Finally some trip photos! We’re heading up to Northern Wisconsin to visit my parents over Labor Day weekend and even though I’m their favorite only daughter, there’s no way they’re going to sit through 2,000 vacation photos. Dave and I weeded through the images last night (beer in hand) to create a thoughtful album to share with family and friends (four hours later…). First up, our day trip to Bruges:

Midway through our trip to Belgium, we visited the medieval city of Bruges, a quaint little town that looked like it was plucked straight from a storybook—and it would have been much more serene if it weren’t for the rowdy futbol fans littering the city square. We didn’t set out with much of an agenda in Bruges. We snaked up and down the cobblestone streets, stopping at bars and shops along the way.

It’s also where I spent entirely too much money in a Christmas shop. I’m powerless when it comes to Christmas ornaments and even more so after a couple of beers, but how could I possibly resist a little wooden Santa that was hand carved in Germany?! The kicker? There’s room to tuck an incense cone inside his body to create a tiny wisp of smoke that comes out of a small hole next to the pipe perched in his mouth. It’s great. Forty euros great? Yes! Dave was a killjoy and reminded me that euros do not equal dollars and I was spending 35% more than I thought I was. Pssh. Memories are priceless (or so I thought when I added more precious memories to my shopping basket). He should just be thankful I talked myself out of a 90 euro nutcracker.

Most of our day was spent gawking at architecture and canals, but we also visited:

• De Garre: This little bar is tucked away down an alley, as all great Belgian watering holes are. It’s the only place in the world to enjoy their house beer, which is served with a small side of cheese to snack on.
• Bierbrasserie Cambrinus: Bruges was a little on the pricey side and this certainly wasn’t a budget meal (one of our most expensive on the entire trip), but it was delicious and well worth the stop.
• Käthe Wohlfahrt: The most magical little Christmas shop.
• Dille & Kamille: Think of this store as a slightly cheaper Crate & Barrel. It seemed silly to buy kitchen items overseas when I could buy it all Stateside, but I brought home adorable pot holders and a cheese grater. I’m disappointed  to see that they don’t ship to the U.S.
• ‘t Brugs Beertje: With a notable beer list and plenty of praise on Beer Advocate, there was no doubt we were stopping here before our train back to Brussels. I was also sold on the teddy bear logo.