Yanks in Blighty - December 31, 2002.

The view of the Dijver walk and the tall bell tower
of The Church of Our Lady.

St. Benefice Bridge leading to the Groeninge
Museum.

There wasn't a blanket of snow for Christmas this year. Here in Suffolk, that rarely happens. There wasn't the usual sensory assault, either. Ads from toy makers, department stores, and jewelers were tame this year. Though England began holiday preparations in October, with no Thanksgiving in between, the buildup was less frenetic. Christmas had its place, like tea on the hob or a blanket by the fire.

Aunt Patty arrived, though, and the excitement of the season took hold of us. We were going to the Continent, that great undiscovered land mass to our east where music was written, wars were fought, and most Yanks can claim some lineage. Our first stop: Bruges (pronounced Brooojh) in the little country of Belgium.

Future visitors take note: An hour out from Waterloo Station and riches of Europe are yours (if you don't mind twenty minutes under the English Channel).

Our choosing was simple: Judy worked with a woman from Bruges who said it was beautiful, simple to get to via the EuroStar, and easy to get around in once you were there. Many others agreed, and they were right.

Belgians don't mind Americans --- a big plus these days. A little Dutch (an English linguistic cousin) or French will have you on your way. Not that you really need it, though it's always polite to try. Chris did ... constantly!

Being a fiercely Catholic city, Bruges still wears the vestiges of the Age of Faith. The B.V.M. adorns houses and street corners and public buildings ... a refreshing change from our prepackaged low-fat, wheat-free secular humanism. As for the food (and the beir!), I must say I had one meal that ranked among my all-time Top Ten: a bucket packed with succulently steamed mussels, a specialty of the city.

Bruges is a beautiful place - I hope a few of these photos will prove it - and well worth your visit. Our weather was rainy (and usually there is snow), but I suspect a canal ride with Judy on a Fall afternoon with a lazy breeze blowing, a little wine, and some time to reminisce would be lovely indeed ... > >

Flanders has always exerted tremendous economic and political influence upon Europe. The first kings of France, the Merovingians Childerik and his son Clovis, were descendants of a Germanic tribe called the Franks (or 'Free People') who settled into the Low Countries (present day Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg) during the 4th and 5th centuries.

The wealth of Flanders came from two resources: an extensive natural and man-made waterway system, and thriving pre-Industrial Age textile centers which produced most of the woolen cloth worn in Medieval Europe. Bruges was named "Venice of the North" for its beautiful canals and for the economic and cultural wealth that flowed into it from around the world.

Flemish riches were the envy of Europe's Medieval monarchs. The Counts of Flanders usually secured peace that preserved their autonomy. However when France absorbed Flanders into it's kingdom the Flemish resisted and defeated France in The Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. Later, it was Edward III's ban on English wool exports that forced Flanders to ally with England and set the stage for The Hundred Years War.

Belgium continues to play a central role in the economics and culture of Europe. It is the fourth most prosperous nation in the world, and Flanders is its most prosperous region. The main languages are Dutch (in the north) and French (in the south). English and German are both taught and spoken extensively, so no traveler will find trouble getting around Belgium. The railway system connects to every country in Europe, the exchange rate (Euro) is good, and the food and sights are wonderful. For a quick history, click here.

This statue, found in the Markt, commemorates Flanders struggle for independence from France in the 1300s. People from Flanders are Flemish, of course. But what about those people from Wallonia? They are Walloons, of course! You learn all kinds of inane stuff on this web site! Click here for the missing issue of 'Yanks in Blighty'. PRINCE: 'It fits! Will you marry me?' CINDERELLA: 'Yes!' > Click here for an AVI clip (2.1 mb) of Elena's acting debut.