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| THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM 2006: Trip Report |
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Because we had decided to skip cycling through Belgium we took the train to Vlissingen and the ferry across to Breskens. The ferry is right next to the train station and left a few minutes after our train arrived. We followed the Lf1a North Sea cycle route to Sluis. It was a pleasant run, but for some reason the signposted path is below the dyke. The path on top of the dyke is far nicer and we cycled along it as far as we dared without risking missing the turn off.
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The Lf1a goes through Sluis and along the side of the canal to Brugge. It was an overcast day and there was a short period of rain. It passed over after a few minutes, but we did put on our waterproof coats for the first time. There was also a fairly strong headwind directly against us and we were tired when we arrived at Brugge.
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The next day we strolled around Brugge. It was a prosperous town in the 16th century but fell on hard times partly because the river silted up and partly because it upset the wrong people politically and lost its trading privileges. This put a halt to development and the original buildings and cobbled streets remained intact. This has made it something of a showpiece and the architecture is impressive and beautiful.
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| The apartment was excellent, a house just off the town center. It was an old house, but renovated with flair spacious and comfortably furnished. The bed was comfortable and it was dark and quiet. |
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| Groenigenmuseum is well worth the visit, although the gallery was being renovated and most of the best works were not on display when we were there. The notice that informed us of this said that the works were 'decomposed' which amused Margaret greatly. Our Lady's Church is also fascinating. Its main claim to fame is a statue of Madonna and child by Michelangelo, but the whole thing is great, not the most magnificent cathedral that we visited, but the most impressive. |
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However we found the town itself is depressingly commercial. Despite it being away from the peak season the town was crowded with tourists. There is an incredible number of restaurants, chocolate shops, cafes and so on; all catering to the tourist trade. Large numbers of fast-moving vans and trucks rush through the narrow cobbled streets replenishing their supplies, and there was a surprising number of buses, often virtually empty. There weren't many cyclists and there was little provision for them. Matters were made worse during our trip because there were numerous very active roadworks all over the city, they appeared to be renewing all the underground cables.
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