Belgium

Even though this trip was so long ago, I wouldn't feel right letting one place slip just because I wasn't on the ball enough to document it on time - this blog is as much of a scrapbook to help us remember our experiences as it is a way to keep in touch with everyone. So here goes:
We spent our June Bank Holiday in Bruges and Brussels - probably the most popular places to visit in Belgium. In hindsight, I wish we'd had longer to see a little more off-the-beaten path places, even though they were both great towns. The above picture is a major canal in Bruges (relatively speaking - it's not a huge town). The clock tower has over 300 steps, and I climbed every one of them!
The last time I was in Belgium I was sixteen years old - on my first trip to Europe with my family. What was amazing was how little the area had changed. I remember specific landmarks and photographs I had taken with my family the last time we were there! Very surreal - now at 28, it was odd to reflect on the differences between teenage Megan and 20-something Megan - who knows what the next decade will bring?
Poor Nate was sick for the first day in Bruges, so I did most of my sightseeing alone. At least we had a great B&B for him to rest in. I spent the day exploring the clock tower (an impressive feat - those of you who know my fear of heights will understand!), and checking out the Flemish art museum. The museum had another painting of Bosch's, a rather nutty artist whose work I've begun to recognize! I also saw a church that contains the only Michelangelo sculpture to leave Italy during the sculptor's lifetime. Wish I'd taken a better picture of it - it's the first Michelangelo I've ever seen!


With Nate back in good health, we managed to squeeze in a canal cruise on our last day, and munched on some delicious handmade chocolates at the cute place in the picture above. In Brussels, we took pictures of the Mannekin-Pis, which I think is a bit overrated, then had time for a long dinner on the Grand Place - a major square with breathtaking architecture.
I think Belgium is often overlooked when considering a trip to Europe, but it is such a beautiful and interesting area - and it was perfect for a short Bank Holiday. Maybe some day I'll be able to give it more of the time it deserves - then again, I think we have 20 more countries on our list that we're not even getting to while we're here, and the more research we do, the more places we want to visit. C'est la vie!