Rainy skies didn’t stop us, oh no! At the end of August, just before school started, we piled into the car and headed to Bruges, Belgium, aka “The Venice of Northern Europe.” And let me tell you, it lives up to the hype.
From the moment we arrived, it felt like we had stepped into a storybook. Narrow cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and canals lined with boats gliding lazily by. It was impossible not to get lost in the magic. Of course, “lost” here mostly meant being distracted by chocolate shops, lace boutiques, and cafés that smelled like heaven in a mug.
We wandered, we tasted, we wandered some more. I may or may not have sampled chocolate with the same intensity a kid in a candy store display… repeatedly. The lace shops were like a dream, delicate patterns everywhere, begging me to touch… okay, maybe I did sneak a fingertip or two.
And then there were the canals. People floated by serenely in their boats while we stomped around with our umbrellas at the ready, pretending we were tour guides explaining the city to invisible audiences. Every turn revealed another picturesque corner, another tempting pastry, another photo perfect moment.
By the time we left, we were drenched, exhausted, and completely charmed. Sticky fingers, happy hearts, and the kind of memories you can’t help but smile, Bruges had worked its magic. Rain or shine, chocolate or lace, canals or cobblestones… this city has a way of making every little detail feel like an adventure.
Blueberry Pancake Publishing 