DAY 26: BRUGES

IN Bruges, a lunch consisting of hand-made Belgium praline chocolates followed by waffles with strawberries, cream chantilly and coulis, maybe an eclair from the patisserie, washed down with a variety of award-winning local beers is totally acceptable.

That's because lunch will be followed by a stroll around the canals, through the main Markt and Brug Square, down cobblestone streets and alleyways, through grand centuries-old gates and arches, past medieval halls, under church towers that look like Rapunzel's quarters, and end up at dinner at an al-fresco cafe lined with colourful flower boxes by the water's edge.

You'll be exhausted but well-exercised ... and ready to fuel up again on more decadent delights.

Beer lovers may stumble upon Struise Craft Brewery or our favourite, The Beerwall (where I thought I might have to fight an American man for the most romantic seat on the terrace by the canal when it became available!).

Pralinette, Chocoholic and a host of other chocolatiers will satisfy any sweet tooth with world-famous Belgian chocolate pralines, truffles, biscuits and other goodies designed to create a party in your mouth.

For a twilight dinner, we couldn't go past the attentive service, freshly made pasta and value for money of the De Vier Wienden Hotel Restaurant, right next to the medieval hall where a carillon concert with the bells was taking place for our dining enjoyment.

The best way to see Bruges is by foot, bicycle or canal boat. I recommend a combination of all three. The romantics by prefer a horse and carriage ride, though.

But just watch out for other crazy sightseeing tourists who never watch where they walk as they marvel at yet another jaw-dropping photo angle and picturesque curved street or look up toward a rooftop or belfry instead of over their shoulder for oncoming vehicles.

Lesson of the day: Don't drink so much of the highly drinkable Belgian beer that one wrong turn makes your five-minute walk home a 90-minute wild goose chase around the backstreets of Bruge at midnight, trying to get back on track to the hotel. Streets don't run in straight lines, every tower above the rooftops looks like "your tower" and there'll never be a break in the buildings when you need one. It really will become a case of "the blind" leading "the blind".