Belgium part 1: Bruges

The weekend after our return from our trip home, we set out on another bank holiday weekend to Belgium. Since it's a smaller country, we were able to visit 3 cities in a short trip, the first of which was beautiful Bruges/Brugge. 

Bruges was a city I didn't know anything about until we moved. After arriving, I learned that it is a favorite of many, and we later discovered why. When we planned our trip, several people told us, "You've got to see In Bruges," which, not surprisingly, stars Irish actors. Well, I still have yet to see the movie, but we did take other suggestions for our trip! 

Similar to Amsterdam, Bruges is another canal-based city that is often referred to as "Venice of the North." Along with the canals, the pedestrian streets and medieval charm of the historic centre make Bruges incredibly picturesque. It's one of those places where you need to keep your camera out at all times, because you're met with a lovely scene every time you turn a corner. I have to restrain myself from posting the hundreds of pics I took!

The Markt

Our first day, we wandered the streets until we arrived at The Markt/Market Square in the centre, where we enjoyed our first beers in the sun. I'll just add that Belgian beers are my absolute favorite, so I was in heaven the entire weekend! My husband ordered a large and I said the same, to which the waiter replied, "Large? Are you sure?" I thought: yeah I'm sure, why not! When he delivered the huge steins, I realized why he asked. So, our afternoon started off well!

After Market Square, we walked around to see other sites, like The Burg (Stadhuis/town hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood), stopped for another beer at a great little spot, Cafe Rose Red, then explored the peaceful Beguinage area. 

Near the Beguinage is Minnewater Lake, or the "Lake of Love." It's already an enchanting area, but we were lucky enough to encounter a "double rainbow, oh my god!" (for any who missed the reference, look up Double Rainbow on Youtube... you're welcome). What does this mean? I think a rainbow, let alone a full-on double rainbow, on the lake of love means good things for us!

Next was dinner at Bierbrasserie Cambrinus for some great food and Olympics watching, followed by an evening stroll through the less-crowded squares. In the morning, we browsed the Sunday market before waiting in line for 30 minutes and climbing 366 steps (worth it) to the top of the Belfry for panoramic views of the city. 

The Markt (Belfry on right) at night

Oh Bruges, how I love you. I hope to be back again in the future. 

The next Belgian destination was Ghent -- stay tuned!

Christmas is all around... London

Even though I still have many trips to cover, I'm going to jump out of order here and talk about our recent trip to London. We visited for the first time -- well, my first time (B has been there a few times for work) -- a month prior, but I'll lead off with this trip because a lot of our time was spent at Christmas markets (my new obsession!). As Christmas is a week from today, these holiday posts have a diminishing shelf life!

If you're wondering, the reason we took 2 trips to London 4 weeks apart was to see friends. My old boss from the States was traveling there for a wedding and we planned to meet up. Also, London is just a fabulous city and it's a quick flight for us, so it's easy to do a weekend trip! 

We left on a Saturday and returned on Monday morning and had plenty of time. Sightseeing was out of the way from the previous visit, so we could slow down and enjoy the city, holiday festivities, and company of good friends.

Hyde Park

On Saturday afternoon, we missed a matinee showing of Wicked that we had planned on attending, but that simply meant we had more time to enjoy the afternoon before an early sunset. These hours were devoted to strolling through Hyde Park and sipping on Glühwein (German mulled wine) at the Winter Wonderland Festival.

Let me say, London knows how to do holiday decorations! The "Winter Wonderland" was like a typical carnival, times 10! There were lights everywhere, endless coasters/rides/funhouses, diverse food huts, drink stands and full fledged bars/clubs, live bands, etc. A favorite discovery of ours was a "Merry-go-Round for adults": an open-air bar, with a rotating carousel in the middle (with a bar in the middle of it too!). Brilliant. 

After our wondrous winter adventure, we met up with my friend and his wife for some drinks and quality catch-up time. I was so happy to see a friendly face from Chicago, in London of all places! The next morning, we reconvened and, with coffee and croissant in hand, walked around the beautifully decorated neighborhood of Covent Garden.

When our friends departed for the rest of their European excursion, we Tubed it over to Xmas market #2, the Cologne Market at the Southbank Centre. It's situated along the Thames, so market-goers can simultaneously devour their bratwurst and spiked hot chocolate, browse artisan "whosits and whatsits galore," and enjoy views of the London Eye and Big Ben across the river. So pretty at night!

Between friends and festivities, the weekend definitely put me in a great mood. Being in London, I kept singing the lyrics from the Love Actually song: "I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes... Christmas is all around me, and so the feeling grows!" As I close this post, I'm listening to it yet again...

"So if you really love Christ-mas... C'mon and let it snow!"

Beakers & Babies

A week from tomorrow, we head back to the states for the holidays. I can't believe it's that soon and I can't believe it'll be 5 months since we were home last. Our upcoming trip would probably have been our first, had it not been for a good friend's wedding this summer. It's a long trip home, but we're glad to make it for our loved ones. So, in preparation for our approaching travels, I thought I'd share a bit from our previous trip. 

My time home in July made me feel like a grownup, featuring Beakers and Babies... not to be confused with beaker babies or test tube babies. Our good friends, Sarah and Craig, dubbed "The Beakers" years before they made it official, got married in Ohio (actually in/near Dublin, Ohio, which was pretty coincidental). I was thrilled to be standing beside my college girls, synchronously crying, watching our good friend take her vows!

So lovely, right? It was great to be back home and share in the happiest day of their lives... Which brings me to babies. Nope, no babies for the Beakers yet (for anyone who was confused at the title haha)! 

Another dear friend, whom I've known since first grade (coincidentally another Sarah), had her first baby! She and her husband, Shaun, welcomed a baby boy the same day that my other friend got married. Big day for the Sarahs! 

As I'm rarely home, I had joked with her about working her birthing schedule around my visit. I tried to persuade her to put extra jalapeños on her burger when we went out to eat, strongly encouraged different oils, long walks and well, other things, ha. Luckily, none of that was necessary and she had her baby a week or two before her due date! I'm convinced the precious little guy was listening to me :)

So, even though I'm far away most of the time, I was lucky enough to be there for these important firsts... the first wedding of my college friends, the first baby of my friends from home. I'm not sure when we became these grownups, but I have to say I kind of like it! 

These joyous occasions, paired with much needed family time (including wedding dress shopping with my Mom, yay!), made for such a great trip! I'm so looking forward to being back with friends and family again soon. Now, who wants to get married or have a baby this time I'm home? Think about it.