April 28, 2011

A chocolate paradise

Chiara Di EUROPE, TRAVEL Belgian, Belgium, Bruges, Brussels, Chocolate, Easter, Travel, Waffles, Wanderlust 0 Comments

After deciding to give up chocolate for 40 days before Easter the only ‘right’ reward was a holiday to Belgium – home to the world’s BEST chocolate – for Easter.

A friend from home and I chose to travel by bus from London to Brussels return and we caught the overnight bus – something I admit I would never do again. We arrived in Brussels at 5am on Good Friday exhausted and with nothing to do but wait for our connecting train to Bruges at 7am where we were spending the next two days.

Once we arrived in Bruges, it was simply splendid (despite feeling delusional from lack of sleep). After not being able to check into our hotel straightaway, we made our way to Markt Square to have breakfast in an alfresco cafe. The first and only choice for me in my mind was a strawberry and chocolate waffle – it was truly amazing and the best waffle I’ve had in my life. I will definitely return to Belgium one day for another one of these.

 

We made our way through a mountain of chocolate, hot chocolate and Belgium frites (hot chips in a cone shaped holder with ketchup and mayo on top) during our visit to Bruges and explored Beguinage Church, Burg Square, Markt Square, Church of our Lady, the Choco Museum and Frites Museum, numerous canals and other monuments – all within walking distance.

Next stop was Brussels where we spent a day before returning to London. By the time we reached Brussels we were all frite-d and chocolate-d out… it didn’t stop me from ordering another waffle though!! We arrived around midday and explored all the sites by foot again – Grand Palace Markt (an amazing town square), St Michel Cathedral, Brussels Park, the Royal Palace, Grote Markt and Mannekin Pis.

We ended our stay in Belgium with a lovely 3-course Easter dinner along a side street. The side streets were full of waiters enticing customers through the doors with free drinks and meal deals. We managed a free champagne cocktail and lovely meal of tomato and mozzarella, seafood paella and lemon cheesecake for 20 Euros. Easter in Belgium was truly wonderful and a must experience for every chocolate lover, like myself!