Bruges, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium

In the Flemish region on the northwest side of Belgium, lays the quaint city of Bruges. A visit to Bruges is a trip to the past; to a medieval city that’s frozen in time. This place has the feel of a mountain town; where everything is compact and shops are for pleasure. From laced goods to chocolate, or museums to churches, there is something for everyone in Bruges.

Bruges is an ideal place for tourism or a simple get away. Although there are over 115,000 people living outside the city, only about 20,000 live within, giving Bruges the feel of charming, little town.

When you first step outside the train station, there’s not much to see. However, after a scenic walk past Minnewater Park, you arrive in the heart of the city.

Bruges is known for its river canals that run through the city. According to a local, it’s sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the North.” Because of its accessible water transportation and its large port, Bruges was the chief commercial city of the world in the 14^th century.

On any given day in Bruges, it’s most likely raining, which fits the medieval, mystifying feel of the city. Taking a ride down the canal in a riverboat followed by a homemade cup of hot chocolate makes for a cozy afternoon in the city. In fact, chocolate shops are an enormous industry in Bruges. Competing chocolate shops line almost every street, filling the air with a bittersweet aroma. Lace is also a known icon there. People travel from all over to acquire the authentic fabric.

Museums are a prominent attraction in Bruges, too. A few of the most popular places for visitors to see are the Bruggemuseum, which gives detailed accounts of the city’s history, and the Groeninge museum, which houses various Renaissance paintings and works from over six centuries. The Bruges Hospitaalmuseum holds impressive records and medical instruments from eight centuries. Another noteworthy museum that many women come to enjoy is the enchanting Diamantmuseum, which houses the history of diamond polishing in Belgium. Diamond polishing was invented in Bruges more than 500 years ago and to this day, Belgium is the world’s leading diamond country. Students can visit the museum for just five euro with a student ID.

Other notable attractions in Bruges are the market square and Our Lady’s Church. The inviting market square was the center of the city during Bruges’ medieval era. In the square stands the Belfry tower, one of the most noteworthy symbols of the city. The square demonstrates the history of the city due to its preserved architecture.

The remarkable Church of Our Lady dates back to the 13^th century and houses many of the city’s famous artwork, which includes Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child.” It’s tower stands at just over 122 meters and remains the tallest structure in the city to this day.

The people of Bruges are very friendly and welcome tourists. There are several delicious cafes to choose from, and many street vendors welcome you to try their authentic, Belgian waffles and chocolate. When you plan your trip to Western Europe, be sure to remember Bruges, a city frozen in time that offers something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for artwork, museums, canal tours, chocolate or lace, you will surely find contentment in this enchanting city in Belgium.

Sources of information:

http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/musea/bruggemuseum/OLV/index.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Main-Tourist-Attractions-in-Bruges,-Belgium&id=5870973

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Our_Lady_(Bruges)

www.diamondhouse.net

Roma: In Un Giorno!

At the Colosseum!

           Rome, Italy.
 One of the most visited, well-known cities in the world. It's reputation dates back farther than most places in the world and its stories are told again and again. 


   In a city that holds more history than all of the United States, you would think that my friends and I would have spent a considerable amount of time there. Well, if we were simply travelers and not students as well, then you would be right. 


   My six friends and I set out for Rome after our whimsical and relaxing couple of days in Florence were over. Because we spent a few days in Maastricht for Carnival, and because we enjoyed taking our time in Florence, we had only one day to see Rome, and we were DETERMINED to make the best of it! 


   We arrived at the train station around 8p.m. on a Thursday night and bought Roma passes, which covers the costs of all of the public transportation systems and multiple museums, so we would be prepared for the following day. Friday, we woke up, left our hostel early and grabbed a quick breakfast, and then set off for the metro to go to our first stop: the Colosseum. 
    
     When we got to the metro, we heard loads of angry rumbles and grumbles in Italian, and saw people all walking away from the metro with frustrated expressions. 


Well, that's not a good sign, I thought. 


    We soon learned that the entire city of Rome conveniently decided to go on transportation strike on the ONE day that we would be there. Perfect. Therefore, we knew would all be getting a good share of exercise that day! 


    We walked 45 minutes to the Colosseum, and when we got there, it was worth it. I don't think I have ever seen an architectural structure that dates back that far in history! It was amazing. After we took some pictures and stared obnoxiously for a while, we signed up for a tour. The little Italian tour guide was great, in fact, she gave us so many facts that I couldn't tell you a single thing she said. (Sorry to disappoint, but it was early, and her accent was pretty thick). 

    But prior to going, I had just finished a book that was written about early Roman history and the Colosseum, so I was really enjoying myself. We took loads of pictures, and then moved on to the Roman Forum. 

At the Roman Forum

    The Roman Forum was the place in ancient Rome where all of the major political decisions were made. It was the heart of Rome, if you will. I liked this area even more than the Colosseum because it seemed so well-preserved. You could really visualize what it must have been like over 2000 years ago, and that was a spectacular experience in itself. 


    At the conclusion of the tour, two and a half hours later, my friends and I made the quick decision to split a taxi and race to Vatican city, hoping we could get inside before it closed at 2 p.m. Because of the transportation strike, everyone was using taxis, and it took us a while to get there, but to our surprise, we got there just in time for the last tour and got a great deal on a group tour to the Vatican and the Sistine chapel! 


    We hadn't had time to eat lunch after our Colosseum tour, so we were pretty drained even from the beginning of the tour. However, our guide was really interesting and had lots of good things to tell us, so we pulled ourselves together and tried to focus as best we could despite empty stomachs. 

Our tour guide, explaining in full the Sistine Chapel history!

   My favorite part of the tour was the information on the Sistine Chapel. Our tour guide took about an hour to sit us down and go through each and every painting and how Michelangelo went about painting them and why. I had never heard any of that information so I really enjoyed getting the history before we went in and saw the paintings for ourselves. 


    When we were inside, we were shocked! I couldn't take my eyes off the ceiling! Every, intricate detail was fascinating and beautiful in its own way. Every Biblical depiction was so reverent. My favorite was the depiction of God reaching out to touch Adam's limp finger. I had seen it in pictures and smaller copies, but seeing the real version in person was amazing. 


   I had a serious crick in my neck for the rest of the day, and it was SO worth it!

St. Peter's Basilica

After we finished our three-hour tour of Vatican city, we went straight to see St. Peter's Basilica, which is a late Renaissance church that has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world! It supposedly houses the body of St. Peter, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples. 

Inside the Basilica: breath-taking!

    I loved this church more than any other church I have seen. It's magesty can not be compared to any other church, which is saying a lot after seeing Notredame and Santa Maria's el Duomo. It is one of those places that can only be communicated by seeing it for yourself, and therefore I highly suggest you make the trip to do so once if you can! 


   After we left the church, it was beginning to get dark. My friends and I were absolutely exhausted, and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. We jumped in another taxi and headed for Trevi fountain, despite our fatigue. 

Trevi Fountain!

Carissa, throwing her penny in!

   We stopped and admired the world-famous fountain, where it's said that if you throw one coin in, you will return to Rome one day, but if you throw two, you will find love there....I threw in one. 


   After our little sentimental moment, we decided we should find dinner before trying to do anything else. We talked one restuarant into giving us free appetizers for such a large group, and then we enjoyed a nice Italian food dinner just a few minutes away from the sites. 


   After dinner, we walked to our final site: the Spanish steps. We took some pictures, hung out, chilled a bit, and then walked over an hour and a half to our hostel.

The Spanish Steps

So, for a recap: we did--a tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, a tour of Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi fountain, and the Spanish steps. And we did it ALL in ONE day! 


It was a long, successful adventure. 


Although I don't recommend you trying to see all of these places in one day, I will say that Rome was unlike any city I have ever seen, and it's definitely worth a visit if you love history and beauty!