More thoughts on Brugge

We are sitting in the airport in Brussels waiting for our flight to be called. As always, the day before a trip is over, I am ready to go home.  I have been thinking about everything we did on this trip and my favorite places, which got me thinking about Brugge. I really can't decide how I feel about Brugge.  On one hand it is a beautiful and well preserved historical city, but on the other hand it feels almost "Disney" like.  Talking with a few other people, you get the same message.  It feels like you are being  "nickel and dime" to death. 15.00 euros for a world class museum in Amsterdam is reasonable, 11 euros for a chocolate museum that take you about 30 minutes to go through is not.  Tourism is the primary industry, over 5 million visitors a year. Definitely worth a visit, not sure it is a place to stay more then a night or so.   I am not complaining, I am glad I got a chance to spend some time here and I wish I had checked a few things off my list,  but I decided the city does not have that connection or soul that you find in so many places.  Maybe they have sold out in the chase for tourism dollars. Here are a few more photos.

 Many buildings had niches with Madonna or other religious figures

 White asparagus in the farmers market

 Inside city hall where TTRA had a reception

 10:30 in the evening walk along the canals

 Nancy, Whitney and Lori at  TTRA conference

 House I saw on my bike ride to Damme

 Windmill near Damme, Belgium

 Some of the ruins from Our Lady Church in Damme

 Bike ride

 Poppies

Boat going through lock in Brugge