UKC

I was given a day trip to Bruges as a Christmas present. The trip (by coach) goes this coming Saturday. I gather we get around 5-6hrs in Bruges, with the possibility of a guided tour of the city at the start (not sure about this).

What would you suggest seeing/doing on a day trip to Bruges? I've heard that the Chocolate Museum is worth a look, and of course there's the Clock Tower and Canal Trips, but what else is a 'must see/do'?

Thanks.

In reply to owlart:

You need to find two manky hookers and a racist dwarf

In reply to owlart: There are a lot of alcoves in the Astridpark. You use this word, alcoves?

In reply to owlart:

Avoid bell towers if you're rotund....

In reply to owlart: I am jealous. I would love to go to Bruges. I believe it is one of those quaint old cities so for me, just pottering about, drinking a a few Belgium beers and eating chocolates and fries whilst taking in the atmosphere would make for a very satisfactory day out.

In reply to tspoon1981: Alcove - a small hole or niche in a wall?

In reply to PeterM: I'm not rotund, but am aware of the consequences for someone who may be

In reply to owlart:

If you drink beer, go here:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g188671-d1045537-Reviews-Sta...

In reply to EeeByGum: I've been to Bruges before, but that was about 15years ago, and I had a group of around 30+ kids with me, so not exactly a relaxing day out!

I like the idea of pottering around eating fries and chocolates (not at the same time though), and I gather the waffles should be tried too. I'll leave the beer alone though, I don't drink. If I remember to take my camrea, and remember to take any pictures with it, I'll maybe post a link for you!

In reply to owlart: if you have a gay friend, buy him a gay beer - but have a proper one yourself. And don't hit any Canadians.

In reply to owlart: Cool. I nearly took the missus before we had sprog number two but flights / transfers would have been a mighty faff. It never occurred to me to go my coach although I would imagine that is quite a slog from Manchester.

In reply to EeeByGum:

You can do overnight ferry trips from Hull fairly cheaply, 2 nights on the ferry with the day in between spent in Bruges

In reply to ebygomm:

going there with mrs TC in september. I'll be watching this thread with interest.

As long as I can have a big gay beer, I'll be happy.

In reply to ripper: I do, but he won't be coming with me. I dont drink, so won't be having any beer myself, and I've no particular desire to hit a Canadian, so I should be safe!

In reply to owlart: If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me but I didn't, so it doesn't.

In reply to owlart:

She is not the "reception girl", she is the co-owner with her husband. And my friend is....er....a....er......COCK

In reply to Blue Straggler: I have no idea what you're on about, are you posting on the right thread, or in reply to the right person?

In reply to owlart:

I am posting in the same spirit as five others on this thread, none of whom you have jumped on!

In reply to owlart: You can't sell horse tranquilizers to a midget!

In reply to Blue Straggler: Everyone else's post seems to have had some reference to Bruges, and either trips to it, or things to see/do whilst there. Maybe you could enlighten me what relevance to Bruges your posting was, so I could understand what you're on about?

In reply to owlart:

ripper's and balmybaldwin's included?!

In reply to Blue Straggler:

And now Papillon's? Those are all Bruges-specific to you?

In reply to Blue Straggler and owlart:

You two are weird. Would you like some cocaine?

In reply to owlart: Ok, so there's clearly some sort of in-joke going on in this thread that I'm not aware of. Very clever, I'm sure, pat yourselves on the back and b*gger off to another thread unless you've got something actually helpful to say.

In reply to owlart: probably best if you watch 'In Bruges' with brendan gleason and colin farrell. All might become clear (and you'll have seen a cracking movie to boot)

In reply to owlart:

Go watch the film "In Bruges" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/?ref_=sr_1

I've been there twice, and I don't remember anything to do there - although the last time I was mainly occupied with fishing Venture Scouts out of the fountains!

In reply to skog: I think they might be on ketamine

In reply to owlart:

I went there on a day trip from Brussels in 1997. I had no guidebook or anything. I just wandered around looking at canals and went up the clock tower, I did not go to the chocolate museum. There are plenty of information plates all around, it is very tourist/visitor-oriented. I don't know of anything "essential" to there. It's like going around Lincoln or something.

And don't watch "In Bruges" which we've all referenced to your apparent petulant disgust. It is sweary, violent and very funny. You would not like it.

In reply to LastBoyScout:

We were mainly occupied with beer, I think.

But generally it's just a very nice place to wander around. Have a map, but follow your nose. The Beguinage is a nice thing to look at on a quick visit, too:
http://www.in-bruges.co.uk/beguinage-in-bruges/beguinage-in-bruges.html

In reply to skog:

Best reply yet, marrying the film and the thread!

In reply to ebygomm:


Yeah - I think that is the problem. I rather envisaged two nights in Bruges. I'm not saying that ferries aren't nice places to be but...

In reply to Papillon:

- very important this, so don't do it.

In reply to owlart:

http://www.dreamsofmountains.co.uk/belge2006/belge2006.htm (about 3/4 of the way down).

There are some nice museums, some nice canals, some nice towers, some nice windmills, some other nice buildings, and some nice ducks.

Seriously, I'd just wander around a bit, soak it up, and enjoy some food and drink. Or just food, if you don't drink. It's a pleasant place, and worth a visit, but not somewhere I'd rush back to.

The guided tour might actually be worth doing.

In reply to owlart:

You have unintentionally made this the funnyest thread on here in ages. Thanks.

In reply to owlart:

If you wanted a conversation with a c*nt, you could have gone to the conversation with a c*nt shop!

(for those who bothered to watch the extras on the DVD)

In reply to owlart:

you are going to Bruges and you do not drink?

Its a wasted trip mate, as the beer is brilliant there and a big part of what its all about.

In any event still do the brewery tour, the guides are amusing. The bell tower is cool, and otherwise just a wander round the canals is very nice.

Maybe consider taking up drinking?

In reply to owlart:

the Henry Maas brewery tour is good. (You get a free pint at the end, hide in the toilets then join the follow on tour, etc, until you get chucked out!)

In reply to balmybaldwin:


We went to Bruges on a Sixth form trip.... one of my mates was 'rescued' from a prostitute's bed by Mr Allinson. I never knew which of the trio was most upset!

In reply to owlart:

There are not many people around in these alcoves at Christmas time. If I were to murder a man I would murder him here. Are you sure this is the right word, alcoves?

In reply to owlart:

Bruge is a fantastic city. Its stuffed with cathedrals which rival any in the UK including one with a famous leonardo painting it - The adoration of Christ. The chocolate museum is one of many museums..
Its stunningly beautiful and from Hull it's only £78 or so if you go midweek and for that you get two nights on board and a day out in the City.

In reply to Dave Perry:

It's a fairytale town

In reply to humptydumpty:

Brilliant!

In reply to owlart:

spent a day in bruges once, the weather was bad but i recall it being pleasantly dull. no feeling i was missing anything.
the people are nice and chatty i thought, the coffee good, feels international (everyone seems to flip between 5 langages fluently). europe at its most functional. good place to talk politics if thats your thing.

In reply to owlart:
I believe you can spend a highly interesting afternoon watching folk make lace.

In reply to owlart:
hi Owlart. Please tell us that you have finally watched the film.

In reply to owlart:
Beer, waffles and chips. Then go to the Friet Museum. Not really much there tbh, but the boat rides are alright if you're with a lady/man friend.