In Bruges

We're in Bruges.

I just lost half of this post because Internet Explorer is an utterly useless browser, full of holes, spyware and absolutely idiotic programming. I should be editing this in Firefox like I normally do but I don't have the time now...

I'll briefly recap -

We're having a good time, although it's stressful vacationing with an almost 16 month old toddler. He slept on the Eurostar all the way through France and into Belgium, was tolerably good on the train from Brussels to Bruges via Ghent, and has been regarding everything here with a mixture of wonder and suspicion. Bruges isn't as child-friendly as our area of London. Most of the tourists here seem to be on the older side. So it's been a lot of work to make things go smoothly.

Yesterday we went to the Basilica of the Holy Blood. It has a relic which includes some of the blood of Christ, and is very old and beautiful - completed in 1149 and rebuilt in the 19th century.



That afternoon (after a certain someone's nap) we went to the Chocolate Museum.

And that's all for now. I've got plenty more pictures and an update of what we did today, including a description of The. Best. Hot. Chocolate. Ever.

But I refuse to post, ever again, using IE. So that probably means I'll be back in London before I post again. See you all later and have a good Thanksgiving.

Off...

...to Belgium, via Eurostar. Staying in Bruges for 3 nights. Got a deal through B's company for the trip and we'll be visiting the Christmas markets!


Above is the result of the Great Spoon Experiment. The young gentleman pictured came to the scientific conclusion that hand > utensil. It's all fun and games anyway, until you find droplets of yogurt on the ceiling days later.

Been awfully busy so poke me if I haven't responded to an email. Off to bed now. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

November

First, a mini-rant.

What is it with failures of parents/nannies who can't discipline their children? An older child went for E today when he dared clamber onto the same structure he was on top of, and all the mother could manage was a weak "oh, sorry..." as she continued to reward the child by helping him climb higher. Nice one, must be taking lessons from the general "softly softly" approach that Europe has toward criminals.

I'll start putting some money aside for Muay Thai lessons for E when he's older, I suppose.

On a more pleasant note, we enjoyed the crisp autumn weather today, although E got a little bit too cold after being out for 45 minutes or so. And we met a very nice girl who spun him around on the children's merry-go-round thing, saying, "We have to keep it slow because he is just a little baby!" Almost restored my faith in humanity.

Oh yes, pictures: