Ever since quite sm time, Marpig hasnt been blogging bout lessons she learnt in life nor the more melancholy entries as compared to the early daes. Perhaps she has entered into another phase of life unknowingly. A phase of 安逸(?) where time seems to pass quickly and nth much has been accomplished... 不会是人到中年吧?!?!?! OMG
Anyw, finally sorting out her travelling pics from 2012-2013!! Gosh, too many!! But now tt Bloggie has become sort of a travelling/makan journal, Marpig needs to plough on, lest she has nth interesting to read in old age!! \(O_O!)/
Back in 2008 when Marpig and frens went to Paris, Brussels and Antwerp for Xmas and New Year, she had also planned to visit Bruges and Ghent. Yrs went by and it was only in 2012 tt Marpig managed to visit Bruges with 2 other frens, finally!!
The journey was fun, though very tiring (for the drivers of cos!!) They have decided to take the ferry ax the English Channel to Bruges, via France!!
They started the journey in the wee morning as they need to drive to Dover to catch the DFDS Seaway ferry ax the Channel to Dunkirk, then taking the E40 motorway to Bruges. From Dover, there are 2 common ways to get to France; to Dunkirk (wat Marpig and fren did) and to Calais. However, as they need to head northeast to Bruges, Dunkirk is definitely a better route!!
It was Marpigz first time crossing the sea, in a car, on a jumbo ferry!! Wat a fun xperience, although guessed itz bcos of the 新鲜感. And so, each car wil have their ticket (purchase prior) and a number for boarding the ferry. There are multiple ramps for cars, lorries, 6-tonners to board and of cos, massive Qs!! But itz pretty fast and 有条有理!! Becos it follows the principle of first in, last out!!
Once the ramp is down, vehicles start loading and are parked onboard while the pple are then free to get out and about!!
TTz the jumbo mumbo, the ramp for loading and unloading of vehicles. Therez not enough seats on the ferry, or perhpas itz bcos there were too many pple. Just like a cruise (but not luxury), there are cafes and duty free shops. All in all, the ferry ride was quite boring
The ferry ride took approx. 2 hrs and the road journey on E40 took about a further hr
Driving along E40 (not Marpig) they past the agricultural green fields of France. FYI, there are certain ths to watch out for whilst driving in Europe in a UK car; the requirement for sticking a "GB" on the back of the car, if the number plate hasnt got the EU logo (which wil have the carz country abbrevation), the headlights need to be of a certain lux/luminance, need to have high vis vest in car for the total number of passengers, including the driver among other thingies. Gosh, wont noe all these if Marpig hasnt done this trip. And of cos, right hand to left hand road rules (the roundabout is in anti clockwise direction!!)
And so, the 3 of them stayed in Ibis Budget which is just beside the train station in Bruges and omg!! Marpig likes the room!! So efficient in terms of space planning (but would like to mention tt there is no cupboard or enough space for hanging of clothes)
The bunk bed is cool (Marpig slept on top) and gosh, the shower is soooo retro. TTz Marpig taking her shower at night after sightsee and wow, shower has built in disco lights!! Oooh!! Sexy the 芙蓉!! muahhahahahha *echoes*
As with most European cities (specially Amsterjam) cyclists are rampant!! Oh, therez China too, then again, they cycle not bcos of environmentally frenly... ho hum
A leetle bit bout Bruges. Belgium has 3 official regions; Brussel-Capital region, the Walloon region (French-speaking south) and the Flemish region aka simply as the Flanders (Flemish speaking north) Bruges is the capital of westernmost province in the Flanders and used to be a very impt and vibrant seaport for trades btw UK and the Scandinavia. The historic centre of Bruges is also a UNESCO site and there are lotsa medieval buildings and lovely cobbled streets!! And oh, frites and waffles!! :D__
Bruges is also known as one of the "Venice of the North", along with the following; Venice (to which the rest are compared to), Amsterjam, Copenhagen, s-Hertogenbosch, Hamburg, Manchester, St. Petersburg and Stockholm
While familiarising the surroundings of the hotel, Marpig saw chestnuts, in itz pre-roasted stage!! Yup, these are how the 天津栗子 look like in their thorny 壳!!
Finally, Marpig didnt see MacD but wala!! Bruges has her own brand of fast food!! Yeah!! Just like Valencia!! Love it!!
