BRUGGES!

I went to Brugges (Yes, that is the traditional spelling) today with Lauren! We had to get up at the atrocious hour of 5 am to leave at 6 am, and thank god we did. For some reason the universe wanted to make it difficult for us to get there. First, the line we were going to take was closed, so we had to go back to Chatelet, but we went to the wrong side and missed the train. FINALLY, we got on the right train and made it to skyrama. When we were on the bus and we started to take off, my tired state subsided and I was just excited!

On our way there,  me and Lauren basically napped the entire time and did some reading. We passed the Somme area, and it was raining the entire bus ride to Bruges so I was afraid that we were going to have to spend our day walking in the rain. However, fates would have it differently and the weather was quite beautiful. We started off our time in Brugges with a walking tour of the city. If I had to describe Brugges in one word it would be enchanting. The city is so old and beautiful. All the buildings are brick and the streets are tiny. I felt like I should have been in a dress and bonnet. What I really liked about the city was that I saw only one Subway and NO Starbucks. This is a place that is basically untouched by global corporations, which just makes it all the more wonderful to me.

After our walking tour Lauren and I went to get some Mussels, beer and fries. We got the petit size for 15 euro, but there was nothing petit about our meal. We had Leffe beer, which was beyond delicious and then we each got these giant bowls, no buckets, of mussels. Add in the fries, and I was in heaven. We only had a limited amount of time in Brugges so Lauren and I finished up fairly quickly, and then headed off to the Christmas markets to get waffles. Ahh...Belgium waffles. I had a chocolate one, and I am not ashamed to admit that I devoured the waffle. It was sinfully good.

When we were done with our waffles we did some chocolate shop hopping.  I don't understand how people in Brugges are not fat, because this was without a doubt the best chocolate I have ever had in my entire life. Each store was giving out samples and Lauren and I purchased some individual pieces of chocolate and some chocolate bars for friends at home. What I loved most about the stores were their window displays. Brugges really goes all out for Christmas, and seeing chocolate Santas and the lights really made me happy. I felt like I was in a movie. The smallness of the city with the overdone decorations for Christmas created this feeling that cannot be properly put into words. All I know is that this was such an amazing day.

Well this is my last week in Paris. I have four more days of classes, a final test and a paper. Then it is off to Rome with my family, then a couple more days in Paris with bubba. Two weeks from today I'll be home. Two weeks. Where did the time go?