Belgium&France:"A little too much chocolate is just about right."

Belgium and France: March 20-23, 2011

Who knew that these three days could quite possibly be some of my favorites? Who knew that I would fall in love with Brugge, Belgium? Here is how it happened...

Monday:

Okay I know I said that Ireland was our last early morning trip... I lied. Little did I know that our trip to Belgium and France would also have an early departure. This time it was 6am! Not too bad... I'd say 3am is much worse. Our travel plans consisted of a bus then a ferry then another bus into Belgium, which would be our first stop! We got on the bus, trying to sleep. We brought our pillows from home even! But we were all wide awake because we had all just showered and we couldn't get comfortable. We got to the dock in Dover and found out that our ferry was canceled due to mechanical difficulties...bummer! So we waited on the bus (not able to get off or leave) for 2 1/2 hours until we could board the next one. The bus would literally be driven onto the ferry with us.
We finally boarded and ate, played cards and talked on the deck until we finally arrived on the other side of the channel. The trip took about an hour and a half!
We then drove into Brugge, Belgium, which is now one of my favorite cities in the world!! It is small, clean, and beautiful and has great food! We went crazy+ having so much fun! We walked through town to get to our hotel: the ibis! The ibis is a chain in Europe that we LOVE! We stayed in it on out trip up to Northern England, and it was the best! Liz and I were roommates all week because we shared a bag. I couldn't have asked for a better roomie :)
After we settled in, we decided to go out and explore the city! We took a boat tour of the small city on the river that runs through it! We couldn't hear a word our tour guide said, but the 10 of us had fun chatting and seeing the city. It is magical! I had no idea what to expect, but Brugge exceeded all expectations!
We then did what every tourist does in Belgium: ate! The girls and I had been of sugar for a while, but Belgium broke us all! Those who know me know that fries and chocolate are my two favorite foods in this world and Belgium specializes in both! The Belgium chocolate, the frites (fries) and waffles were amazing! I cannot even explain to you how much fun we had all trying everything! We did split it...not to worry! But if you ever make it to Belgium, be prepared to indulge and enjoy it...
We came home that night from dinner loving the city already. We all gathered in carly and Elise’s room to hang out and chat! 9 of us girls piled on the bed and laughed and chatted until we were all slowly falling asleep. Liz and I went across the hall to get ready for bed and surprise surprise got a second wind! We sat in bed until 2am just loving chatting about all sorts of things! I'm so grateful I have her here with us on the trip... She is the best!

The city of Brugge











The River and the boat tour:




The Town Square:





The Yummy Food:









Tuesday:

We woke up early to a huge yummy ibis breakfast... This hotel never disappoints!
We then got together as a group and toured their chocolate museum! It was all about how chocolate started and why Belgium chocolate is different (and better)!
After we were done we were free to roam about until 1pm when we would be driving to another city in Belgium. We got all our favorite foods one last time for lunch! It was amazing!
We met up and moved onto another city in Belgium that was tiny but had educational value! Yes, we are basically on vacation, but we are learning things all the time here in Europe. We got on the bus and our professor talked with us about World War 1! We then were able to go to a World War 1 museum in this tiny town. It really helped me understand more about the war. All growing up I really had no idea why we were even fighting in the first place!... But I was right all the years growing up... We were all fighting for no cause and no reason at all! There were many alliances at the time and the assassination of the heir to the Austrian empire caused fighting. This brought the alliances to get in on it and before we knew it the whole world was involved.
We learned about the fighting and the terrible trenches that they fought in. It was sad but neat to read about what happened and what life was like by seeing this museum!
After we finished our tour, we walked out into a carnival that was in town. What did we do? We ate again... Everyone ate again! We tried these doughnut/scone balls that were dipped in powdered sugar and warm... Heaven!
With tummies full, we moved on to drive into France for another night in the ibis!
We got settled and went downstairs to their restaurant for dinner. The ibis has a great restaurant and it was easier to stay in than try and find something out and about! A ton of other kids had the same idea so it was a party down in the lobby! We all sat around and chatted after we ate as a whole group, including our professors. It's so fun to have them with us all the time! They are the greatest!
We then did what we always do when we travel together: get jammies on and just hang out together. Nights like these are the reason we have all become so close in such a short amount of time!

The Chocolate Factory:









Wednesday:

Staying up late every night has made us all so tired. We woke up late and had to rush to me the group on time. We went straight to the biggest cathedral in all of Europe! It is called the Notre Dame d’Amiens! It was gigantic. It looks much like the famous Notre Dame in Paris, but we were in Amiens instead!
We spent 2 hours in the city and talked with the Crowes (our cute professes) about how quickly this Semester has gone, but how great it has been! We have all loved it.
After that, we drive to see some of the battle fields in Northern France. We had a hilarious tour guide that told us all about what happened in the fields and during this time in the war. Fighting in trenches was tough. Not only did you have to worry about your life, but rats and disease were a huge problem! He talked with us about this particular battle that took place right on the battle fields we were standing on! The Germans and the Canadians were at war and the Canadian troops lost a ton if men. It was eye opening to be in the actual place this historical battle occurred and it was very interesting to hear more about the First World War!
This took us several hours before we made the same bus, ferry, bus ride home. We got home tired but so happy that we chose to take a trip to see the things we did!

The battlefields and the city of Amiens:












On the ferry going home...overlooking the ocean:




This trip concluded our 4 weeks of trips this month. In four weeks we have been in six countries: England, Italy, Wales, Ireland, Belgium and France. It is crazy that our month of traveling is over!

Top favorites?: England, Scotland, Italy and Belgium!...but its Europe, everything is magical.