 Sometimes, women can’t live on wine alone, we like a good bier. Bier & Valentines, what fun to experience Brugge’s annual bier festival. Brugge, Belgium in February is cold so prepare to dress warmly while you sample their local bier scene. If you do not mind the cold weather, sitting outside enjoying your bier while checking out the local vibes, we loved Brugge.  Yes, that signage is bonafide, ‘pour your own bier’! Only in Brugge can this concept be a civilized practice.  Drinking a style of bier requires the appropriate glass and this etiquette is quite significant around the locals. A bier’s complementary glass is liquid tradition and a custom among the local bier scene. So much to learn in only a very short time in Brugge. The thing I learned is that the different flavors, ingredients, foam, and other considerations compliments the enjoyment of drinking bier by enhancing its aromas. The bier museum showcases different biers where you can sample all kinds of different styles in different types of glasses. Guess which bier is my favorite? Kriek Lambic is a style of Belgian bier, made with morello cherries. The days turn into the blue sunset colors and Brugge at night takes on another memorable time freeze. The quietness around the back neighborhoods. The 16th C. religious reformation gave the rise to economic prosperity in Northern Europe. Driven by Martin Luthers Reformation, merchants quickly rose to upward mobility because of the elimination of paying tithes to the Roman Catholic Church. More money was kept for themselves and their new liberal religious sects; as well, new economic and advancing technologies and ideologies. This prosperous city also had an easily navigable channel of canals for international trade that drew considerable wealth to Flanders. From the second floor balcony, it was a lunch with the main plaza view. Michelangelo’s sculpture Madonna of Brugge. After the popular Hollywood film titled, ‘The Monuments Men”, a story about the recovery and correct placement of stolen art masterpieces during WWII, attracted a big following and donations to this church when properly returned. Unfortunately, when I visited, the small nave was closed and under renovation. Flanders has a long and rich history, which I find interesting and many museums are walking distance within the town center. This trendy town has a fantastic art scene and the inspirational garden sculptures, retail shops, and the red post mail boxes along the way captured my attention. There is chocolate, and then there are the Chocolate Houses of Belgium.  Known as the Land of the Bier, Belgians have been making wine since the 9th c. and now besides "rouge" are producing nice sparkling wines and white wines. The wine regions in Flanders are Vlaamse Landwiin and Wallonia Vin de pays des Jardins de Wallonie.  The local markets still go on throughout the winter season. We have been to Brugge twice and both visits were taken during these cold temps. Hopefully, one day we can return during the warmer months; I would love to enjoy this roof top stay surrounded with beautiful vividly colored flowers and long summer evenings. References:
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Michelle Prince
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