Off to Bruges/Brugge/Bruge

There appears to be some confusion about the spelling of the town's name - try booking a ticket there, when each agency has its own preference, and ignores all others.

Anyway, after a taxi to St Pancras (see previous blogs) and a Eurostar ride through the chunnel (ditto), and a local train ride (forgot to photograph) we arrived in the Market Square. 

 Very colourful, very hot, very many tourists (Sunday afternoon), but the beer was good.

 Belgian sandwiches, Belgium chips and a Belgian beer called Kwak. It comes in sort of yard-glass on a wooden frame. You grasp the vertical wooden handle (see below), tilt and drink.

 The entrance foyer to Martin's Relais, where we're staying.

 Thye view from our room.

 One of these tourist boats went past as I stood in our window, wearing only shorts. (It was very hot). Suddenly every camera on the boat was taking photos of me - I am now local colour!

 Watching the last day of the Tour and recovering from the heat.

 Ditto Cathy, but she can multi-task.

 Swans a la Bruges.

 This appears to be your standard Bruges bookshop.

Hold back the walls. (I am NOT paranoid).

 It cooled down so we went out and found a lovely square with a restaurant.

 This is a long spoon .........

 ..... to eat a long-delayed creme brulee .......

 ............ which like all the glories of this world, was transient.

 Bruges philosophy.

 Bookgrocer obviously isn't the only one to open new shops. Well done on the new boutique, Ruth.

 Walking home past some Bruges houses.

Home at last.

 La nuit s'avance