The Sand Festival @ Brugge

Brugge is a small city in the Flanders region of Belgium, with considerable Dutch touch. Belgium has both Dutch and French influences, splitting the country into two. Brussels, the capital, in the bang center of Belgium has touches of both.




No visit to Belgium can be complete, amongst other things, without a visit to the Venice of Beglium, The Brugge. With its water-ways, greenery and small winding roads, and houses sporting a medieval look, its not surprising its one of the most popular city's to visit.





I have been to Brugge twice, and still not enjoyed the romantic boat trip it is famous for. Obviously Brugge as a lot more to offer. We decided to check out the sand festival and the aqua park that has Dolphin-Seal shows.


The theme of the sand festival was 1000 years of Brugge! City's history, folk-tales, faith, youthful love stories, legends were there to enjoy through the medium of delicately crafted sculptures.



The girl on the right is holding the 'relic of holy blood'. During the annual procession at Brugge in 1382, the inhabitants of Ghent ( nearby town ) attacked the city. While trying to escape from attack local priests misplaced the relic, believed to have been stolen by attackers from Ghent. It was a huge blow to the city. However, one day a local girl went to a local river 'Rele' to wash wool and rediscovered the lost relic. The city's joy was great and tradition recontinued!



Fascination with Tintin continues with our visit to the Tintin shop. It was closed, but that did not prevent us in having a few moments of glory with 'Thundering Typhoons'.



The dolphin-seal show was great fun, magnified by being in the company of cute children all around. They clapped, cheered with their parents at every move of the dophins and the seals. It was awesome. Some dolphins mimiced walking on the surface of water, while some in groups did mid-air somersaults. The best was when Dolphins kicked the big football sized balls with their fins into the stadium. The children could hardly contain themselved and were all over the place trying the catch the flying gift from friends from the sea!