trying to get on incorrect buses. Oh the entertainment. We position ourselves for maximum strategic value, trying to guess where our bus will park. We’re lucky in that most of the ship people are gone by the time our bus arrives, giving us flexibility to maneuver to a relatively front of the line position.

Easy ride back. Easy walk through the terminal. Back onboard in a snap. Off to Dover where we are playing it by ear – we’ll see what the new day brings!