We were able to escape the parking garage in a timely fashion (thank goodness! it took us almost 45 minutes in Ghent because there was no stinkin' elevator) and head into the heart of the city. We had a few goals in mind like the chocolate museum and the fry museum. We made it to both and they were SO COOL! The commute to each held amazing views and sights to behold.
Look! A Dodge Ram...first truck I've seen since being here
this couple was too cute not to snap a picture of
A mid-day mango sorbet? Yes please!
another cute couple
make sure you go to my YouTube page and watch the video I took over the course of today...coming into the main city square is AmAzInG!
can you say 'hello chocolate museum'???
thumbs up if you love chocolate!
A statue on a chocolate high
ancient books devoted to nothing but chocolate
this statue is so pumped about chocolate, he dances
chocolate makes everything better...
pots completely devoted to heating, stirring and serving chocolate
cups and saucers rich people used to use especially for the enjoyment of a hot cocoa-y beverage
a fake kitchen devoted to nothing but showing fake chocolate
some of the first chocolate molds
more chocolate molds
tins to house the chocolate
collectible tins just for chocolate
sculptures made completely out of chocolate
Michelangelo's Madonna and Child...completely made of white chocolate! It took the artist something like 36 hours of labor to complete...
this cute kid does a 10-minute spiel and show on how traditional pralines are made in Belgium...he speaks all the languages
all that chocolate consumption had us famished so we headed to a pub down the street for a drink and some food
the fanciest water I've ever had and some kick-butt apple pie and vanilla ice cream
the fry museum!
I'm not the first Idahoan to walk these halls!
baby potatoes on display
impressive drawing of a potato plant
as it grows...
different things to fry the fries in
a large triple fryer just for your favorite side dish
a machine devoted solely to the dispensing of that crispy and golden delicious goodness
these buildings make it feel like I was inside of a Harry Potter movie and that Sirius' house was going to slide out from between the bricks at any moment...
My family was so sweet to make me an 'American' breakfast this morning of scrambled eggs and bacon with our usual rolls and various toppings. It was SO GOOD! I opened presents and got a really pretty jewelry holder, some delicious Belgian chocolate and some money with a note telling me to get a decent cell phone (haha:)) and a USB fan! My family knows me so well :) I am so lucky!
We got an earlier start because Bruges is a big city and we didn't want to miss anything. Our first stop was a huge cathedral called Saint Saviour's. It was gorgeous and I am bummed we didn't get to see the whole thing. They closed it to the public a few minutes after we got there. I'm grateful for what I did get to see, though. Some gorgeous art work, sculptures and a huge organ.
The chocolate and fry museums are operated by the same people so you can buy both tickets at the same place and then you go on a self-guided tour with helpful hints from a cocoa bean and a potato--haha :) They were really thorough with the history and had a variety of ways to soak in the information.
We did some quick shopping on our walk back to the parking garage and that included me picking up a super cozy t-shirt that says Bruges on it.
Today was so good. I can't thank my host family enough for making me feel loved and appreciated on my first birthday away from my family. I hope that you readers have had a great Tuesday as well!
