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

Brussels II

Brussels has probably the most architecturally one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Here as I hope they do justice are the amazing buildings.

Brussels

A quick 1 hour train ride and blew into Brussels feeling good! I took a cab from the station to mt hotel, The Welcome Hotel in the center of the city. A welcome place it was. It was not budget but great location, staff and mid-range in price. The room are based on countries. I had what else-The Cuba Room.  I unpacked, grabbed a map. got some directions and headed to the market for some water and snacks.

The Cuba Room:

 A wall mural where it is can you see the doorknob to the bathroom?

Luxembourg III

Luxembourg Museum with vintage posters and panorama 3-d paining that was lifelike.

and the amazing house of Chocolate:

Luxembourg II

A Great museum with a fascinating portrayal of Nazi occupied Luxembourg with propoganga postoes and video.

Luxembourg

A not very interesting train ride took me to Luxembourg. It was raining and wet and dreary.  My Hotel, The Carlton Hotel was just two blocks from the station. A excellent hotel, reasonable and with the warmest hotel guy I ever met. His name was Gianni, an Italian man.
I went for an early evening dinner, walked around a bit and relaxed in the hotel.
 Waking up refresh, I got my bearings, a map from Gianni and off I went for a pretty 25 minute walking into the center of town.
Lovely view walking over the bridge....

 and of course a church....