Train Travel

As I suspected, I was able to get the 11:25 train to Brussels even though I was buying the ticket at 11:10. The woman looked at me and decided I needed a first class ticket at the senior rate. As it turns out, that was the best decision--not because I can't fight the masses for a seat or I need free wi-fi (it wasn't working today anyway) or the free snacks. The reason is, I can't handle my luggage.  There are only about 6 people in each car of first class so you can just roll your luggage in with you--I can't lift it onto the overhead bins.

I had forgotten how cool train travel is in Europe; such a smooth ride with comfortable seats.  I got to see some cows of Belgium. Also horses. My only problem was not being able to find the trains--my train from Brussels had a number, 533.  That was on my ticket--no where else did that number appear.  I figured out how to find out which track I was supposed to go to...but where are the tracks? I mean, there were no directions posted, in any language. I wasn't looking for English--I would have settled for Flanderese, German, French.  Nothing.  I finally asked a security guard or I might still be at the station.

There's many lovely things about my B&B in Bruges, but the bathroom isn't one of them. The bathroom is nice but it's not in my room...it's down 1/2 a staircase.  I was sure I had checked this out ahead of time because I hate the shared bathroom idea but when I looked around my room, I saw a sink but no bathroom.  Finally, I found a sign that said the bathroom down 1/2 the staircase is my personal, private bathroom and they have given me a robe in case I want to shower and then wander around. The bed is huge and comfortable and it has two bedside reading lamps.

I don't know how I'll get my suitcase down these narrow stairs when I leave; when I arrived, the maid who is a young, robust girl carried it up the stairs for me. My suitcase weighs about 35 lbs, so not the allowed 50 lbs. but I'm not strong enough to carry it. Rolling it on cobblestones is not fun, either.

When I arrived, a large black and white cat decided it wanted to live with me. I let him in while I unpacked and he settled at the foot of the bed but I figured he needed to go out when I left. He was angry about it and I had to physically put him out of the room.

This is a charming little city.  But look up a map online...since it was built in 1300 or whatever, the streets are very tiny. Plus, the names are weird.  Luckily, I went out of the B&B, turned right and walked right to the square so for once, my instincts were correct.   I can now get home from the Bell Tower and since you can see it from all over the city, it's a great landmark.  I had "rabbit in the Flemish style" for dinner--it turned out that Flemish style is a gravy with onions and prunes which it says right in my guidebook had I bothered to read it.

It is freezing here.  Had I done my research, I would have noticed it sometimes reaches 70 degrees in July and August but is cold and rainy the rest of the year. This cotton scarf isn't doing it--everyone is still wearing wool.

I haven't bought any chocolate yet but checked out the shops.  They make chocolate in the shape of anything--including body parts.  Quite a window display.