As mentioned in an earlier post, cycling is the preferred means of transportation for most in the Flemish lowlands. Our hotel stocks a good number of bikes so we borrowed 2 and rode along the canal toward Damme. The guidebook says to allow 2 hours and that’s about how long it took us to go there and back again. So far, it’s my trip highlight.
We arrived back at the hotel around 11am and set out for the St John’s Hospital (now a museum) where local 12th century artist, Memling, portays religious scenes as comfort and therapy for pilgrims, travelers, the ill and dying while the nuns offer palliative care. A 21st century photojournalist’s work — interviews and photos with hospice patients — is displayed on the top floor and reminds visitors to live without regrets and at peace with God, oneself and loved ones.
There are few more enjoyable ways of celebrating life with one another than by sharing good food together and here the Belgians shine! They are famous not only for their beer, chocolate and waffles but also for their homemade, hand-cut fries. Mayo is the dip of choice so we joined the locals and tried something new.
It’s late afternoon here in Brugge and we are taking a break from the hard work of touring before going out to eat at Te Vandenhooke, a local eatery overlooking the canal and Brugges’s 4 famous windmills. Dahnk oo vehl for travelling along with us.
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