The Venice of the North

They call Brugge the "Venice of the North" ostensibly because its network of canals is reminescent of the city in northeast Italy. I submit it deserves that moniker, but for another reason entirley: because it is nearly as easy to get lost in Brugges as it is in Venice. I'm pretty good at reading a map, but I could hold it right in front of my nose and still miss the turn into some narrow, cobblestone street that opens into a major square. The additional hazard in Brugges, of course, is that the streets have cars, unlike Venice, where you may see the occasional motorbike. So, if you want to get run over while you're lost, there's no better place to be.

I'm beginning to think everything I've heard about the low countries being cold, overcast, and rainy all the time is just a myth created to keep tourists away. Just look at my pictures. I've hardly seen a cloud the whole time I've been here, and the temperature is what I expected in Madrid, not Brussels. Add to this observation my last trip to the area - The Netherlands in 1995 - when it was 80+ degrees and sunny for 13 of the 14 days I was here, and I call foul.

Having said this, now it'll probably rain tomorrow.

Lots of beer.

Brugge at dusk.