Day 3 - Traveling to Brugge

We began today with wonderful scrambled eggs (made by Toby) and fresh bread and fruit and much needed coffee!  After breakfast, we quickly got ready to travel.  We meandered down a lovely, quiet canal, where we saw many ducks and ducklings and numerous bicyclers alongside the canal.  Norman took a turn as captain for a while.

An interesting bridge with counter weights to let it swing to the side to open

This bridge tilted up.  You can see the roadway on it in the next picture as it tilted completely up.

Looking back on the same bridge after we'd passed under it.

A pretty windmill we went by.

We went through several interesting and different looking bridges.  We also came to our first lock.  I jumped off the boat with a line but then Norman and Toby took their turns holding the boat as the water changed height.  Then we entered a small canal in Brugge, where we were met by the yachthaven master and his wife.  They helped us to dock and tie up.

I'm climbing off the boat in the lock with a line in my hand to tie up.

Toby is holding the line in front of the boat while the lock fills.

Norman is holding the aft line in the lock.

You  can see how much higher the boat is getting in the lock.

A footbridge in the entrance of the canal where we spent the night in Brugge.  This bridge had wires that rolled up around the metal cylinders like a roll up window shade to lift the bridge.

The wife of the yachthaven master helping us dock.  The funny shapes in the foreground are the seats of our bicycles on top of our boat.

Soon we were off to the Saturday market.  It was a fairly long walk but we enjoyed seeing many beautiful buildings along the way.  The market was mostly clothes but there was a food section.  We bought pastries first and then shared bratwurst.

Half a bratwurst for lunch!

After the market, we searched for and found the Onze Lieve Wrouwekerk church where there was a beautiful sculpture by Michaelangelo - one of his few works to be found outside of Italy.  The church was very beautiful with lovely sculptures, sarcophagus (sarcophagi??) paintings and stained glass windows.  Next on to the Groeninge Art Museum where we enjoyed the works of (mostly) Belgian artists.  

Michaelangelo sculpture

Sarcophagus

Sculpture inside the church

By then, we were in great need of a chocolate and/or ice cream fix, and I can assure you we had numerous choices!

Chocolates in an edible box!

Our next stop was the Belfort - a tower that you could climb to see beautiful views of Brugge.  David and Norman opted to stop for beers while Toby and I went for the tower.  Unfortunately (or luckily) there was a very long line to get in so we left.  We did a little shopping and then headed back to the boat for naps!

The Belfort tower we didn't climb.

Walking in Brugge

We went out for a late dinner but at our first choice of restaurant, we couldn't get in because we hadn't "reservated".  We had a nice, but slow meal up the street.  Then we came back to the boat to talk, play cards (Toby beat Dave and Norman twice!) and then sleep!