So, Brugge, right? People kept banging on about it, “Oh, you gotta go, it’s like a fairytale,” they said. I was a bit skeptical, you know? Fairytales usually mean tourist traps and overpriced chocolate. But then, there was this place, Martin’s Brugge, popped up. Looked decent enough, not too flashy, so I figured, why not? Give it a shot.
Getting There Was… An Adventure
Packed my bags, not too many, mind you. Just the essentials. The journey itself, well, let’s just say public transport always has its little surprises. Nothing major went wrong, thankfully, but you know how it is – a delay here, a crowded carriage there. Standard stuff. Finally rolled into Brugge, and my first thought was, “Okay, it is pretty.” Cobblestones everywhere, though. Nearly twisted my ankle about five times on the first day. Seriously, wear sensible shoes if you ever go. My fancy sneakers? Bad idea.
Checking In and First Look Around
Found Martin’s Brugge without too much hassle. The check-in was smooth, which is always a good start. Dropped my stuff in the room – it was alright, clean, had a bed, what more do you need? Then, obviously, I had to go explore. I just started walking, no real plan. That’s usually how I do things. Get a feel for the place, you know?
And yeah, Brugge is one of those places where every corner you turn, there’s another old building or a canal. It’s all very… picturesque. Almost too much, if you ask me. Like, is this place real or a movie set? Saw a bunch of swans, they seemed to own the canals, gliding about like they were the kings and queens of the city. Pretty cool, actually.
What I Actually Did
So, what did I do? Well, I walked. A lot.
- Walked by the canals: You kind of have to, right? It’s Brugge. Took a bunch of photos, probably like every other tourist there.
- Ate some waffles: Got one from a street vendor. It was… a waffle. Decent. Not life-changing, but good. Had to try it.
- Looked at chocolate shops: Man, there are a LOT of chocolate shops. Like, an insane amount. I bought a small box, just to say I did. It was good chocolate, I’ll give ’em that.
- Climbed that Belfry tower thing: Loads of steps. My legs were burning. But the view from the top? Yeah, pretty impressive. You could see the whole town, all red roofs and winding streets. Worth the climb, I guess, even if I was gasping for air afterwards.
- Just sat by a canal: Found a random bench one afternoon and just watched the boats go by. That was probably one of the best bits. No agenda, just chilling.
Didn’t do any of those super touristy boat tours, though. Not really my thing. I prefer to just wander and get a bit lost. Found some quiet little side streets that way, away from the main crowds. That’s where you see the real stuff, I reckon.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Overall? Brugge was nice. It lived up to the “pretty” part, for sure. Martin’s Brugge was a decent base, no complaints there. Solid. Would I rush back? Maybe not immediately. It’s one of those places you see, you appreciate, and then you tick it off the list. But I’m glad I went. Got some good photos, ate some chocolate, didn’t twist my ankle (miraculously). So yeah, not bad. Not bad at all. Just remember the sensible shoes. Seriously.
