Morning in Bruges: reflections from the belfry

It's noon here in Bruges, and I've just descended from the Belfry tower after climbing all 366 steps to the top. I arrived at the tower right as it opened at 9:00 this morning (I was there at 8:50, naturally), which turned out to be a smart move as there were only a few other early birds willing to tackle the climb so early.

The view from the top was absolutely worth the effort - Bruges spread out beneath me like a medieval tapestry, with its red-tiled roofs, winding canals, and church spires punctuating the skyline. I spent nearly an hour at the top, watching the city come to life and taking far too many photos. The weather is quite cool today, around 14°C with cloudy skies, but the forecast suggests rain later, so I'm glad I prioritized the tower visit.

I've been thinking a lot about my change of plans. I was supposed to be in Berlin by now, but something about Bruges called to me when I was planning my next move from Luxembourg. Perhaps it was the photos of those serene canals or the promise of a smaller, more walkable city after the relative bustle of Brussels. Whatever it was, I'm glad I listened to that inner voice. Sometimes the best parts of travel come from these spontaneous decisions.

After descending from the Belfry (my legs are still feeling those stairs!), I found a small café near one of the canals and had a cappuccino while watching the first tour boats of the day glide past. The coffee was good - rich and smooth, though served in a smaller cup than I'm used to.

I've booked a canal boat tour for this afternoon, hoping to get a different perspective of the city. The forecast shows potential showers around that time, but the boat has a covered section, so I should be fine. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing some of the gardens that back onto the canals - glimpses of private spaces that you can't access on foot.

Yesterday's exploration of Minnewater Park was lovely - so peaceful in the early morning with just a few locals walking their dogs. There was a beautiful weeping willow by the water that I spent some time photographing. The way its branches dipped into the still water created perfect reflections.

I still need to visit the Groeningemuseum - that's on my list for tomorrow. I've heard their collection of Flemish primitive paintings is excellent, particularly works by Jan van Eyck. I'm not an art expert by any means, but I do appreciate the opportunity to see famous works in person rather than just in books or online.

It's interesting how quickly I've settled into a rhythm on this journey. I'm 22 days in now, with 478 still ahead of me. That's both an enormous amount of time and somehow not enough to see everything I want to see. I'm trying to find the balance between moving at a pace that lets me truly experience places and ensuring I can cover significant ground over the course of this sabbatical.

Bruges feels like a good place to practice slowing down. The whole city seems to operate at a more deliberate pace. People sit for hours at canal-side cafés, and even the tour boats move unhurriedly through the water. I'm planning to stay here for at least 5 days total, which should give me enough time to explore thoroughly without rushing.

Time to find some lunch now, and perhaps try one of those famous Belgian waffles I keep smelling as I walk around. Then it's off to the canal tour, assuming the weather holds. The clouds are looking a bit threatening, but that's part of the adventure, isn't it?

478 days to go. Still so much world to see.