PICTURES!!

Since I got a few comments calling me out on my lack of pictures...I spent 4 euros on 2 hours of interent time to get them up on Shutterfly and all new ones on here (scroll down and all around, they're all new!!). I can't load them on Facebook on this computer but I can send the link to people via e-mail if anyone wants to be bored with the ungodly amount of pictures I've taken. :)

Anyways, I've really been enjoying my time in Bruges. I'm so glad I decided to stay here a couple of extra days and really see the city inside and out. I don't even need a map anymore to get around, how exciting! Hehe. I switched hostels halfway through my visit and ended up sharing a room with 3 awesome girls from Indiana and Illinois. They were studying abroad right outside of Dublin (seems like I meet everyone from Dublin!) and on spring break over here. I rented bikes with them again yesterday...the weather was a bit rainy at first so only Elizabeth and I braved it for the whole afternoon. The other 2 took a boat tour which turned out to be great...and they told us all the fun facts they learned so it felt like we benefited too :) Elizabeth and I rode all around the city and seriously hit up every chocolate shop! Haha well maybe not every one considering Bruges has the most chocolate shops in one city in the world....but it felt like a lot. I don't think I've ever consumed that much chocolate within a 4 hour period. But I've also never tasted anything like it! It could be a bad thing, however, because I'll always compare chocolates from now on....oh well :) We went to see the Madonna with Child again since they didn't know that a work of Michelangelo was here. They were greatful I shared the info and I was glad they showed me the best thing my money has bought so far.....a belgian chocolate covered rice crispy treat. It was definitely a fair trade off. Anyways, we met up with the other girls back at the hostel and headed out for dinner. We did Medara again for 3 euro pasta....even though it's carb-ilicious, it was still worth the money and soooo good. The atmosphere is really nice too...family run and their kids are running all around. It was St. Patty's Day and DEFINITELY didn't feel like it in Bruges. No one was wearing green and there weren't any decorations in any of the stores....such a shame. But we did end up finding the only Irish Pub in town and of course had a Guinness to celebrate. It wasn't the same as back home (or would have been in Ireland, for sure) but it was nice that I had the girls to spend the holiday with. We had a lot of fun and it was sad to see them all leave this morning. I went around the city again today...wanted to see the Basilica which contains the Holy Blood and it's only open from 2-3....it's amazing!! True Catholics are deadset believers that this is actually Jesus' blood brought over from Jeruselam and I find it hard for anyone to question it. It's so sacred that they only take it out for an hour and only 4 days a week. There was a little ceremony when they brought it out and really a great thing to see during Holy week. I'm completely taken back by every church I've seen so far but this really blew my mind. We got to lay our hand on it as we passed over the altar also which was a great experience. Other than that, I just grabbed some more chocolate for Andrew and have just been walking around aimlessly today.....it's been great :)

Heading to Paris tomorrow on an early train. I thought it was so much farther from Bruges but it's really only an hour from Brussels! So I'll be there around lunch time...ready to eat some great food of course :) More later from France!