Nine things to do in Bruges

Introduction:

Bruges

About an hour's train ride away from Brussels is the beautiful town of Bruges, the capital of the west Flanders in the north west Belgium. Cobbled roads, colourful buildings of medieval architecture, canals, narrow lanes and back alleys characterise this quintessential Belgian town.

Getting Here:

Trains and buses from Brussels depart for Bruges. It's about an hour's ride.

Getting around:

Horse cart ride

Take a walk down the cobbled road, or bike through the lanes and alleys and let the medieval charm of Bruges cast it's spell on you. When your legs feel tired, take the canal ride: sit back and relax as your driver guides you through the history of the buildings on your either sides. If you wish to, ride down the pathways in a horse carriage and get transported back in time.

Things to do:

1. Take the Bruges Boat Tour

The one hour canal tour costs around 8 Euros (year: 2017). Enjoy the architecture and history of the buildings on your sides as you make your way through the canals.

Boat Tour

2. Go chocolate tasting (and buying.. a lot)

Belgian chocolates need no introduction. But it is said that Bruges is home to some of the creamiest of the lot. I surely felt so at the Dumon Chocolatiers. Other famous chocolatiers would include The Chocolate Line, Chocoholic and Chocolaterie Jan De Clerck

Dumon Chocolatier

3. Visit The Beer Wall

A wall decorated with different beer bottles and the glasses in which they are to be served: The Beer Wall is just next to the 2be, where you can enjoy some drinks and chill a while.

4. Take a brewery tour

Not far from the 2be is Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres. Their house ale has alcohol content of 5% and has a very rich and creamy finish. It is a blend of the mild Den Bruinen Os, which is brewed on site with an aged lambic - following a typical Flemish beer blending tradition of blending old and new beer. The lambic is brewed in the world's oldest lambic brewery, Timmermans near Brussels.

A complimentary glass of house ale comes with the brewery tour

5. Bike through the narrow lanes and bylanes

Biking is a classic way of exploring this lovely town.

Bikes and bikers characterise the roads

6. Ride a horse cart

Wish to get into rhythm with the medieval charm of Bruges? Ride a horse cart and feel the time rewind itself.

Ride a horse cart

7. Walk across the bridge of love by the Minnewater

They tell the story of a young and pretty girl named Minna, who was deeply in love with Stromberg, a warrior from the neighbouring tribe. When her father forced her to marry a groom of his choice, Minna escaped and ran into the forest. When Stromberg came back from the war, he searched for Minna. When he finally found her, she died in his arms of exhaustion. The lake was named after her: Minnewater. The bridge by its side became the bridge of love, in her honour. It is said that if you walk over the bridge and kiss your loved one, it will become eternal love.

Minnewater

8. Enjoy trappist beer

Silent monks of Trappist Order brew some of the best beers in the world. There are eleven such monasteries around the world, with six in Belgium itself. Although you cannot access the breweries, but you can enjoy the beer in different places in Belgium, the best ones being Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and the capital, Brussels. Chimay, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel, Orval, Rochefort are the Belgian trappist beers.

Chimay - A Belgian Trappist beer

9. Take a walking tour

There are many free walking tours available in Bruges, departing in morning and afternoon batches. Join one, or you can even explore the town by yourself on foot.

Ideal Time Commitment:

Although a day's trip to Bruges is doable, it is better to make it a weekend trip to enjoy the essence of the town to its fullest.

Bruges

10 unforgettable experiences in Paris

Introduction:

Hello, Paris!

Paris is the fashion capital of the world and home to some of the world's most beautiful works of art and architectures. But we won't talk about the grandeur today and save it for some other time. Instead, we will talk about the small packets of happy experiences that make Paris the city of love and a city to fall in love with.

1. Experiencing the pub culture of Paris around Quartier Pigalle:

Quartier Pigalle is known for being home to some of the famous cabarets in Paris, including Moulin Rouge. However, if you are not in for a cabaret show and only looking for a place to sit back and chill, this up and coming neighbourhood won't be disappointing you either. Get yourself a table, order your drink and enjoy the Paris night.

I personally liked the On The Road Pub, which was situated next to my hostel Le Village. Although this is not exactly in the Pigalle neighbourhood, it is in close proximity, a few minutes' walk from Anvers metro station. In spite of being lively, this area is not very loud and rather chilled.

Alternately, if you feel like socialising, join a pub crawl and make new friends while pub hopping.

Have a chilled evening with Rosé wine

2. Playing Pentaque/Boules in Canal de l'Ourcq:

Pentaque is a form of Boules. The first player throws the cochonnet (which translates to piglet), a small wooden ball. Next, the players take turns to throw the small steel balls standing behind a pre-defined line. The steel ball closest to the cochonnet wins the game.

Okay, so as it goes, I met these two fellow travellers during my last trip to Paris. One of them came up with the idea of doing something local and led us to this bar, BarOurcq, a few minutes' walk away from Laumière metro station. This bar, other than being cheaper than those in the tourist hotspots, offers its customers a chance to play Pentaque or Boules for free. We ordered a flask of Rosé wine. Upon finishing, we borrowed the game and headed to the sand stretches next to the canal for playing.

You must take a note, however, on this timings of the bar, which is only open in summer and spring:

• Wednesday and Thursday, 3pm to 12am
• Friday to Saturday, 3pm to 2am
• Sunday, 3pm to 10pm

Also, this bar does not take any advanced booking, hence try to go there early to avoid disappointment.

3. Snowfall in Paris:

To be fair, this is an exclusive winter experience, and no, I'm not talking about walking down the snow clad streets on a busy day, decked up in your favorite winter collection. The experience which I wish to share is about waking up early in the morning when the streets are still dark and quiet, and looking outside your hotel room to find tiny white flakes covering up the roofs; then rushing out of the hotel, excited and wrapped in whichever warm items came handy; standing in the middle of the street, hours past midnight, without a soul around: a snowfall experience to remember.

4. Pampering the sweet tooth inside with some savory desserts:

Among the first few things, which come to our minds talking about Paris, is patisserie. A trip to Paris is incomplete without patisserie hopping. Eclair, Creme Brulee, Madeleines, Macarons, Pastries and what not! The varieties and flavours are enough to give us the desire to indulge into those sinful extra calories and it really must not be resisted.

Time for some macarons

5. Eiffel tower lights after midnight:

Eiffel tower after sunset is one of the most sought after sights in Paris, especially the twinkling lights dancing along the four legs of the tower. The lights twinkle with an hourly interval and it continues for 5 minutes. However, the last show of the twinkling lights is just dreamy. The golden lights of the Eiffel tower go off at 12:55 am. It is then that the white lights twinkle one last time before the highly lit up area becomes completely dark. Bring a mat, grab yourself a place to sit on the grasses and enjoy the show.

Last show of twinkling nights

6. Enjoy a glass of Pastis at a local bar:

Pastis is an anise, or licorice flavoured French spirit or aperitif. Emerging 17 years after the ban on absinthe, it carries a similar taste but has a lot less alcohol content. It's a very popular drink in southern France, specially Provence and Marseilles.

A glass of Pastis

7. Try some fruits from the local fruit sellers:

As you explore the city, grab some fruits from the local fruit sellers and enjoy them on the go. Also, if you're on a budget trip, this could serve as an excellent, healthy and inexpensive meal as well.

A common fig

8. Visit the world's largest underground necropolis: Catacombs of Paris:

Remains of more than 6 million people rest in this huge ossuary built in a small part of the tunnel network built to consolidate Paris's ancient stone mines. This ossuary was created as part of the effort to eliminate the city's overflowing cemeteries. It extends south from the Barrière d’Enfer (literally, Gate of Hell) former city gate.

Please take a note here, do NOT play with, or vandalise the bones: they are real parts of deceased people and deserve the due respect.

Catacombs of Paris

9. Cruise the Seine river:

Many of us often wonder whether the Seine river cruise is worth it. Well, if you trust me, it is! Very much! I prefer the sunset or the post sunset cruise. Just board the boat, pick your glass of complimentary champagne, get to the open deck (or the closed cabin if you will) and enjoy the lit up cityscape.

You can get the tickets for the cruise from the counter at the bank of the river.

10. Bakery hopping:

Bakeries or boulangeries form a very crucial part of the French culture, thus making it an essential part of a trip to Paris. Croissants, Baguette, and all their different variants, with cheese, ham, chocolate, etc. are forever ready to treat your taste buds. In fact, so much is their significance in local culture, that if you're booking a hotel in Paris with breakfast option, chances are that you'll find some of these as a part of your breakfast.

Paris restaurants, morning croissants

11. Bonus experience: Hop on a public bus and enjoy the city views

I am always a fan of public buses wherever I go. They give you a lovely view around the city. Also, as chances are that you are surrounded by locals, you can get some insight into the local style of living.