2016 Brussels to Budapest: Day 4 - Brugges Sightseeing

I'm running a day behind. Hopefully I will catch up tomorrow.

Day 4: Tue 30^th - Sightseeing Bruges - Belgium

Sunrise 6:58am – Sunset 8:37pm

Weather Forecast: 24 & partly cloudy

Steps: 13,198 9.12 kl.

I had an excellent nights sleep last night, so I think my little jetlag problem is over. Woke at 6am and went to breakfast at 7am.

We all met in the foyer just before 9am, for our included city walking tour.

Once again we had Danielle, who was our local guide yesterday in Ghent and she is coming with us to Ypres, which is now known by its Flemish name, Ieper

First up was a talk about the sculptures at the fountain in the t’ Zand.

There are four groups around the fountain to look for recording separate histories from Brugge' past. The fisherman and his companions symbolise the secular ties between Brugge and the sea, while cyclists pedal beneath the watchful gaze of the popular local heroes Tijl Uilenspiegel and his friend Nele.

The third group is the female group representing the Felmish cities of Antwerp, Brugge, Ghent and Courtrai while the last one is the evocation of the "polders", the low countries that are mentioned in the songs of Jaques Brel.

All the windows in this hotel are Murano glass. Apparently, the people who owned the building (years ago), were so wealthy that they had all the window panes bought from Murano. I would hate to think what the insurance on the building is. :)

Brugge version of Venice's Bridge of Sighs.

After the included tour, there was then an optional of a canal cruise and I think everyone did that one. It was very relaxing and the live commentary was very good.

We cruised past this B & B

After the cruise, free time for a couple of hours before 15 of us did the optional of visiting Ypres and some WWI Commonwealth Graves, before witnessing the last post at Menin Gate. First up was a visit to the Tyne Cot Cemetery.