I really wanted R to love Belgium as much as I do, it didn’t start too well with nowhere in Brussels to park and rain on arrival in Bruges but then the sun came out and we walked into the city.
I had several requirements that needed to be fulfilled, hot chocolate, a waffle, frites and of course lots of chocolate. I was not disappointed and nor was R, Bruges was shiny and beautiful, it wasn’t too crowded or too cold. We had frites – I had mine with flemish stew which is traditional, R had a burger and spent the whole meal wishing he’d had what I ordered, I shared a bit, then I had hot chocolate from a chocolate shop, R said it would be too sweet and didn’t want one but proceeded to drink most of mine, then I ordered a waffle, again R said he didn’t want one but ate most of that too. I don’t think I was believed when I explained how important chocolate is here but after the 15th shop R understood and four bags later he was ordering all sorts of things. especially when he realised they don’t want to speak French. He has a kilo of hazelnut chocolate all to himself and even bought artisanal chocolate spread.
We walked our legs off and by the time we got back to the van we could hardly move, R had blisters because he had to get new boots after he ruined his in the dyke. Bruges is still one of my favourite cities and we will definitely come back and not just for the chocolate.
We did our food shopping before we left Belgium and got some favourite stuff to bring home as well as bottled coq au vin for the journey and steak for supper.
p.s. There is food in other countries