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Posts from the ‘Photo Travel Themes’ category

The Begijnhof of Brugge, Belgium

The Meadow Woods of the Begijhof

The Meadow Woods of the Begijnhof

Before 1240 a community of pious women settled in an area of south  Brugge in a low- lying meadow or vineyard. These lay women called Beguines, spent their lives in piety and service without taking the vows that a nun would. Due to war and military fatalities there were more women than men in the medieval low lying countries. The order of Beguines offered women (often single or widowed) a dignified place to live and work.  When the order died out many towns took over the begijnhofs for subsidized housing. Believe me when I say you could be so lucky to live in one of the small subsidized cottages of the Begijnhof of Brugge. Today we are strolling from the town square through the curved portals of buildings delving further and further into the neighborhoods of Brugge. 

Walk Past the Little Market on the Way to the Begijhof

Walk Past the Little Market on the Way to the Begijnhof

I Loved These Trees Along our Walk!

I Loved These Trees Along our Walk!

Beautiful Pots of Hostas Along the Way!

Beautiful Pots of Hostas at the Pink House!

Tiny Statuaries Everywhere Along Our Path

Tiny Statuaries Everywhere Along Our Path

Statuaries in Tiny Courtyards

Headless Statuaries in Tiny Courtyards Along the Way

We get further from the town center! I feel like I’m in the country!

Picturesque Church in Brugge, Belgium

Walking Along Canal to Begijnhof in Brugge, Belgium

A Stroll to Reach the Begijnhof, Brugge, Belgium

A Neigborhood Stroll to Reach the Begijnhof, Brugge, Belgium

We pass over the three-arched stone bridge, the Wijngaard Bridge,  to the main gated entrance. Here is a large beautiful meadow and a complex of thirty white stoned gothic buildings dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries, built around a central yard.

An Image of the Holy Elizabeth of Hungary, Patron Saint of the Beguinages

An Image of the Holy Elizabeth of Hungary, Patron Saint of the Beguinages

The Gardens in Begijnhof

The Gardens in Begijnhof

Garden Courtyards of the Begijnhof

Garden Courtyards of the Begijnhof

Beautiful Artwork for Meditation and Prayer in the Begijnhof

Beautiful Artwork for Meditation and Prayer in the Begijnhof

The Retirement Homes in Begijnhof

The Retirement Homes in Begijnhof

Aren’t these just the cutest places to live?

The Houses of Begijnhof

The Houses of Begijnhof

Just follow the garden paths!

Beautiful Gardens to See, Begijnhof

Beautiful Gardens to See, Begijnhof

A Woman Calls to Us From Her Rooftop Sanctuary, Begijnhof, Brugge

A Woman Calls to Us From Her Rooftop Sanctuary, Begijnhof, Brugge

Notice the sweet little heart above her head? Another memorable day in Brugge! I hope you enjoyed our walk through the Begijnhof!

Another Church Along Our Walk in Brugge

Our Final Church Along Our Walk Home in Brugge

The Best Bits of Eats in Brugge, Belgium

 

Our Morning Stroll Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Our Morning Stroll Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

One of the best experiences when traveling is finding the neighborhood eateries off the beaten path. We like to eat in the neighborhoods we lodge in. It is the best way to meet the locals and enjoy the sit-down-and-focus-on-your-new-friend experience. In our neighborhood, near the B&B Gastenhuis Sint-Andriescruyse, we found two pubs/cafes that we enjoyed very much for their ambiance, simple meals and world-class beers.

First let’s take our morning stroll in the neighborhood!

Our Daily Walk Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

Our Daily Walk Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

The Cafe Terrastje was just the cozy-pub-spot where you could enjoy a meal or drink inside or outside at the terrace overlooking the canal. Isn’t this the quaintest of buildings?  Who could resist coming in here?

Cafe Terrastje, Brugge, Belgium

Cafe Terrastje, Brugge, Belgium

Herberg Vlissinghe was another pub close by and the oldest pub in town, dating 1515. It has the best old-time tavern feel and the garden for outside dining comes with a boules court. Both of these small pubs served the best simple, but delicious meals.

Herberg Vlissinghe, Brugge, Belgium

Herberg Vlissinghe, Brugge, Belgium

Let’s get back to our walk through Brugge. I just love strolling among the quiet streets and homes! There are always spots of color and flowers tucked in everywhere! So many different textures and styles to admire!

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

I loved this little green door! It must be a girl’s house!

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

As we reached the town center it’s time for a bathroom break. These were the beautifully sculptured, flowering bushes, that were designed to create one long rolling WAVE! Absolutely delightful and right in front of the public restrooms!

The Rolling Wave Flowering Bush, Brugge, Belgium

The Rolling Wave Flowering Bush, Brugge, Belgium

The Artwork in Brugge, Belgium

The Green Lanterns,  Artwork in Brugge, Belgium

The Mermaid, Brugge, Belgium

The Mermaid, Brugge, Belgium

The Sidewalk Cafe, Brugge, Belgium

The Sidewalk Cafe, Brugge, Belgium

Strolling in Brugge, Belgium

Strolling in Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Time for a chocolate break! Dumon Chocolate was our daily pick for treats! Madame Dumon and her children greet you in her tiny, always packed, chocolate shop. They make their chocolates daily and describe their chocolates in person, no labels here! We always left with a little box of assorted out-of-this-world flavors!

Dumons Chocolate Shop, Brugge, Belgium

Dumons Chocolate Shop, Brugge, Belgium

Our favorite restaurant in Old Town was without question, The Flemish Pot. The ambiance of red-cloth table covers and potted flowers everywhere just made you relax and set the mood to truly enjoy your meal. We enjoyed the local recipe for the beef stew pot!

The Flemish Pot, Brugge, Belgium

The Flemish Pot, Brugge, Belgium

I could live in that tiny room at the top!

Another Look at the Flemish Pot, Brugge, Belgium

Another Look at the Flemish Pot, Brugge, Belgium

Artwork Everywhere, Brugge, Belgium

Artwork Everywhere, Brugge, Belgium

A riot of color and texture everywhere!

Close Up of Shop Window, Brugge, Belgium

Close Up of Shop Window, Brugge, Belgium

Quiet Morning Street, Brugge, Belgium

Quiet Morning Street, Brugge, Belgium

Near City Hall, Brugge, Belgium

Near City Hall, Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

One of the Churches in Brugge, Belgium

One of the Churches in Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Strolling Through Brugge, Belgium

Well we’ve made the rounds for today!  Back to the neighborhood pubs! Enjoy your day in Brugge!

Town Square, Brugge, Belgium

Town Square, Brugge, Belgium

The Best Bits of Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

It’s a beautiful day for a walk through Brugge!   We’re starting out from the Huis Sint-Andriescruyse , a traditional gabled B&B in the old town of Brugge.  Situated right along the canal the house is in the long, narrow, dutch design, with the steep, curvy, staircase to the upper rooms overlooking the garden. Our hosts, Luc and Christiane, made us most welcome to their home and I loved being able to lodge inside one of these distinctive homes.  Out the door, just walking along the canal, I was quite content! History abounds in the WWI Flanders Fields nearby and the monuments are easily reachable by car or bus tours from Brugge. I have written extensive posts on these cemeteries and tours so check those out too. But, today we are out for a lovely walk through town. I enjoyed the canals, architecture, gardens, pubs and restaurants! First, we will stroll along the canal. As usual be sure to look up! You don’t want to miss anything! Enjoy!

THE STAIRS in a Traditional Dutch Gable , Brugge Belgium

THE STAIRS in a Traditional Dutch Gable, Brugge, Belgium

The Bear is Huge! What a welcome for guests!

The Canals in Bruge, Belgium

The Canals in Brugge, Belgium

Crow Stepped Gabled House, Brugge, Belgium

Crow Stepped Gabled House, Brugge, Belgium

Crow Stepped Gabled House, Brugge, Belgium

Crow Stepped Gabled House, Brugge, Belgium

Crow-stepped gabled houses are staircase designed projections above roof lines used as decoration and an easy way to finish off the brick of the house. This extensive architecture was quite common in medieval Belgium. Most of the homes in the Old Town are of this design. I like the artwork at the tippy tops!

Canal Walk of Brugge, Belgium

Canal Walk of Brugge, Belgium

Brugge Architecture

Brugge Architecture Along the Canal

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Picture Perfect Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

 

Canal Running Right Through the Middle of the Old Town, Brugge, Belgium

Canal Running Right Through the Middle of the Old Town, Brugge, Belgium

Look Up and in Between Walls!

Look Up and in Between Walls!

This Home is Mapped Out on the Wall

This Home is Mapped Out on the Wall

The Artist Studio, Brugge, Belgium

The Artist Studio, Brugge, Belgium

Old Lanterns, Brugge, Belgium

Old Lantern, Brugge, Belgium

Iron Works, Brugge, Belgium

Iron Works, Brugge, Belgium

Iron Works, Brugge, Belgium

Iron Works, Brugge, Belgium

The Swann Hotel, Brugge, Belgium

The Swann Hotel, Brugge, Belgium

The Gardens Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

The Gardens Along the Canal, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Right Under the House, Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

What a Lovely Garden Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

Along the Canals, Brugge, Belgium

The Swans Aswimming in Bruge, Belgium

The Swans Aswimming in Brugge, Belgium

Tomorrow we will go in a different direction through Old Town.  See you there!

How to Save for a Vaca; Is Winter Over Yet?

I'm Ready for Spring

I’m Ready for Spring

What happened to January and February? I do know that one thing leads to another, so maybe it is better to never start projects! Have you noticed all the hype to clean out this and clean out that? Well I did and January seemed like a good time to dig in and organize. So I started in my cupboards, taking out everything and labeling and dating everything that went in new. I discovered I had a salt container dated 1989! It looked brand new! Does salt go bad? Well out it went anyway. There were 4 opened bottles of olive oil. How old were they? Which one had I used last?  Out they went. I had bags of assorted opened flours. How old were they? They all went.  Now to re-stock. I did not realize how many different salts are now available. Dozens and dozens of salt. I went with the smallest container of free flowing salt and big flake sea salt. One bottle of Italian olive oil is now dated and ready for use. All flour is labeled and placed together on the shelf. I thought I was done cleaning, sorting, and labeling.

Then I got an email asking about one of my ancestors. When I looked up the name in my genealogy files I noticed there were lots of new “leaves” on the site. So I jumped in to update the files with pictures, stories, and obituaries. I added well over 1000 names and many, many documents. Well that’s done for awhile. It is a fun and never ending project.

Then I decided to accept a challenge to clean out  my freezers and use up the food there; clean out the freezer and re-stock when food was on sale. This is when I hit pay day.  I went a month just using up food in my freezer. I had meat, vegetables, stocks, desserts, bread! More flour!   At least it was labeled! So I put aside the grocery money and I now have enough for a small  getaway vacation! Whala!  So winter is almost over for us. My cupboards, files, and freezer are spic and span. And I’m ready for spring! Let’s go to Brugges, Belgium and Amsterdam and see the tulips! Won’t you follow me into SPRING? Enjoy!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Yellow

The Yellow Light of Remembrance. In 1839, my family left this small village in France to come to the United States. This is just one of the two churches in the village. The other is St Adolphe, which supported my family’s departure and helped them adjust to their new life in a new country. It’s good to know where you came from and where you are going!

Inside St Pierre and St Paul Church, Neuwiller-les-Saverne, France

Inside St Pierre and St Paul Church, Neuwiller-les-Saverne, France

Weekly Photo Challenge: Twinkle Two, Instead of Twinkletoes

Every child at the Montmartre Christmas Market wanted little pieces of pottery from this man! Even me! Priceless!

The Pottery Man, Montmarte, Paris Christmas Market

The Pottery Man, Montmartre, Paris Christmas Market

Travel Theme: Above

This was the walk down everyday from our attic room at the Hotel Marechal, Colmar, France! Twists and Turns from Above!  Priceless! For more entries for the Travel Theme: Above, LOOK HERE

The Winding Stairway to Our Room in Colmar, France

The Winding Stairway to Our Room in Colmar, France

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