After leaving Paris, our next stop with Busabout was Bruges.
However, en route to our destination we made a surprise stop at Vimy Ridge.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought during the First World War, where Canadian troops
played an important role in capturing German-held ground.
Today there's a memorial with a statue of Mother Canada weeping over the lost soldiers.
Well, Hello and welcome to Brugge!
We are excited to explore the city.
We just got here in the afternoon.
The light is perfect, the day is beautiful and we're going to go explore and see what
the city is all about.
Once in Bruges we set off to see the Old Town.
We watched horse-drawn carriages roll down the square, admired the buildings, and visited
chocolate shops because if there's one thing you have to do in Belgium, it's sample all
their delicious chocolate.
So good morning.
It is the start of day 2 here in Bruges, so we're going to continue sightseeing.
I think the first order of business is to try and find a boat so we can take a little
tour down the canals and maybe after that we'll start thinking about food.
I know there is a few Belgian dishes that we're itching to try so let's get started
with the day.
We started off the morning with a cruise down the canals.
Like many cities in Europe, Bruges too has earned the nickname 'The Venice of the North'
due to the numerous waterways that run through the city.
It was a great way to get a closer look at the city, and it didn't hurt that we had swans
to keep us company.
The boat trip helped build up our appetite, so our next logical stop was a little shop
specializing in fries.
The Belgians assert that they invented fries and not the French, so we ordered a plateful
with mayonnaise and curry ketchup.
After eating lunch, we continued exploring the town on foot, and then it was time for
dessert.
Waffles, waffles!
We are having waffles.
What do you get when you have a major sweet tooth, if not Belgian waffles doused in chocolate
syrup and whipped cream.
Delicious!
So this is completely unplanned but we just found out we are in town during this crazy
music and dance festival.
So we've been handed a flier and there is a whole bunch of different workshops happening.
You can learn to break-dance, dance the Charleston.
You can go to different concerts.
So we're going to be spending the evening here in the town just checking it out and
visiting the various stages.
The Benenwerk Festival was the best surprise of them all!
The silent disco was our personal favourite.
Everyone wore headphones and there were 2 dueling DJs so you could switch frequencies
and decide who you wanted to listen to.
After showing off our best dance moves, aherm, we spent the rest of the evening checking
out the different stages at the festival.
So there has been a lot of dancing involved in the last hour, so now it is time to cool
down with our first Belgian beer.
Beer o'clock!
Cheers!
Woo!
And that's a wrap for our short but sweet visit to Bruges.
Next up: Amsterdam!
So we have a very exciting taste test coming up today.
We are in Bruges, Belgium and that means we have to try Belgian fries.
Not French fries.
So let's get a look at that and then I'm going to give you a bit of the history behind it.
So there is a bit of a heated debate about whether fries or French fries or Belgian fries.
Where exactly did they originate?
So our tour guide yesterday was telling us that apparently during World War I there were
a lot of British and American soldiers who were between Belgium and France and sometimes
they didn't know what country they were in.
All they knew is that they could hear French being spoken.
So they assumed we must be in France and these must be French Fries.
And that is how french fries got their name.
But the Belgians believe they were the first to invent this dish and therefore it should
be called Belgian fries.
I don't really care if they are French or Belgian.
All I know is that they are delicious.
So I'm ready to dig in to my lunch.
Mmmm.
So so good.
Okay, so tell us about the dressings on these Frites.
So over here the main dressing is mayonnaise if you can believe it.
And check out that enormous.
Generous amount of mayo.
Enormous portion of mayo.
And then the other sauce that we got over here is curry ketchup.
And what is really cool is when you go to these frites stores, these french fry stores
you have all different kinds of sauces you can choose from.
There is maybe like 20 different kinds.
And you have to pay for them but 'hey' it is good.
So let's go in for a bite.
Alright, I'm taking a curry ketchup and I am dunking it into the mayonnaise.
Oh, adventurous.
Double sauce adventure.
Wow.
Yeah, that is like taking french fries to a whole new level.
It is absolutely delicious.
And something that is really neat about these fries is that they are a thicker cut then
what we are used to having.
Okay, we are really bad for devouring food but I this like breaks a new record.
These were done in like what twenty, thirty, forty seconds as opposed to minutes.
It was so good.
I'm so sad we finished it so quickly.
But my favorite sauce definitely the curry ketchup.
I know that is not traditionally Belgian but I tried it the first time when I had currywurst
in Berlin and it is so nice having ketchup with curry and I love it with my fries.
So I recommend trying that if you get the chance.
Yeah, I have to agree with you but they also taste really good mixed together as well.
Okay, so price point.
How much can we expect to pay for these delicious fries?
So we got a medium portion and we paid about 3.50 Euros but if you get a large you can
expect to pay maybe 4 and if you get a small you can expect to pay about 2.
Another thing to keep in mind is these shops are all over the city.
All you have to do is look for the French Fry symbol.
On the maps.
The maps show you where to get fries.
Bahhhh.
So it is time for our last taste test here in Belgium, so we stopped by a chocolate shop
to pick up some hand made chocolate.
And the Belgians actually used to have a colony in Africa, so that meant cocoa beans, and
plenty of time to perfect the art of chocolate making.
So that means today they are one of the leading experts in chocolate production, so today
is a chocolate taste test.
So here are all the chocolates we have purchased.
We only have nine, but we are two people, so that might be a bit of an issue.
We'll see who gets number nine.
And also, we're actually doing this taste test at a local park that has sheep, so if
you hear bahhh in the background, that's them and not us.
Wait a minute, that's actually not true, sometimes it is us.
Bahhhhh.
Okay, so time to make your first selection.
The neat thing is we got a little assorted goodie bag, so we really don't know what kinds
they are, we're just going to try them and see what it is.
But I have a feeling this first one I've selected is coffee flavoured.
It has a little coffee bean.
Yeah, that kind of gives it away.
Yeah, start with an easy one, right?
Is it coffee?
It is.
Wow, it's so rich and creamy.
Not the healthiest way to start our day, but definitely tasty.
Okay, so I have a feeling this one right here is coconut.
The shredded coconut kind of gives it away.
Mmmm, and it also has a nice creamy feeling.
Feeling, filling.
A nice creamy filling.
Maybe a creamy feeling in your mouth.
Mmmmm.
That's really good, it's just really rich and milky.
It's good chocolate.
Alright, I'm going to try what appears to be the first dark chocolate.
Ooo, it has a filling!
Peppermint.
Mint?
Oh, I like that, but I don't like dark chocolate so maybe you can have it.
Haha, wow, that's a really good peppermint chocolate.
Much better than like After Eight or Junior Mints or any of that kind of stuff.
Okay, so I'm going for this one.
It kind of looks like a little dome.
I'm guessing there's filling inside.
Aww, I was hoping for strawberry.
What is it?
Mmm, chocolate fudge in the middle.
Still good, I was just hoping for strawberry.
You know what wasn't terribly clever on our part?
We didn't bring water.
Alright I've got a tiny teddy bear shaped chocolate, and teddy you are very cute, but
I'm going to eat you.
Sorry about that.
Okay, oh wow.
This has, like, this is the one you wanted.
It's got a fruit flavoured jam.
Oh my gosh!
And you didn't even bite it in half to share.
There you go.
I win, you lose.
That's so sad.
So I'm going for a white chocolate.
Mmm, I don't know what that is.
Can you guess?
It's not coffee.
Maybe it's praline?
Might be praline.
Okay, I've got one that's shaped like a leaf now.
Mmm, it's all over your lips.
It's not mint.
Again, I'm not entirely sure what this is.
It's got kind of a...
Coconut?
No, it's not coconut.
I would say it's more of a, it's got a bit of a, fruity taste.
I'm saying it's going to be peach cream.
It's different, but good.
So this is going to be my first dark chocolate.
I'm usually not a fan, but this one looks really pretty, and it's got the city's main
attraction painted in gold.
There's the bell tower.
Mmm, there's something in it.
I think that's marzipan.
Probably, I've been noticing a lot of marzipan chocolate around.
Ughhhhh.
And it has that nasty dried fruit that they put in that Christmas cake.
Oh I love that, I love that stuff!
It's like old lady candy.
Ugh!
Since we kind of have a hard time sharing, we're going to do - what?
Rock, paper, scissors!
Put your hand out.
Rock, paper scissors.
Kai, bai, bo.
Ahhhh!
You get the chocolate.
You know, I'm going to share it though.
Haha, because, ha, I have to put up with you afterwards.
No, you're probably just full.
You've had too much chocolate.
That's why you're willing to share.
That's what it is.
Okay, last one.
Mmm, that's white chocolate with cream.
Mmm, a lot of cream.
Now I'm going to have a bit of the cookie.
Yum!
And because I'm such a nice guy, a nice hubby, I'm leaving half of it for you.
Mmm, that's nice.
Thank you darling!
So there's just something about European chocolate that sets it apart from any other chocolate
I've had elsewhere.
Belgian chocolate is no different, and it's absolutely amazing.
It's so milky.
So creamy.
There's so many different flavours.
It's going to be hard to have a normal chocolate bar after this.
Price point!
Okay, so for these handmade chocolates, and we got 9 little chocolates, we paid 3 Euros
and 95 cents, which I think is a pretty good price because it was in a touristy part of
town, and I mean, these are outstanding chocolates.
So keep that in mind and if you're ever in Bruges, get yourself some chocolates.
Waffles!
We are having waffles!
Well, considering today is our last full day in Belgium we couldn't leave the country without
trying at least one Belgian waffle.
And to prove its authenticity it even has a Belgian flag.
Why don't you take out that flag and wave it.
Come on, go wave it.
Wave the flag?
Wave that flag.
Belgian waffles, dun da da dun da da.
Belgian waffles.
dun da da dun dah.
So the funny thing about Belgian waffles is that there is no such thing as Belgian waffles
in Belgium.
Sure, in North America we call them Belgium waffles but here they are just regular old
waffles.
And that is only because we have crappy waffles.
Yes, we have to put them in the toaster.
We usually buy them from the frozen section in Canada.
But anyway, what sets these waffles apart is that they are a lot larger, a lot fluffier
and the squares are a lot bigger than your average waffles that you buy from the frozen
section back in North America.
So let's dig in before this starts melting.
First bite.
Okay, so we got ours with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
This is like technically our dinner isn't it?
Oh, wow.
Wow.
Tell me how good that is.
That is so good I have no words so I'm just going to take a second bite.
And leave me less?
Mmmm.
I don't even know where to begin.
Like, it is amazing.
It is a proper waffle guys with lots of chocolate sauce, lots of whipped cream.
Nice and sweet.
Yes.
Oh.
You want a flier?
And what did you just get handed?
We've just been invited to a special event tonight.
There is some kind of festival and there is going to be a clubbing stage guys.
So, we're going to eat our waffle first and then have energy to go clubbing apparently.
Alright, I haven't been left with much but I guess I'll take whatever it is that there
is left.
Wow.
Chocolate sauce and whipping cream is a winning combo.
And you're right, those are freshly made waffles done properly.
How can I eat the stuff back home after this?
So what are the different toppings you can get on these waffles?
Lots of different toppings.
You can get strawberries, wild berries.
There was icing sugar.
Even butter.
So I mean there is something for every taste out there.
Pure butter.
Yes, but I'm happy with chocolate.
So price point for the waffle?
So in terms of this waffle it was 4.50 Euros.
Not exactly the cheapest snack but definitely delicious.