16 Midnights

·         Travel Bingo  -- Travels to other places while living in London

So, funny thing . . . in order to qualify for some expat tax exemptions, we have to be out of the UK for 16 more midnights (yes, they count by midnights, not days on this!) between our arrival date and April 5^th or forfeit those exemptions.  This presents a happy dilemma:  we must take some trips immediately to be away those midnights!

Enter this last weekend.  Exit us.  Mike and I ventured to Brussels, Belgium.  A quick “hour + a bit” train ride on the Eurostar through the Chunnel – an underwater tunnel between London and Paris.        It whisked us away to a charming area full of Flemish gingerbread-type architecture, stately and imposing cathedrals (some dating from the 1300's), fabulous chocolate shops by the oodles (yes, Belgian chocolate IS scrumptious), lace shops and museums.

Highlights included a chocolate/tasting and making tour and workshop with entrance and samples at 8 different sumptuous shops, a beautiful Chagall art exhibit, the cobblestone street shop offerings and the grand square – which was eye-popping!  We also so enjoyed church at the ward.  Only a 50 minute commute took us to a Wasatch Front style building with an international congregation.  Meetings were in French and English, complete with translation headphones.  Favorite nibbles included a true Belgian waffle which was like eating a cloud with chocolate sauce on it – so light and fluffy! – and frites (fries) with curried ketchup.

A day trip from there found us in Brugge, Belgium, often called the “Venice of Belgium.”  Many homes perched on canals featured little gardens, crocus and daffodils beginning to bloom and cheerily festooned lace-curtained windows.  A self-guided walking tour toured us throughout the city’s high points, including an Alms House established by someone from the 1700s who shares my maiden name.  Genealogy thrill?!  

It was a picturesque town with windmills, gingerbread cut-out rooflines, canals and bridges, ducks and swans.  A particular delight in Brugge was being able to see Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child” sculpture at Our Lady Cathedral.  It is the only piece of his work to leave Italy during his lifetime and is absolutely breathtaking!

They are definitely places we'd return to happily.  Put them on your bingo card, too!