Paul (of Paul's Taxis) collected us at 8:45 and took us to Leeds Station (via Burley Park) where we had a latte in Starbucks, posted Paul Harris' Birthday Card before we caught a train to Kings Cross (saw Eleanor and Ken Hough). We got the Eurostar to Lille. (Big) Pete was the tour guide and introduced himself - then at nearly 3:30pm continental time we got off at got a coach to Bruges. We walked to the Hotel - the last bit - Grand Hotel Casselbergh.
http://uk.hotels.com/ho336243/grand-hotel-casselbergh-bruges-bruges-belgium/?PSRC=AFF05&dateless=true&gclid=CjwKEAjw-o6hBRDOmsPSjqakuzYSJADR2V3SYRN8KS2Ci-IlXsoDyrLN-ggiAqV-PxOINMO4n1YBQxoCwJfw_wcB&hotelid=336243&rffrid=sem.hcom.UK.google.003.03.02.s.kwrd%3DZzZz.s1qLLWxSs.0.47295357766.1020f4318814.d.c
That night we had a super meal at Malesherbes, in Stoofstraat where I had a duck starter then cod with pure asparagus. Margaret had a got's cheese... then we ,walked back (the wrong way!) and had a hot chocolate then to bed at 21:30.
Monday April 14th
We had a good breakfast at about 8-ish, then went to meet up at 9 for the tour that showed the highlights of Bruges. This included the Grote Mrkt, Basilica of the Holy Blood, the 'Provinciaal Hof op de Markt'
We had a hot chocolate at Sukerbuyc's cafe - called De Proverie. (That afternoon we toured Sukerbuyc - which means 'Sugarbelly' - where Roland gave an amusing tour in making the chocolates. Afterwards we had another hot chocolate across the road in their cafe - De Proverie).
We then took in the Picasso Exhibition (also had some pictures etc. from Joan Miro, Jean Cochteau, Auguste Renoir, Rene Magritte & Henri Mattise). Also went into The Church of Our Lady to see The Madonna by Michelangelo. It was rather beautiful.
We headed back towards the hotel and went into the Crowne Plaza Hotel (for free!) to see (underground) the walls of Bruges’ St. Donatian's Cathedral - a massive stone church which sat within Bruges’ Burg square and destroyed by Napoleon who had it ripped it
down in 1799. Back around 900 AD, the city built a fort to protect itself from the Vikings who were raiding the city. Not long after, this very large and central place of worship was built on top of the fort.
We then went back to the hotel, then in the afternoon we did a boat trip around the canals in central Bruges.
We enjoyed it ... though I suspect it is a very touristy thing to do.
We had an evening meal at Vivaldi - t'was OK but not brilliant.
Tuesday 15th
We had breakfast at 8-ish, then walked to the Grote Mrkt. I climbed the Belfry (the workmen were replugging the carillon. We then bought some lace butterflies then off to Sukerbuyc's cafe - De Proverie for a hot chocolate.
Afterwards we went around Groeninge Museum; (the tour was off to Yres today!) and looked at The Flemish Primitives. We also then took in a tour of the Arents House - which is also known as the Brangwyn Museum. It is a fine, late-18th-century townhouse located opposite the coach-house at the entrance to a picturesque garden near the museum (and included in the price). We had been in the garden, sitting enjoying the sun too ... we were very impressed with (Sir ) Frank William Brangwyn (RA RWS RBA!) an Anglo-Welsh artist - 1867-1956.
The Arents House or Brangwyn Museum is a fine, late-18th-century townhouse located opposite the coach-house at the entrance to a picturesque garden. We had been in the garden, sitting enjoying the sun too ...
We had lunch back at the hotel (in the room) and afterwards we went to The Burg to look at ... then the Chapel Of The Holy Blood. Not too impressed with either - we then walked to Sint Salvator Cathedral - which had a very high ceiling which we liked - it was very plain. (we had looked in at the Infirmary which was €8 to get in.
Had dinner at Pieter Pourbus
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