Christmas 2015 in Brugge, Belgium

   I know the Christmas time is now officially over, at least in the countries which celebrate the Catholic Christmas, so the usual, on the 25th of December. However Orthodox Christmas was on the 7th of January and the Orthodox New Year is today.
  We decided to stop in Brugge on our way to the further part of Belgium. And after you read the below you will see why I don't regret the journey and the fact we had to leave in the middle of the night on Sunday for that.
   Christmas Brugge welcomed us with the drizzling rain and grey clouds, which is the first time I see such weather for all my previous visits. We parked our car and went for a "walk", where we both quietly knew we are looking for a good place to eat.

   While walking by and enjoying the pretty streets and all the little houses and bakeries adorn in the shades of green and red.

   ...and a bit of grey skies and houses, and red again...

   
   This photo didn't come as nicely as I hoped, but just look at that little pug in his red Christmasy suit

   Eventually we were so hungry that we stopped in the very central restaurant we could find, which we never usually do: Tom Pouce.
   Look at how festive it is:

   Being both vegetarians, there were two choices we go for. We both went for omelettes, mine with mushrooms and his with extra tomatoes. I cant remember the second choice, so you can check their menu here.

   Food was yummy and a good portion. The only thing which was disappointing is how busy the place was and therefore the service lacked personal approach to the client and waiters definitely were not friendly. If you have been there and share the same experience or perhaps the very opposite, feel free to share.
   After food we proceeded to walk through the street with festively decorated shops towards the main square.

   I like to select all different kinds of chocolates in this shop - "La Belgique Gourmande" and bring those ribbon tied boxes back home as gifts. 

   If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Christmas at any time of the year, this is the shop you have to visit - "Kathe Wohlfahrt". Its open all year round and its always Christmas in there, those old wooden toys, snowmen and moving steam engines, which kids and adults love so much.

   Next on the plan was the Central Square and of course, ice-skating. It was very busy and lively all around the rink, locals and tourists or all kind were enjoying themselves. 

    The air started to get nippy and the sky darker, so it was time to get a waffle and warm ourselves up.

    Shops and streets got all theirs lights on, and the streets started to smell more and more of something warm and sweet.

 Lovely atmosphere with the happy crowd and proper thick hot chocolate with cream.

   I love that you can come to Brugge all year round, repeatedly and it will still feel like magic to you,  there is always Christmas, all year round - with its chocolate sweets, a proper Christmas shop, waffles with the gooey center and horse carriages. 

   Have you been to Brugge? Did you like it?

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