Moving Experience I…read morecould not get any photos because there was a religious ceremony inside. Seeing the ceremony was a moving experience.

The basilica was tucked away in a corner of this plaza hemmed in on one side by City Hall and the…read moreother side by the Basilica of St. Basil. I was able to enter the Basilica before mass and had the opportunity to explore both chapels. Upstairs was the ornate and richly painted chapel with a beautiful wooden ceiling. Downstairs the chapel was quite stark and a bit dark. Quite a contrast between the two different styles. The relic containing the cloth with the blood of Christ was located on a platform overseen by a sitting priest. One queued at the bottom while the person ahead spent time looking at the container. I suggest starting here before exploring the rest of the basilica in case of lines.

Otherworldly. Not a…read moresingle sequence of words strung together could accurately review this moment in time. It's an experience that will remain with me forever. I now know that a courtyard filled with daffodils is something I absolutely aspire to have. I used to think it was a few blueberry bushes and maybe a gardenia plant or two with vines of midnight jasmine but now I'm tossing an entire courtyard of daffodils onto that list. I love moments filled with a light breeze and pure tranquility. This is that moment, and a place that will make you feel things you didn't know were possible. It was the most incredible surprise.

It's cozy... But thats about it‍. They used to have a small gift shop but couldn't find it.read more

Bruges is just an amazingly impressive old town. Even though big in size at first glance, it's very…read moreeasy to walk and to get around. Most of it is pretty flat, so also suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Just be aware that some cobbled streets might make it a bit more difficult It's hard to describe what to see and what to do. Your options are endless and one day will not be enough. Just to see to historic center takes more than a day. And that's without visiting museums or taking a little river/canal cruise. Maybe plan the big must-do's. And after that ... or during ... it's just fun to stroll around and get lost in the streets and lanes of Bruges. Some of the sights you really should check out: - Belfort Tower - Markt / Marktplatz - Brugse Vrije - Stadhuis Brugge - Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed - De Burg Square - Huidenvettersplein - Nepomucenusbrug - Meebrug - Sint-Salvatorskathedraal - Bonifazius Bridge - Zuidzandstraat - Dijver - Rozenhoedkaai - Steenstraat - Sint-Amandsstraat And that's just to cover the biggest and most famous sights and streets. Belgian Waffles and chocolate. Give them a try. Surely a must-do. We sampled some. But sadly weren't convinced much. Nothing beats Swiss chocolate. An amazing old town. We really enjoyed it. One of the most pretty historic old towns we know. And we've seen many. Bruges. Really a place you must see at least once in your life. We love it and will be back one day.

The Markt Square in Bruges is the central heart of the city. Cobblestone streets are throughout the…read moresquare and it's surrounded by stunning architecture. Here you will see the Belfry of Bruges. A prominent bell tower that you can climb for panoramic views of the city. In the square there are Beautiful historic buildings with plenty of restaurants and outdoor cafes. It's a lively and picturesque place to explore.

The entire historical city centre is a World Heritage City. Markt is the central square of Bruges…read more The Belfry (medieval bell tower) located here is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colorful old Guild Houses are another point of interest. When we visited, the Christmas Market was being set up. It would've been a great experience if only we came a few days later.

If you visit Bruges, you should absolutely stop by this gorgeous little bridge called…read moreBonifaciusbrug. It feels so classically romantic and gives heavy snow white medieval vibes, but does tend to get a bit busy with tourists since it's so pretty and easy to visit - it's free. All in all, if you're in Bruges and have a few minutes I would absolutely recommend walking over as it's an definite must-do for the area!

Built in 1910 this bridge looks much older than it is because of the style of architecture. If you…read moreare walking south of the old Burg square towards the Church of our Lady, walk along the Djiver Canal. You will cross between Arentshof and Gruuthuse. Sitting on top of the bridge maybe one of the most pictureque views of Brugge. Seek it out when it's not crowded. It is one of the most tranquil places in the city with the cathedral as your backdrop and the canal below you.

This was our final stop in Bruge and it was a little bit of a walk away from the historic area. I…read morewas curious to visit a historic windmill other than ones built for our local miniature golf course. From the outside the windmill was quite a bit larger than I expected and sitting on its own mound added to that perception. Unfortunately we arrived outside the operating hours of the windmill so really didn't get the chance to see the insides. Also with a chain link fence running around the perimeter, it created a distance so I wandered over to a neighboring windmill on the next mound over to get a better view under and around without any barrier. The stairs leading up to each windmill were steep, more than a 45 degree angle?), and if open would make entry inside a little challenging. We walked a bit along the canal after our visit and stopped outside the Kruisport Gate, which was a historic medieval gate in Bruge still in use today and close to the bus stop that will take you back to the city center or train station. There were just a handful of visitors so it would be a place to visit if in the area and during opening hours.

It was a neat experience to see this windmill and how it operates. You can visit it for €5. The…read moresteps are steep to enter and exit so proceed with caution. It was built in 1770 and is still in operation grinding flour.