the Markt

The "Markt"( Market Square) is located smack in the middle of Bruges, surrounded by the Belfry, Post office and other historical buildings. There is limited auto travel allowed in the markt so it tends to be a place full of picture taking and the aimless meandering of tourists looking up toward the sky, mouths agape. You can catch buses to other parts in and out of the city here and they run often.
 It also serves as the stage for installations ( as seen above, the big grassy hill) and the lovely Christmas festivities. This year they built a mini winter wonderland right in the middle of the center. There was an ice rink encircled by cute little wooden cabins containing  gulhwijn, waffles, hot chocolate and other delicious treats and things to buy. The markt this time of year is a must see! The pictures barely do it justice. But here's an idea.                          
                                                                                    

THE ICE SKATING RINK

 



Christmas crowds around the food and drink stands. Yummy hot drinks and sausage on this side. Sweet crepes and waffles on the other.

                                                                                         

A view from the back of the wooden stalls.

 Every Wednesday, with the exception of the installations or holiday festivities as seen above, they hold a Farmers market.  Now that the holidays have passed, the weekly market has returned to it's usual home  in the center. It starts early in the morning and goes until around 1pm.

Pates and other homemade condiments

A view from outside the market.

 Coming from the US, and especially the West coast, I've become very spoiled by the ability to get just about anything you want any time of year.  Here you really feel that you are eating in season, and you know immediately when something has been shipped a very long distance. It shows in it's lack of color and taste. This does offer challenges if your not used to being a seasonal cook. Which I'm not. (Whadayamean I can't get red gorgeous vine ripened tomatoes in the dead of winter???)

It's a great place to start your mid week shopping and it's always fun to walk around and see all the different types of cheese, cured meats and fruit stalls. One particular vendor always sells passion fruit which I have been obsessed with since our trip to Fiji but unable to find easily back in the states. Sometimes on my bad days, it's one positive thing I come up with about Bruges; the accessibility of Passion Fruit. Aside from the chocolate, of course.

In the beginning I was overwhelmed by it all. Many things are priced by weight or bundles. For this, I was not prepared. Being a little deficient in the mathematics department, the metric system is not something I've mastered or become even so much as acquainted with. So, it's no surprise that my first Wednesday I returned home with a 3 pound assortment of cheese and an ungodly amount of leeks. We learn.

 Sometimes I skip or sleep through the market. But when I make it; the Wednesday shopping ritual goes like this.

1)Make a list of produce in that weeks attempt of planning ahead. Usually very optimistic and will ultimately end up going bad before there is a chance to use. ( in my defense the celery is heavier and larger than anything I have ever seen and comes with these long leaves attached. You have to fold it to fit it in the fridge. Two people cannot eat all that celery. )
2) Frantically throw my clothes on in layers, make sure i have cash and rush out the door before everyone is packing up. (usually about noon) While I walk run, I try to recite the different veggie's names in Dutch in my head. Peterselie, komkommer, paprika, ajuin etc...
3)Avoid the guy who screams "Lekkerrrr Lekkerrrrr" since that's my least favorite word in Dutch. I'm sure he's lovely. These are just my ways.
4) Buy one of these delicious rotisserie chickens that save my life every Wednesday. They even offer to cut it up for you! (if you're visiting you can buy chicken on a stick, roasted potaotes and other things you can take away easily.)

All in all, it's a delightful thing to see whether you are food shopping or not. You can look around the center and admire the pretty buildings while eating meat on a stick or see some of the local color of Bruges. But while your looking up, be mindful to keep out of the way of the many bicycle riders. They take no prisoners.