Bruges! Finally our chance to get our hands on the famous golden and brown beers. In the realm of beers, there is nothing quite like this full body, aroma filled liquid that goes down smooth and gives a kick. Most Belgium beers average about 8% alcohol which, for me, makes them a great drink to enjoy with a meal while not getting too full. However, that may not be the case since the restaurant served over 400 varieties. Our work was definitely cut out for us.
The next morning, after we had a Belgian waffle and hot milk with a chocolate ball, we decided to tour the city with its elaborate bell tower and cobblestone carriage rides. The bell tower, with its 336 nauseating spiral wooden and stone steps, left us with a spectacular view of the city and front row seats to the show: an intricate dance of strings, pulleys, and levers that vibrated loose the snow and ice above raining us with a wonderful musical performance. It was a great example of human ingenuity.
Leaving Bruges and the beer behind, we marveled at the diversity of our next city, Amsterdam. With more canals than Venice, important historical significance as Anne Frank, and museums touting world class artists like Van Gogh, it was a wonder to then have such seedy parts of town where marijuana shops and women prostituting themselves in windows were just a part of the average day.
To see where Anne Frank lived a majority of her final years in what can only be described as a windowless sardine can, was beyond amazing. The human will to survive amid such terror and the people who risked their own lives to help was such a beautiful experience. The depth of her journal entries and the mature cog wheels of this young mind made it hard to swallow knowing her last few months were in the infamous Auschwitz death camp. Two great quotes from Otto Frank, Anne's father, was "my conclusion is...that most parents don't know really their children", and "For me, it was a revelation. There was revealed a completely different Anne to the child that I had lost. I had no idea of the depths of her thoughts and feelings."
So, after nearly three weeks of beautiful sights, scrumptious food, and lighthearted people, it was time to say adieu to Europe and head back home to the States. Our grueling flight home would take us from Amsterdam to Iceland, then to Seattle, and finally home to Los Angeles. Thanks for reading and we sincerely hope you have enjoyed the experiences and images.
12665 air miles, totaling 28 hours and 4 minutes
The friendliest swan I've ever met
The Ball of chocolate and hot milk
The Belgium Waffle
The brains of the bell tower that pulled the levers
The intricate workings of the bell tower
The winding stairs of the Bell Tower
The Bell Tower
The canals of Amsterdam
