Day 10 Ostend – Bruges

Last nights bed was at the Cesar Palace Hotel, a couple of blocks from the front. Very nice & reasonably priced.

I tried locating somewhere for breakfast but, except for bakeries, cafes were not open until between 10 & 11. My checkout was at 10 “on the dot” – After handing over the keys, I skipped 1st breakfast in preference to reaching Bruges before the heat.

Again, exceptional riding along the Belgium canals, showing them at their very best. I arrived in Bruges before 1pm, offloaded my bike at the Snuffel Hostel & explored.

Market Square is the hub from which to explore Bruges, though the square itself has enough to hold you for the whole afternoon.

My second lunch was at De Veir Winden, and was sheer indulgence. On a stylish cafe on the square, I needed to try the ice cream & strawberry waffles with fresh cream & Belgium chocolate.

I passed the time with Marlene & Louis from North Carolina, USA, here for the annual, Gent Jazz Festival – drawing such names as Van Morrison – seems my type of event!! On asking about my journey, I mentioned I’d be arriving in Kosmach around my birthday. They insisted on a celebration glass. Many thanks!

In need of a good sleep to ready myself for tomorrow, by 6pm I was back at the hostel, feet up.

The protocol when passing other cyclists is different to the UK. Here, the norm is to divert the eyes, ignore the existence of the other cyclist. If you dare risk a slight wave, the stare of disapproval back is unmistakable. In the UK its obligatory to nod or wave with an 80% favourable response, not to do so may be considered rude. My theory – it may have been the practice here once, but with so many cyclists, it’s just all too much!