Brugge, Belgium. Saturday, 12th May 2018
What a day ! It started off well with our getting ready by 08:30; ate breakfast. We had left our luggage in the room and that proved to be a big mistake! By the time we were at the Biljmer ArenA metro station (near Amsterdam, the Netherlands), my watch read 08:45 and the indicator said that the next train for centraal station would arrive in 12 minutes!
Our train from the centraal station was scheduled to depart at 09:22! We hurried to the centraal after alighting from the metro and spotting a man in uniform, enquired of him the platform number for our train to Antwerp (Belgium). He looked up the indicator and pointed the way to platform 14(a), ominously adding, "You have just five minutes!" We hurried to the turnstiles and tried to get the barrier lifted, using our 72-hr local ticket. Of course, it didn't work! In a frenzy, I opened my backpack and pulled out the paper ticket for that day's train. The man helped us in scanning the code and the gate opened! We almost ran, two bags rolling behind us; I holding my half-open backpack in one hand and the paper tickets in the other! Located no. 14 and took the elevator to the platform, Urmila was helped by a gentleman in carrying her suitcase. On the platform, with one minute to go, we couldn't spot the train! It then dawned on us that we were on 14(b) when we should have been on 14(a)! On hurriedly enquiring of someone on the platform, we were enlightened that 14(a) was on the opposite side ! It is a system in Amsterdam that one half of a huge platform is (a) and the other half is (b)!! Too late ! We spotted 'our' train departing without us! Urmila then waited at the platform while I went back to the concourse to enquire about the next train. Fortunately, the next train (due at 10:22) was also to leave from no. 14, so I calmly retraced my steps to where Urmila was waiting with the luggage. As there was a train to Rotterdam already waiting, we boarded it and had a comfy ride to the port city of Rotterdam, via Schipol airport. Changed trains. Now boarded a train bound for Brussels via Antwerp, where we had to again change trains for Ghent Saint Peters, popularly known as just Ghent. Met a family from Pune, on the train. At Antwerp, we had barely 10-12 minutes to catch the train to Ghent - going up escalators, following the signs to platform no. 1(on the train to Antwerp it was announced that the train to Ghent would depart from platform no. 1).
Though we were in a hurry, I managed to click a photograph of the interior of Antwerp station - beautiful! The next train - the one to Ghent - departed on time and at Ghent we again had to change! Ghent city seemed charming but unfortunately, there was no time to admire it. Most of the time was spent up and down elevators, locating platform no. 9. An official of Belgian Railways, who had checked our tickets on the train to Ghent had
informed us about the right platform for Brugge. We boarded the last train of our changes two minutes before its departure! I do not ever remember boarding or changing trains in so much of a hurry! I do not like doing so; prefer to relax at European railway stations. Anyway, the experience of travelling on 4 trains in just over 4 hours was tolerable, only because of the climate, the systems in place, the general cleanliness and the friendly people.
Arrived at Brugge at 14:27, 52 minutes later than planned - not too bad! Found the bus stop just outside the railway station, boarded no. 12 and purchased tickets. A friendly lady on the
bus offered to show us the way to our hotel, 't Voermanshuys. Brugge is lovely - a larger version of Cesky Krumlov in Czechia. As we were following the lady along cobbled streets, Urmila suddenly tripped and fell - for the second time on this trip, the first being at Berlin! A dozen people rushed to help her - most unexpected of Europeans! After that incident,, the lady leading us to the hotel pulled Urmila's bag all the way. How nice of her! Checked into room no. 8 on the second floor - room old fashioned but neat. Urmila did not like it much; I did not mind. After applying the tried and trusted 'Kailas Jeevan' to the scratch on her knee, we set out to explore this promising town. Used the small lift.
This town is magnificent - cobbled lanes and by-lanes with wonderful constructions on either side, bright shops, the market square surrounded by buildings with unbelievable architecture, crowds of tourists milling about, a chocolate shop every 50 mtrs or so, etc. etc. We also strolled by a canal; a few enjoying boat rides, others just sitting on the parapet of the canal, still others savouring food and drink on the pavement, etc. etc. We sampled a local ice-cream, strawberry flavour. Not bad! Entered one of the chocolate shops and were taken aback by the sheer variety - chocolates of all sizes and shapes, including breasts and penises, were everywhere! We purchased 200 gms. of jujubes and moved on, allowing the sweets to melt in our mouths even as our jaws dropped at the sheer beauty of the place.
Purchased soup packets, biscuits and mineral water; and returned to the hotel to deposit the stuff. In the middle of floors one and two, the small lift got stuck! I repeatedly pressed the alarm, desperately pressed all the buttons one by one; the lift moved and stopped, but always between floors! Finally - I do not know how - it came to the ground floor and the door was opened by a girl, who the panic stricken receptionist must have summoned. Urmila gulped down a glass of water and we took the stairs to our room. Later, we set out again for more exploration, savouring every moment, including those spent on a bench at a smaller market square. Returned to the hotel by 19:15 or so.
A wonderful day, full of new experiences!