Corrs Abroad: August 2011

Sunday we took the ferry from Dover to Calais and then drove to Brugge. The children liked riding the ferry and fortunately the day was lovely and we were able to sit outside for most of the trip. Once we were docked at Calais we loaded everyone back into the car and drove to a town in France and had lunch. It was a cute place with a pond that the restaurant kept stocked with fish. We ate while watching the other patrons catch their lunch and dinner. We arrived in Brugge around 4. Our hotel was charming and just around the corner from the market square. However, the trip to our room was a tad precarious. We were on the third floor, of course there was not lift and the spiral staircase had not been remodeled since the Midieval times when it was originally built. It was as steep as a ladder and there was no handrail. Anyway we settled into our room and headed out to see the city. I thought it was beautiful and very picturesque. Harry was not so impressed and kept asking when were going home. He complained through dinner while the rest of us ignored him and I enjoyed my mussels and fries despite his protest. The night in the hotel was okay. At 1:30 am the entire family was awake with the 2 boys crying and Kate trying to scale down the ladder from the loft where she and Harry slept to go to the bathroom. It was not a relaxing night. We rallied in the morning after a nice breakfast in the hotel dining room and 4 cups of coffee. We finally left the hotel at 11 am. We took a boatride through the canals which everyone seemed to enjoy, even Joseph and Harry who both fell asleep. Afterwards we visited the Chocolate Museum. Then we walked and walked until we finally found a playground in Astrid Park. We enjoyed a nice lunch of Belgian waffles and Belgian beer by the canal. Harry, Kate and I took a nice, leisurely walk back to the hotel while Christopher made a mad dash with Joseph screaming in his ear the whole time. We forgot his lunch back at the hotel and he was completely undone. We ventured out again in the evening for dinner and took a tour of the city in a horsedrawn carriage, something Kate had been dying to do. We fell into bed and before our departure the next day, we did some shopping. The lace and chocolate was plentiful. All in all, it was a good trip but definitely not a relaxing one. Christopher and I questioned ourselves a few times as to whether this trip was a good idea. We concluded that is was and we would go on another mini break but not for a while. Our patience were tried countless times but we took some great pictures, ate some fine chocolates, and we did manage a few laughs. I just hope that at least Kate will remember it. Now Christopher and I are ready for a real vacation :)