Bruges

I just completed this blog when I deleted it all by mistake. Off to Bruges with my friend Judith after a short stop in UK. After an easy ride on Eurostar and bus we arrived at our lovely hotel Ter Bruges. Pictured below at the end of the row of cars. Our helpful receptionist recommended Pieter Pourbus for our first night dinner. Expensive but then so is everything in Bruges. Definitely worth visiting.

A stroll through Bruges on our first day. I was disappointed with the quality of the coffee. Most places had the automated machines which meant awful espresso. Luckily I found a good cafe in Jean Van Eyck square.

Bendy trees at the Bequine house

On Thursday we booked to go on the popular Quasimodo "Flanders Fields the battlefields of WW1". I learnt a lot here from our very informative guide Philip. www.quasimodo.be

Ypres cathedral

The Menin gate

Replica trench

On Friday we visited two of the 30 or so museums in Bruges - the folk museum and the chocolate museum. I had a cold but still managed a few snaps.

On our last day we took a boat trip to Damme. A few reflection shots in this lot.

This was the first photo I was asked to take by Judith. The second and last one is at the end of this blog.

I left Judith eating cake and went off to explore a small nature reserve.

A balloon over the Borg just before I had my moules and frites at Breydel De Coninc restaurant in Breidelstraat- another recommendation.

This painting was in the hotel bedroom and the second request by Judith for a photo.

Champagne and Alsace trip - part 2

After Ribeauville, we had our first Alsace wine tasting at the Hugel cellars in Riquewihr. On our last day we had some free time in the morning and I walked around Riquewihr to take photos.

Restaurant Sarment d'Or where we had our gourmet dinner on Thursday evening.

Off to Eguisheim for a tour around another impossibly pretty Alsace village and another wine tasting. Another few bottles purchased here.

So that is the end of the first Alpine Bridge wine tasting and bridge tour. Lots of bridge played on the way back - a good time was had by all.