We had forgotten that Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days (yes, even though we remembered yesterday), but Catherine reminded us when we asked about the nearest grocery. It was already almost 10:30 when we got out, but still tons of food at the market. Seems it basically runs like crazy until a little before 1pm, when everyone has to have closed up and be gone from the square. Appropriately, the Wednesday market is at the popular Market Square (not the Saturday one though).
Saw a bunch of camera-touting tourists every now and then (I was one of them hehe). But unlike all the other non-locals, we walked away with lots and lots of goodies... strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, veges, salad, breads, pastries, choco, smoked mackerel, rotisserie chicken drumsticks, mushrooms. Yes, enough food for lunch *and* dinner *and* tomorrow! We're crazy, but it was all too good to pass up.
Oh, and we ate fresh, warm waffles on the spot. After not really being sure what Brussels-style waffles were like compared to Liège-style, we got to try both at the same time ^o^ (We were pretty sure up to this point that we'd only had Liège-style). Brussels-style ones are more light, perfect with a dash of powdered sugar. Liège-style are more dense and sweet... some chocolate sauce + gelato feels like the perfect accompaniment... we'll have to make sure to try that at the 'neighborhood waffle place' before we leave (Friday).
We didn't understand all the tourists eating at the many [probably overpriced] cafes dotting Market Square at the same time as the frenzied market. There's healthier, yummier, cheaper food right in front of you!
Some of our market goodies...
After lugging everything back to our pension room, washing a box+ of strawberries and some tomatoes, and separating out the food we were taking with us to eat, we started on our RS walk ^o^
Bruges is just as full of chocolate shops as Brussels! Scattered along all the different streets are mostly local brands that I've never heard of, but probably even more yummy. I say probably because I didn't buy any... we'd already picked up chocolate at the morning market hehe.
We saw plenty of tourists, mostly in their little (actually, big) tour groups, but I've managed to become somewhat oblivious to them most of the time (except when they're blocking our way, view, or picture).
Ending back at Market Square, we just missed the bell tower opening, but it's ok... we'll go tomorrow sometime. Instead, we plopped down in a shaded spot near the statue in the square and ate some yummy market goodies. A fairly entertaining balloon guy set up in the square shortly after we sat down. Poor couple who was closer than us ended up being the object of most of his couple jokes. All in good humor though ^-^ Finally, we were able to visit the supermarket during opening hours. I was going to buy more cereal (finished my box in Bacharach) but ended up buying cereal-like crackers (?, not sure how to describe them).
I have my own brand here ^-^
Smurfs cookies!
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