10 Day Trip: Belgium (2/3)
We arrived in Bruges, Belgium, at 2pm (October 7th). We walked from the main train station to our hostel. It was very pleasant. It was sunny (thank goodness for no rain), peaceful, and a short walk. Our hostel was a small tavern looking place. The manager was very friendly and a nice change after dealing with the other hostelmates in Amsterdam. We were in a 4 person room with no current 4th person (22€/person). This time we were only on the second floor. But, no elevator.
Once we got checked in and freshened up we headed to the basilica to see the holly blood relic. It is only available for the public at spastic times. Our hostel was in a terrific place. Just down the main shopping road was the basilica, then the Bruges bell tower, and more. We could not have been more centralized. After we saw the relic--which by the way looked discussing, which is what I imagine 2000 year old blood would look like-- we climbed the Bruges Bell tower. One thing I like about Europe is that if it cost something and they do not have a student price, they will mostly likely have a under 26 year old price. It was only 4€/person.
About 2/3 up the tower we came to the bell mechanics room. I was completely in au. The tower was basically a giant mechanical music box. It kept time and every hour would spin a giant wheel that had little pins placed on it. The pins pulled hammers that went to corresponding bells. I watched it for over 15 minutes. The cost to go up was worth just seeing the bells work. At the top we could see all of Bruges around. It is such a fairy tail town; had that Sleeping Beauty atmosphere.
We then went to the Hostel for a break. At the hostel we met our hostelmate, Nick. He was a single traveler from Canada, around our age. He was very nice and was a fun person to have around. After a quick drink at the hostel bar we four went to a local restaurant that we heard served 3€ spaghetti. We didn't know what to expect. When we arived we asked how big it was. The waiter pointed at someone else's table and we all said at one time "that's a small!?" It was amazing food for the price, quality, and quantity. Nick, also, had been in Brussels before Bruges, so introduced Briana and I to Kriek, a Cherry flavor beer. It was good, although really sweet. I would call it a desert beer; if there is such a thing. After dinner we four decided to go out on the town.
We went to a small local bar that sells "Garre." It is the only place in Belgium that sells that beer. Personally, It didn't taste that good--only having it once was fine. We then decided to go to a local tavern that is said to have the cheapest drink prices in town. The place was small and very local. We all four ordered drinks and played the bar games. Brent and Nick plaid chess, as Briana and I plaid checkers. Nick won chess, and Briana won checkers, but it was the most challenging games of checkers either of us had plaid. Once the locals started to except us at "their bar," they got friendly. As the night went on people started buying each other drinks. It was a very good time. We talk to them about where we had been and where we were going. Our next stop was Brussels. We should have listened to the locals. One guy said, "Brussels? Why are you going to Brussels? There is nothing in Brussels. Go to Antwerp" (Mental travel note; go to Antwerp once). Keep reading and I will explain why when we get to Brussels. He also said that the Belgium waffles or mainly a tourist thing. Most Belgium people don't even like waffles.
At around 1 am we headed back to the hostel. The next morning (October 8th), we said good bye to Nick and check out of the hostel at about 10am. Our next train was not till later, so we walk around town a bit more. We went shopping (I bought pants), looked that the chocolate stores, saw how people make lace (which is an amazing unappreciated art), and found beautiful places to rest. The canals where filed with quant tourist boats and huge white swans. The bright white feathers next to the cold gray canal stone walls was a magnificent contrast-- I believe this is what influences the fairy tail feeling.
We headed to the main train station around 5 pm and caught out train to Brussels (would have been 27€/person tickets). We arrived in Brussels in about an hour. We left the train station, completely disoriented. Unlike Bruges, where it was a nice peaceful walk to our hostel, we walked down a busily loud road. We got lost and had to ask directions. The walk was long and up a very steep hill. One nice thing was that our hostel was near the Brussels Arboretum. As we walked up the large hill we decided that tomorrow we would go in the morning.
Once we got to our hidden hostel, we checked in, and found our room (22€/person). We had a 4 person room and our roommate was from australia. We did not get to talk to him much because every time we saw him he was asleep in his bed. After we freshened up, we decided to go on the town and find our nice dinner.
We figured out the subway system and went to the city center. This city had a strange feeling. We were off put. It almost had the same feeling as Prague (foreign), but felt like it should have been familiar. We walk all over trying to find food for a good price, as well as not a shady place. We ended up at a little italian place decorated for Halloween (remember, Europe does not celebrate halloween). The waitresses and owner spoke a bit of English. We ordered food at about 10€/person. It was really good. Everything was authentic. It was a nice meal to end the day. At the end of our meal, before we paid, the owner came over and gave us free shots on the house. He was very friendly, and I guess happy to see tourists, which they most likely never get.
After dinner we wondered around again to see if there were any bars. We forgot how creepy the city felt. After wondering for an hour we decided just to go back to the hostel. We had a good night and got up in the morning to check out (October 9).
We locked our luggage in the designated area because our train for Paris did not leave until 5:30 pm. As we dicided yesterday, we went out to the arboretum. Now, yesterday, from far away the arboretum looked elegant and prestigious. When we got close and personal we discovered that it was neglected and, maybe once, had potential. Even still, it was nice to get out of the "city" and into some landscape. The plants were nice to see, some familiar, some not so much. The weather has been getting cold so all the bush plants have berries; like the holly. It reminds us how Christmas is just around the corner.
After we left the disappointing arboretum, we headed back to the city center. We found some travel guides to help us find something to see. Remember the local guy from Bruges that said "Why are you going to Brussels? There is nothing in Brussels."? Well, he was dead on. The only thing we found of any importance is a naked peeing kid statue. Yes, you read it right--naked peeing kid statue. Supposedly it is Belgium's national icon. I say this as sarcastically as I can, Brussels is fantastic.
The time finally came for us to leave (YES!). We headed back to the hostel to gather our luggage. Then back onto the subway and to the main train station. When we got to the station we notices the train we needed was a Thalys train at another station! We went to Brussels north train station. We needed the south train station. We got back onto the subway and went to the other station. On the way, Briana remembered from somewhere that we may need reservations with Thalys trains. At the station we went up to information and sure enough, Thalys train require reservations. At the reservations desk we asked the lady for reservations on the train. She said that the train we wanted to take was booked. In fact, all trains from Brussels to Paris were books for a week. Except a train leaving in 5 minutes to Paris's main airport. I knew from when I went to Paris with my mom that we could take a 30 minute RER (above ground metro) from the airport to the metro station we needed in Paris. We agreed to make the reservations on that train. It cost us 3€/person for the reservations (would have been 85€/person without Eurail pass). She then said, "You have to hurry, it leaves in 5 minutes.. but you are in luck, it is 10 minutes late." We then ran, ran, ran, through the train station to our gate. We arrived just in time, got on the train, and headed to the Paris Airport.
Prep, Two Weeks of Travel
I'm distressed about how much traveling I am doing soon (photo by Briana Morrison). I am doing laundry right now to prepare for two weeks of travel. Saturday the class is going to Berlin, Germany, for four days and then Prague, Czech Republic, for three days. After, we are coming back to Bonn. I have one night of relaxing and doing laundry again. Then, Briana, Brent (her BF that is coming to Germany for 9 days), and I are going on our week of travel. We finalized our travel plans today. Starting October 5th, we are going to Cologne for the afternoon, then riding a 3 hour high-speed train to Amsterdam, Netherlands. We will be in Amsterdam for 2 days/nights. Then, ride a 2 hour train to Bruges, Belgium for one day/night. Then, ride a 1 hour train to Brussels, Belgium for one day/night. Then, ride a 2 hour train to Paris, France for 3 days/nights. Finally, ride a 3 hour train back to Bonn/Cologne. We reserved hostels/hotels in each place. We are paying about 200€, per person, for all the logging. Most of our places included breakfast and are smack-dab in the middle of town. Our hotel in Paris is only 5 minutes walking distance from Notre Dome. Oh! Also, I got a rail pass (for all the train rides), so all the trains only cost me 295€. I believe I am going to be able to get away only paying 700€ for everything (lodging, food, transportation, and maybe souvenirs) for this 10 day trip. And, to makes things better, I will still have three train travel days leftover on my rail pass. To use them, I have started planning a trip to the Black Forest and Bern, Switzerland, sometime in November.