Brugge (Broooshj), Belgium

A city center unchanged since at least the 13th century. We parked at the train station and walked into the heart, past the Lake of Love which is evidently the romantic place to go but it is winter and we are missing all the leaves of the trees and flowers. There are many swans here. The city has provided feeding spots along the lake and canals. The central area is filled with shops and shoppers. Belgium chocolate and Belgium lace. There are lots of horse drawn tourist carts. The horses are beautiful and you can hear their trotting cadence down the street and around the corner on the cobble stones. We found the art museum of course....more religious paintings and dark Dutch-like portraits which I might have seen enough of for the time being, but in the building next to it we discovered a most talented artist. Frank Brangwyn born in 1867. There was not a thing he could not do...and with so much power and certainty. He could draw well, and paint in tempura, watercolor, oil...and he was a master at printmaking- woodcuts, lithography and etching. This exhibit was worthwhile for both of us. We enjoyed all the city architecture, the narrow cobblestone walkways here and there...just snooping in the cracks and corners of of the old. Our next focus was to find a library and maybe wifi so back to the car to another end of the city...still old...but a place of everyday living. We have found that we can park quite comfortably within the cities...just off the commercial centers in the residential areas. We are just another car parked, but we have Washington State license plates which really throws people. They cannot believe what they are seeing. Sometimes we cannot believe it either! No wifi for us at the library. You have to be a member so McDonald's seems to be the best bet (which is where we are right now). When we park in cities overnight it is fun to watch all the action around us. The owned apartments are so different than what we are used to....all piled on top and next to each other. Lovely doors - and windows that always have a pretty curtain or flower display. We are in love with all the colors used here. Deep deep blues and greens.

We crossed the border into France at Sluis (Slice), Belgium...a pretty place but too many shops and shoppers. It seems a thing for the French to come across the border and shop in Belgium. We slept in a parking lot after getting a steep parking ticket for 55 euros!