Bruges – The Bridges Fought For
“This is not a pipe.” which is the meaning of the “ceci n’est pas une pipe” that you see in this picture. Yes! This is the image of a pipe. It’s not a pipe as it is mentioned. In another way this could be seen as a depiction of art. This precious painting, drawn by the Belgian painter René Magritte in 1928, was the first work that showed us philosophically the distinction between what “was” and what was “drawn”. Today, while evaluating the times when it was built, we can possibly understand better what kind of bridge* it was created for the future, like Bruges, which provided a connection between the land where this city was born and the sea.. Bruges, giving the meaning of ‘bridge’ in Dutch, is a medieval city of Northern Europe in terms of its appearance which is connected to the sea with the help of channels and in addition to this its newest building was built in the 1910s. So possible that we can come across with its pure beauty, elegance and nobility in every street. However, just before going to this beautiful city, we must firstly visit Brussels with its chocolates, manneken pis* sculptures, waffle options, and sculptured buildings like embroidery. Bruges is on our second day..
From the moment we get on the Brussels plane, we can start listening to two familiar names identified with Belgium, such as Salvatore Adamo and Jacques Brel. We can reveal our side by giving priority to the classics “Tombe La Neige²” and “Ne Me Quitte Pass³”. According to my humble idea- to roam Brussels, May is the most suitable month. Notwithstanding, the book we will take with us on our journey is “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck who is also another Belgian.
We can reach the Grand Place with a 20-minutes train ride from Brussels Airport to the region where we will stay in the city square, which contains different alternatives to stay, and the most accurate point in terms of accessibility to the city of Bruges, where we will go by train on the second day. After leaving our belongings where we will stay, the first route is the Comics Art Museum. We will walk the streets of these two cities as the Belgian young journalist Tinten, whom most of us will recognise at first sight, runs through his adventures. Maybe we can overshadow Tintin’s trip to the Moon. I absolutely guarantee that you will enjoy the characters* in Belgium who have found “the color” in this museum mentioned above. As long as we keep the child inside us alive, our happiness will be undying.. The next stop is “Musical Instruments Museum”. Unfortunately, the languages preferred for publicity are Dutch and French. However, it becomes a pleasant visit undoubtedly when the universality of music and the different forms of instruments with which we are familiar are merged.
The city center/Grand Place is the most suitable point to eat something and take a break before dropping in on our next destinations. We can find familiar flavors in Little Greece in its side streets, as well as experience Belgian cuisine in the surrounding streets, where the crowd flows to the square. I recommend seafood lovers to have a try Brussels-style mussels.
After a short visit to the Urinating Boy (this term was created with the use of the people in the city) by crowning our meal with waffle, let’s set out for “Het Zinneke”, which is desired to be immortalized because it was urinating at the same point every day. There might be someone among you who is prone to ask him/herself: “I wonder what kind of thing they have against to this deed intensively.” Nevertheless, the answer to your question is hidden in urban myths.
It’s up to you whether to believe or not.
The next point is The Greenhouses of Laeken and Mini-Europe, a unique miniature world which takes approximately 1 hour by walking or is 40 minutes away by rail system. For the travelers who cannot afford that much, a bike tour or visiting local pubs, the alleyways or the landmarks could be alternative routes.
It is time to stop by ‘La Bellone’ for art lovers in the evening. The historical address of Brussels’ theater and art events. Just stand in the middle of the Grand Place and raise your head with the help of darkness surrounding you.. Let’s spin around while looking up at the sky. Every statue you see is the life itself in a way, the experience of life as the writer says in the book..
“Get accustomed to being fond of the gray birds you find on the road while looking for The Blue Bird, dear children.”
Our second day will start with a tearing hurry for the early Bruges train. A 60-65-year-old cyclist lady had stopped and said to me, ‘If you don’t know where to go, follow the emblem on the manhole covers’ while I was looking around blankly at my first time in Brugge. The direction of the crown in the symbol on the manhole covers preguide to show the channels. Of course, I wouldn’t like you to see the looks flashing on my face at the same time I intend to share my knowledge about it with the younger age groups. Even so, those covers lead me to go where I wanted to reach that day..
Bruges is a city that should be visited without being connected to anywhere or to nothing, most importantly to the time, while we are walking quietly to reach the back train with our headphones in our ears and hands in our pockets. You know, if you want to join the channel tour just in case, I recommend you to listen to the song ‘Charles Aznavour / Yesterday When I Was Young⁴‘. All the bridges built by us, that we lost from time to time in wars, and the days with full of memories not even remembered which had been locked up.. All are aspired to be lived in our youth by us..
As the song says; “To ignore the past, to be banded together in the future..” Like a bridge. Like Bruges..
Have a nice trip.! (Bon Voyage!)
manneken pis: sculpture of peeing child
Tintin: He is the first cartoon character to travel to the moon
Heroes: Many like Asterix, Red Kit and The Smurfs.
