Early start as we head to Bruges. The highlight of our trip was actually being able to get back to Amsterdam!

It all started when we got on the train without our tickets being checked and when they checked them on the train it was found we had got on a day early. They could have off loaded us on the way but did not. We were told we needed to change our return tickets to Amsterdam at the Brussels ticket office as well as our tickets from Brussels to Bruges. After lots of discussion, pleading smiles and passing over of some Euros everything was resolved and from then on everything worked out ok. Had they just checked our tickets at the station this would not have happened - however we could also have checked them more thoroughly ourselves. One of the problems with travelling is keeping track of the date.

Bruges is known as the Venice of the North and it surely was. It is an easy medieval town to get around which we did. We then joined the English Walking Tour which was 2 hours long and very illuminating. Even though our guides first language was not English he had a rely dry sense of humour along with the mass of historical information.

One interesting fact about Bruges is that it only has a population of 20,000 which is half of what it has been known to have. 500 years or so ago it used to be the wealthiest city in the region and was often fought over. Over the years due to political issues, silting of the harbour etc it lost its wealth and influence. This meant that growth of the city stopped and it became locked in a time warp. It is only now that they get 5 million visitors a year that they are getting back on their feet. It is a unique city which you should plan to visit if you have not already seen. We are sure you would enjoy 3 full days here.

It was a memorable day in all ways and I suspect we will all be sleeping in tomorrow morning.