A Bruges Bruhaha

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

August

30/8

Bruges - Belgium

On the way to Calais to catch the ferry home be stopped for a few hours in the stunning town of Bruges. The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO, as most of its medieval architecture is still in fantastic condition. The 13th century Church of Our Lady's brick spire reaches 122.3 m, making it one of the world's highest brick towers/buildings. The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is believed to be the only Michelangelo sculpture that left Italy within his lifetime. Bruges' most famous landmark is its 13th-century belfry, with 48 bells. All that added up to a town that was not just beautiful, but an experience.

The Provinciaal Hof.

Our last group panorama :(

Belfry of Bruges, also with horsies!

Inside the Salvador Dali Museum

And after Bruges, just like that... it was over. Two months of non-stop travelling came to a halt. We put on our Top Deck hoodies, got on the ferry back to the UK, and went our separate ways, all over the world. I had definitely met some incredible people on this trip (unfortunately the majority of them were Australian, but what to do!?) and I was proud of the effort that I made to make sure I got to know everybody on the bus. When I left everyone it was a real struggle not to cry - which is not like me at all, and I felt quite desolate. I had spent the last 36 days of my life in these people's constant companionship, waking up next to them, exploring together, and for the first few weeks, my apartment was a cavernous, empty place.

Heading to Heathrow after spending the night with Jaime, I managed to have a swing of super-luck. After 2 months of being looked after by tour leaders and other folk, it appeared I was not ready to go it alone and when I (swear) triple checked my flight as I sat on the airport tube, I saw my flight was departing an hour earlier than I thought. I careened into Heathrow an hour before my international flight left and whipped over to the Lufthansa counter.

I must note here, that I have been excessively trained in flight etiquette by Linda, as you will expect, and not only did I know better than to be late for a flight, but I also know - "One small bag and a jersey, ONLY". I had an over-weight suitcase, a backpack I could barely carry, a massive hoodie, my laptop, a delicate Venetian mask, a stuffed green sheep I had picked up in Albania and grown very attached to, as it was my pillow on the bus, and most notably, the giant  print of Keith Richards. It was like playing Tetris every time I had to pick everything up - there was only one way I could carry everything. I had a fake sob-story all planned for the over sized print with the dangerous sheet of glass - "Oh but please, it is a gift for my father who is very unwell... I had it commissioned specially, Keith is his favourite!". I even entertained the idea of crocodile tears if it got extreme.

Anyway, I found myself over burdened and late for check in at the Lufthansa counter, and the smiling lady ignored my panting, sweaty form as she took my ticket. She gave me a VERY apologetic smile and said "I am very sorry madam..." and I swore loudly in my head, "but due to strikes this flight is cancelled." I just looked at her like she had announced Christmas 4 weeks early, and she was a little taken aback. I imagine I was the happiest person to trundle off to the HR queue that day. After a hour in the line I was taken off my Lufthansa flight with the 2 hour stopover and put on a direct Qatar Airways flight that arrived an hour after my original one, I checked in without anyone batting an eyelid at my bag-lady effect, made it through customs with my massive sheet of glass and spent my free 20 pound 'sorry' voucher on a pork-heavy breakfast, and before I knew it, I had left the green expanse of Europe behind, and I was back in the Middle East with the sand for company.

Maddy |(left) and I with Marcus and Deni - love you guise!