Tag Archives: belgium

Bruges, Belgium. Sept 23 2025

I had a glorious long solid sleep. Bit of a late start this morning with a nice shower in very small stall. 

Spoke to guest relations person who is local to the area. Free shuttle to Blankenberge to catch train to Brugge!  We get ready, get our gear and out the door, off gangway and to shuttle. Due to timing we will have a short day here, back on last shuttle at 230 pm. We can do this!

Outside the terminal of rail station, in Blankenberge the Sign says: “Kiss and ride. Max 15 minutes”. 

I think only 10-15 minutes to Brugge. We will do a walkabout and check out Belgian chocolate and some wine?  On train ride i enjoy the architecture and different roof textures of the homes. The greenery and farmland once out of the town limits of Brakenbruge. Farm equipment and crows in the fields. Many windmills making power. Blue sky again and cool but sunny temperature. 

I arrive at Brugge!  Red squirrels frolicking through trees

I am enchanted by the Waterways. Rivers or canals, locks, home for beautiful white swans and pairs of ducks. Old red brick architecture. I can hear an owl and pigeons. Weeping willows reaching down to the canal. Sunshine is bright and it is warmer now. Distant church bells clanging as we walk along a path through park to town. Rows of attached brick and stone buildings along cobblestone streets. In town little artistic shops selling Belgian chocolates and lace, pillow covers, bags made of needlework. 

Carrefour express store sells lots of wines, we pick up some rose, red and a Cava from Spain. A little something of every kind. Despite the poor map and my lousy sense of direction, we find our way back to the train station and there explore a little chocolate shop. By 130 pm we are once again on a fast train heading closer to the ship. We explored Blankenberge (some very old buildings and some locals riding bicycles, a quiet town today)and then complimentary shuttle to the ship by 230 pm. 

Time for tea at 4 to 5 pm, happy hour from 5 to 6, dinner 630 and show tonight in the lounge. Done. Done and done. 

We are out at sea heading toward LeHavre and we will be there in the morning. Good night from somewhere between France and Belgium. We have an app for finding ships!!

Monday 22 September 2025. embarkation day. Oceania Sirena

I spent the last two days in Paris. We left home on 18 September in late afternoon to begin the journey. Adjusting to a very long set of Westjet flights from Victoria BC Canada, via Calgary and overnight to Halifax.

A day at my mom’s in Wolfville. We are picked up by my friends friend and driven to my moms for the day. The gift of delicious meals, loving hugs and a restful needed nap. We drove to Kingsport beach and quick drive by some favourite sights. A beautiful gift of time. I have been pondering this article https://ckarchive.com/b/75u7h8h699kkzb6rgg7rlawl85666tnhordn0 and stringing beads through out the day. 

Back on last flight Halifax to Paris. We catch an uber to stay with our friend. 

Wandering our way through Paris, Montmartre district. Lively music in a bandstand in the park. People people everywhere enjoying the architecture, sights, sounds, energy, lights and texture of Paris. So alive. Cafes and bars with lots of patrons sharing a delicious meal with wine or beer. Walking. Lebanese lunch, tasty gluten free wrap, Grom sorbet to go. 

We spend some time on the river watching people and lights. Galleries Lafayette and Opera house. Green boxes of artwork. Bridges lit up. Bateau on the Seine. Fabulous day exploring beautiful Paris. My last blog post was featuring yesterday in Paris. 

This morning up early to repack and catch train through France to Belgium, Antwerp. We took an uber with all our bags to Gare du Nord rail station and on prebooked train 9415 to Antwerp station. Wifi free on train. Beautiful large spacious red velvet seats with huge windows and beautiful view of the lush green countryside. 

Eating quiche and focaccia bread purchased a day or so ago at Copains gluten free bakery. Fantastic breakfast. Quiet except for the rattling sound of the train on tracks. Gentle rocking as we speed along. 

Windmills and vehicles. Brilliant blue clear sky. Perfect day for a train ride. We stop in Brussels to exchange some passengers and next stop Antwerp. 

We get off train a few minutes later than scheduled. With no one around we navigate and take escalators up up and up. 

We find transfer bus arranged to take us to the ship. Yay. We drive by castle of Antwerp. I can breathe and relax and let Oceania look after the rest. Seatbelt mandatory here on bus. The Scheldt River coming from France and Netherlands. People in this part of Belgium speak dialect of Dutch, Flemish. 1813 became independent. In other provinces speak German and French. 12 million inhabitants of Belgium. 250 miles one side to other side. Very dense population. Lots of traffic. We pass through city of Ghent or Gent. Lots of grains, convergence of two main rivers. 

We arrive to the ship, get checked in and have lunch in buffet. Then to our room to unpack our bags. We had a nice time settling in. Dinner followed by a movie. 

Time to rest.