Tuesday 23rd April 2019
Zeebrugge is a Belgian port and seaside resort. It's linked to the city of Bruges by the Baudouin Canal. The old fish market in the marina houses Seafront, a theme park focusing on the local seafaring and fishing heritage. Exhibits include a Russian submarine. In nearby Knokke-Heist, the For Freedom Museum evokes the area’s WWII history through dioramas. West along the coast are the De Fonteintjes wetland and dunes.
Overnight sailing to Zeebrugge 167 nm. Quite a late arrival into our berth, not until about 10.30 am. Seriously busy in the breakfast buffet, amazingly so. We didn’t partake until all quietened down about 11ish, found a very comfortable spot with nice views over the ship and port to wait.
As you might imagine on such a cosmopolitan ship the announcements for going ashore procedure took some time, and woe betide you if you miss your language while your brain gets in gear, by the time the announcement finished it was nearly time to get back on board.
As soon as the ship was cleared for passengers to go ashore the queues built up for the shuttle bus to the port gate, not enough buses and only a 3 minute bus ride - there must be a better way. Every bus swamped immediately as soon as the doors opened, more like a dam burst than a bus boarding!
As you can expect by the time we got ashore all much more genteel, no queues, no waiting, no stress.
Once outside the port a short walk to the tram stop, tickets from the local Spar, a cheap all day ticket, then a tram into Blankenburge, a pleasant ride along the coast, sadly behind the dunes so no sea views.
Once in town a walk to the seafront, via the Australian Gelato shop, I have no idea why Australian but they sell delicious ice-cream. Time for a coffee in one of the seafront cafe and a relax in the sun, the day warming up nicely now the early morning wind has died away.
Back through town, via the supermarket for essentials, Coke and Fanta today, then back on the tram for the return to Zeebrugge. Somehow managed to find the wobbliest and rattliest tram for this run, not a patch on the earlier smooth ride, but made it in one piece.
Back on board for a sit in the sun on our balcony before an afternoon snack, just to tide us over.
Our chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of Fizz was delivered this afternoon, to be saved for a bit later when it’s needed.
A leisurely afternoon and evening with time to watch the world go by and a latish sailaway just after sunset.
No comments:
Post a Comment