The MacJohnson's Grand Adventure: Bruges, Chocolate, and the White Cliffs of Dover

Hi! Well, here's the last entry from our April holiday to "continental Europe". Quick funny story - way back in Sept. when we were planning to go to Holland during the October break, I mentioned to a colleague that we were going to "mainland Europe". I was told in no uncertain terms that "We don't consider ourselves an island - they are Europe, and we're the UK." At that point I politely didn't respond, although I was wondering if they realized that the UK was part of Europe, at least according to every Social Studies teacher that I'd had in school. Now, in light of the recent difficulties Brits had in getting back home after the volcano, I wonder if this teacher has changed her view - particularly because she was stuck elsewhere for an extra week.

Anyways, our final day "on the mainland" was spent in Belgium! Only an hour from the Calais port that we were booked into, is the amazing city of Bruges! One of my favourite cities that we do on our Langley Fundamental Europe trip, I was happy to visit it with my family for an afternoon. Our first stop with our hungry children was to find some healthy local eating establishment. Here is the "chef" we found, making - what else - Belgian waffles!

In front of the cool Bruges buildings, are the kids, testing their waffles...

... 30 seconds later, here they are chowing down!

The family in front of the Bruges cathedral bell tower. Yes, we climbed up to the top.

Our family chatting in the town square. Awesome building fascades. You can see them in the great family movie "In Bruges" (Uhhh, maybe don't watch this with the kids).

Another great place to visit was Madame Dumon's chocolate shop. She was really nice, recognizing me from my Europe trip visits, and spoiling our kids with free chocolates (after we bought a fair share as well!) Now the kids know where we go to buy the best chocolates in the world!