Some things I learned & End

Trains are better than plane for relaxing, less stressful  and worth the extra hours.
Hotel near the train station while not the best area can be a good place to find a deal
3 nights is the minimum to stay in a place. To do less creates burn out.
Too many magnets get heavy
November in northern  Europe was dark, raining and cold.

Bruges III

Fabulous Bruges!

Bruges II

Bruges like Brussels has ornate architecture.  The buildings are carves with crosses, knights, from the Crusades and other motifs.  The famous church with the vial of the Hold Blood which was brought back from the Crusades and presented to the city held a ceremony.  While I know it is not real, it was moving to think and fell about nonetheless.
Below outside the church and the mural depicting the giving of the hold blood to the bishop.

Bruges

ahh, rain, rain and the cold, damp, beautiful city of Bruges. Bruges, The Venice of the North as it is known due to its canals. After a 1 hour train ride I check into the Crowne Plaza and use points to pay for my stay. Another hotel for free! Nice hotel right on the main square but found out my Ipad WiFi was having problems.. The hotel even boasts and underground excavation site of an old church.  It was cool to walk down below and check out its ancient artifacts.

I visited the oldest pub and had a nice meal where I met up with some American tourists for some chat.
The hotel

 

The Oldest Pub: Herberg Vlissinghe

 

Nicola and food...

I got a chance to meet my buddy Nicola who helped me get my Italian citizenship. We had coffee in the square and then he graciously invited me back to his home, meet his wife and took me to dinner.
The last photo is the menu of great street food place in Brussels. No one takes cooking more serious than the French.

Brussels IV

 Above the famous piss stature....

 I do not know how that happened below but I like the look....

Brussels III

 Me with the Hungarian Gypsy band

The always friendly Irish Pub