Belgie Trip (Brussels, Brugge and Gent)
Brussels/Bruxelle
Belgium is an interesting nation. In most Northern Belgium, people speak Dutch (or Flemish, very very close to Dutch). In most Southern Belgium, people speak French. In most big cities, people understand both. Brussels is one of such cities. Everybody says that you gotta have the seafood in Brussels. It's a very touristy place and around Grand Place/Grote Markt, there are a lot of such little restaurants in little streets. Belgium and its people are known for their mussel consumption. An average Belgian adult can consume 1kg of mussels in one setting. However, coming from Nederland, we got a lot of mussels back home. Managed to find a pretty good Chinese restaurant: 美味樓. They have very authentic 湘菜 (Chinese foods from the province Hu-nan). We were very surprised by it. If you ever visited Amsterdam, you'd find that there is no good Chinese or pretty much any Asian foods (except Indonesian). The Museum of Musical Instruments is a definite +++. Huge collection and they give you headphones so you can listen to the sounds.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960672133660282321?authkey=CK-Ezrjv9_m0FQ
Butte de Lion (Waterloo Battlefield)
This is the famous Waterloo Battlefield. Napoleon (France) was defeated by the joint force of England and Prussia (with helps from the Dutch, German and Hanover, etc). Photos included in the Brugge link.
Brugge/Bruges
Brugge is a more Dutch little city. Its old town is kept with most of its original Medieval look: stone pavements, old brick buildings, old sculptures here and there. Lots of European old towns are like this. What makes Brugge so special is its many little canals. That added a romantic touch to the city atmosphere. City is famous for its Chocolate, Lace works and Diamond. Like Brussels, every restaurant is trying to sell you their sea foods. It's also a very touristy town. We biked to a nearby village, Damme, along the East bank of a canal. The ride was very comfortable and the views were great, except for the heavy winds on the way back. The canal boat ride felt like the punt ride in Cambridge. There are many little museums with collections from Flemish masters, such as Van Eyck.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960998887214892529?authkey=CKXMlaCd_ZfDKw
Gent
Gent is a little city with a Medieval old town. Kinda similar to Brugge, but way less touristy. If you want to enjoy a quiet little get-away, Gent is the place to go.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960996674123395889?authkey=CNGI-suFxKmKTg
Total miles driven: 405
Free good Brussels and Brugge map for those interested: http://media.lonelyplanet.com/
my google map: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=205001138173737656601.0004eceffde0315a567fd&msa=0
Belgium is an interesting nation. In most Northern Belgium, people speak Dutch (or Flemish, very very close to Dutch). In most Southern Belgium, people speak French. In most big cities, people understand both. Brussels is one of such cities. Everybody says that you gotta have the seafood in Brussels. It's a very touristy place and around Grand Place/Grote Markt, there are a lot of such little restaurants in little streets. Belgium and its people are known for their mussel consumption. An average Belgian adult can consume 1kg of mussels in one setting. However, coming from Nederland, we got a lot of mussels back home. Managed to find a pretty good Chinese restaurant: 美味樓. They have very authentic 湘菜 (Chinese foods from the province Hu-nan). We were very surprised by it. If you ever visited Amsterdam, you'd find that there is no good Chinese or pretty much any Asian foods (except Indonesian). The Museum of Musical Instruments is a definite +++. Huge collection and they give you headphones so you can listen to the sounds.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960672133660282321?authkey=CK-Ezrjv9_m0FQ
Butte de Lion (Waterloo Battlefield)
This is the famous Waterloo Battlefield. Napoleon (France) was defeated by the joint force of England and Prussia (with helps from the Dutch, German and Hanover, etc). Photos included in the Brugge link.
Brugge/Bruges
Brugge is a more Dutch little city. Its old town is kept with most of its original Medieval look: stone pavements, old brick buildings, old sculptures here and there. Lots of European old towns are like this. What makes Brugge so special is its many little canals. That added a romantic touch to the city atmosphere. City is famous for its Chocolate, Lace works and Diamond. Like Brussels, every restaurant is trying to sell you their sea foods. It's also a very touristy town. We biked to a nearby village, Damme, along the East bank of a canal. The ride was very comfortable and the views were great, except for the heavy winds on the way back. The canal boat ride felt like the punt ride in Cambridge. There are many little museums with collections from Flemish masters, such as Van Eyck.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960998887214892529?authkey=CKXMlaCd_ZfDKw
Gent
Gent is a little city with a Medieval old town. Kinda similar to Brugge, but way less touristy. If you want to enjoy a quiet little get-away, Gent is the place to go.
photo link: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5960996674123395889?authkey=CNGI-suFxKmKTg
Total miles driven: 405
Free good Brussels and Brugge map for those interested: http://media.lonelyplanet.com/
my google map: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=205001138173737656601.0004eceffde0315a567fd&msa=0
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