Day 3 – Goodbye Belgium, Hello Again Netherlands

We started Day 3 in Bruges, Belgium. We stayed in a very nice hotel just a few streets away from the main square. So this morning we woke up and journeyed our way to Otto Waffle Atelier – apparently the best waffles in Belgium.

They are not your traditional waffles, but made from oats so they are not too sweet. Well, I like sweet waffles so mine had ice cream on it. Well, we were afraid the place was closed because last night it said it wasn’t open on Tuesday, but we went anyways. An hour early and waited. (Well, we shopped at a chocolate place nearby while we waited.)

It was worth the wait because we were the first people served. We got our hot chocolates, teas and cappuccino’s and savored the various types of waffles. My sisters put fruit on their’s…whatever. Chocolate and ice cream is much better.

No one complained and no one left a crumb.

They were each delicious.

After our waffle we got into our car and headed north, crossing back into the Netherlands.

I planned on going to one city, then decided last night to tour a castle near our next stopping point of Utrecht instead.

Kasteel de Haar is a lavish castle built by a baron and baroness years ago and it far exceeded even royalties standards of opulence. Through the years they have expanded the castle into what is seen today. It’s not the biggest castle in the Netherlands, but it is the most fairytale like.

The castle had a drawbridge and moat, and typical rock walls, but the inside was not like castles from centuries ago. Some rooms looked like something from the 80s with its decor, making it feel homey and not stuffy or castle like.

Many famous people have stayed at the castle from Gregory Peck, Joan Collins and other rich and famous celebrities. From the photos displayed with costume parties and game nights this group of people looked like they were a lot of fun.

I guess like my group of people.

We enjoyed lunch outside the castle and then headed to our next stop, Utrecht….which I now regret.

I do a lot of research when planning these trips and Utrecht was always listed as a great city to visit. Well, it’s a big city with lots of bikes…I mean a lot of bikes. Too many bikes.

We tried to journey back to Utrecht later in the evening to walk around the squares, canals and quiet old streets…still too many bikes. I swear, this town has more people riding bikes than they do cars. And driving down roads with dozens of people riding their bikes beside me caused me to almost have a nervous breakdown. Many roads were closed due to their national holiday tomorrow…but it was the endless amount of bikes that rattled my core.

We drove around and my sister finally said, let’s get out of here. And I was relieved. We drove around the outskirts of the town and stopped at a few places before heading back to our hotel for supper. Many restaurants were already closed at 8, due to either closing early or the holiday. Either way we each had a delicious meal and then returned back to our hotel room for some Belgium chocolate.

I had to get rid of the onion taste and chocolate was a better option than toothpaste.

All in all, it was a good day. Even though I was twitching at the traffic and bikes in Utrecht the waffles and chocolates from Belgium will be my drug of choice from now on.

Peace

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