Middle-aged flash packers

Our last day on the grand tour before we return to Blighty. 

All packed up and on our way to Bruges by 8.30am. Unfortunately the Garmin went a bit loopy and didn’t recognise a new section of motorway so we drove quite a way for a while before noticing we were travelling in the wrong direction.

Still arrived at our accommodation in Bruges a bit early so dropped the car off and caught a bus into the city centre.

It was a gorgeous day and Bruges is a very pretty place, surrounded by a canal with picturesque bridges. The downside is it is chockablock with tourists. Around the main tourist sites you literally can’t move. 

Despite the crowds, we managed to see most things without too many problems and spent a very entertaining half hour watching women preening themselves in front of a glass sculpture in the city square. Eight out of ten women could not walk past it without posing and taking a photo of themselves reflected in it! One woman, who obviously styled herself on Mariah Carey, spent a good 10 minutes admiring herself and actually moved a small child out of the way so her view of herself wasn’t spoilt. The level of vanity was surprising and quite frankly depressing. Very few men bothered to look at themselves – why do women attach so much importance to their appearance?

Anyway, fed up with the hoards, we walked to the outskirts of the city and visited the windmills. It was gorgeous here, walking by the canal without all the tourists. We stopped for a beer at a local bar and it was nice to be with people who actually lived in Bruges plus the drinks were cheaper!

We had dinner in the historic square which was more expensive than we’ve been used to on our travels but, what the hell, it was our last night. The waiter for some reason took a shine to us and gave us a free aperitif which was a nice touch.

Tomorrow we sail back to England. Although I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends, it’s been a fantastic trip and I’m sad it’s over. I thought 8 weeks living out of a suitcase would have me hankering for home but it hasn’t. Maybe it’s time to start planning Grand Tour part 2!