Our class had the opportunity to visit the city of Brugge, Belgium for the beginning part of Thursday, a day that Belgian Catholics celebrate as the Ascension Day Holiday. The majority of businesses across the country were closed today in celebration of the holiday. Brugge remains open and serves as a tourist attraction on Ascension Day, due in large part to the Great Procession of the Holy Blood, which is where the bishop of Brugge carries a relic of the blood of Jesus Christ through the city's streets.

For most of us, this was our first time being set loose in a foreign country. It was a bit nerve racking at first, but we all got the lay of the land pretty quickly. The class split up into a few small groups to tour the city. Some students began with a canal boat tour in order to gain a better understanding of the highlights and attractions the city had to offer. Three students ventured to the top of Belfort, a medival bell tower that overlooks the city at 274 feet. The 366 extremely narrow, steep steps it took to reach the top were well worth the view!

The streets of Brugge were filled with the smell of local chocolatiers and waffle shops. Many people stopped in to taste the local delicacies. Between the chocolate, strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar toppings, they were absolutely delicious! The chocolate was very rich with all of the different varieties that were offered. 

After a few rounds of dessert, the class headed to Brussels, Belgium for the rest of the day. We were able to walk around the square in the center of the city and the surrounding areas in order to gain a better understanding of the culture. A few blocks from the main square, we found Manneken Pis, the famous Belgian fountain. Although we are still unclear on the origins of the fountain (we have heard a few different stories), it was interesting to see in person.

Our final two stops as we headed out of Brussels were the Royal Palace and the Atomium Sculpture. The palace, where the King of Belgium resides, was very elegant and simple from the road where we stopped briefly. Our bus driver Henk, parked at the Atomium so we could get out and take pictures with the famous landmark. Overall the class enjoyed having time to visit and explore Brugge and Brussels.