Count Down Is On !

Well countdown is well and truly on it is only 14 days till I embark on the Queen Mary 2 for three nights, we sail from Southampton to Brussels/Bruges in Belgium. I have never sailed on the QM2 nor have I ever visited Bruges so this is a first for me and I am really excited. With me never been to Bruges before I thought I would do some homework to see what were the best places/things to do and explore whilst I was there.

Top three things to do if you’ve never been before :

1. Now the 1^st on my list is to visit the Christmas markets of Bruges, where the cobbled streets are alive with festivities, the traditional buildings are decorated with sparkling lights and on Market Square where you will find a huge Christmas tree, an open air ice rink and many food and festive gift stalls.
2. Now if you are a chocoholic like myself and love Belgian chocolate, well you’ve come to the right place – the variety is astounding – a chocolate lover’s paradise! A top tip !!! Do not miss the Chocolate Museum or Pralinette – Bruges’ largest and best praline store.
3. You can’t visit Belgium without munching on a Belgian waffle. Try a ‘wafel met slagroom,’ which, in Flemish, means a waffle with whipped cream. There’s no end to the variety of toppings you can choose from!

Top three things if you’ve been before :

1. Take a trip to see Flanders Fields Museum which is located in the famous Cloth Hall which is in the centre of Ypres. This historical museum tells personal stories about ordinary people who endured the war, the soldiers, nurses, fugitives and children and how the First World War affected the lives of the thousands of people of many different nationalities who were involved in it. The museum is active in keeping the veterans stories alive for future generations.
2. Visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The Basilica, is stunning on the inside. The Relic of the Holy Blood claims to be Christ’s blood preserved and is paraded around Bruges in a grand procession with thousands of spectators, on Ascension Day.
3. Bruges Beer Academy, Belgian beer is something of an institution and if the sightseeing becomes thirsty work, the Café’t Burgs Beertje serves over 300 brands. This quaint little beer house, on cobbled Kemelstraat, is the perfect place to wet your whistle.

This is really exciting for me because I have sailed on the Queen Elizabeth and also the Queen Victoria but never had the pleasure to do the Queen of all Queen’s the QM2. She is an outstanding ship and this is such an honour to sail on her. Arrrhh I so can’t wait.

If you have any suggestions of where I should visit please let me know ?