Chocolate and Waffles

Okay my mouth is watering and I've yet to even begin telling you about it. I went to Bruges last week and had the most divine experience. Chocolate pretty much makes a daily appearance on my taste buds and visiting Bruges was like heaven! Seriously though, I hope that is what heaven is like. Every two or three stores was a chocolate shop. I couldn't get enough. I would go to one shop, ask the worker to pick out their three favorite chocolates, eat them and head onto the next store, repeating the process. I've never, ever tasted anything so amazing. I'm not exaggerating. Oh I wish I had some Belgium chocolate right now!

Anyway, in addition to the chocolate Bruges has some cool things to see and do. I went into this trip not really planning anything except to just enjoy myself. Sometimes when I travel I get so stressed to see and do as much as I can but this time I decided to have a relaxing time and do what I want. I went alone which was a little intimidating {I almost changed my mind last minute} but it turned out to be just what I needed. Plus I met some great people while I was there and it was just perfect.

So here are some {and by some I mean a million} pictures of my trip. I don't know what half of the buildings or places are of but they it was so lovely there that I wanted to share it with you!

Inside the Basilica

It's so interesting to visit a non LDS church.

The Bell Tower

A real Belgium waffle! Oh!

I wonder if this HUGE chocolate coin is as gross as the ones in America?

I took a boat tour! Did you know Bruges is called the "Venice of the North?" Now you do.

Ah traveling alone. The one arm holding the camera, close up, smiling by yourself shot never gets old.

Look at the guy's face. So good!

Seriously right now!

I rented a bike and rode up to a little town called Sluis. It was quite beautiful but it was 3 1/2 of the longest hours of my life. I'm still recovering.

This is what I looked like on my bike ride. It was cold. I'm pretty sure I'm smiling under my scarf. Nice.

Isn't this wonderful?

Thank you self-timer

The little town I rode to in the Netherlands

Harry Potter inspired lingerie? Done.

Halloween!

This is Andrea and Megan, some of the girls I met at the hostel. Megan and Lindsay {below} are also French teaching assistants. Small world!

Lindsay and me. We all went to dinner after my forever long bike ride.

Market Square

This was a little bit of a poke in the eye. Oh Provo, how I miss you.

Okay okay okay! Best invention ever. At some of the chocolate shops you can get some hot milk and chocolate on a spoon and you stir the chocolate into the milk to make hot chocolate! Cool right? Such a great idea!

CHOCOLATE

Hedwig and Pig

This is one of few Michelangelo's that have left Italy

Andrea, Lindsay and Meagan on our way to lunch!

Emily and Allie who were in Bruges at the same time! They are both on Study Abroad in Paris. Seriously small world.

So true!

One of the many, many bags of chocolates I had.

Look at the little house with the wood facade. The family inside was just sitting down for dinner. How charming!

This was part of a bridge and I just really liked the face

Bruges was so cool and I will definitely go there again one day. I was completely happy while I was there and was even sad to leave. I loved it so much. I'm grateful that I'm able to travel and see so many wonderful things and can't wait for my next trip!