Bruges!!!

I think I've landed in a little piece of heaven. After the busy busy streets and OH-so-crowded metros of Paris, I took a train north to Brussels (first class due to a very nice train station ticket window guy who gave me a sweet deal), and then another train further north to Bruges, a city that will forever bring to mind the Europe that I always wished to see. Its seriously beyond me to adequately describe this place with words. It's like landing in the middle of a fairytale except that there are people who actually live and work here and it's not just a make-believe village built to appease tourists who are searching for "old world Europe". Everywhere you look is a flawless vision of a 15th century Flemish village, with canals cutting through every direction and little arched stone bridges, and tiny, winding cobblestone streets and huge peaked stable doors. The main square has spiring cathedrals that have bell chimes at each hour (I've heard this is one of few cities in Europe who still employs a full time bell chimer for their main squares clocktower). Today the air is thick with cool moisture, not rain, but very atmospheric, and the light has a very soft look to it, making for what I hope will turn out to be beautiful photos.
There are, of course, tourists absolutely everywhere. I try my hardest to get away from them though and go for walks in the fringes of the city, away from the shops and public squares, and try to feel for what it is like for those who live here. There's a little bar underneath my hostel where I've been getting a pint of different Belgian beer each night of my stay and I talked for a while last night with a man who has lived here his entire life and says he wouldn't imagine living anywhere else. I told him he was lucky to live surrounded by such beauty, which I'm sure he already realized. My hostel has been one of the best on this trip thus far, in a 500 year old building, and thanks to the hostel-bed-placement gods, I got the best bed in the house, right next to the window, with a view of the magnificent church across the street to fall asleep and wake up to.
I am a bit sad to leave but I must. This city will certainly be one of my top suggestions to anyone who in the future might ask me where I would recommend travelling in Europe. Tomorrow I go to Amsterdam, where I'm extremely excited to meet up with Simon for a couple of days of carousing. I miss my brother and very much look forward to some good catching up. Lots to look forward to, but this moment now is still so sweet.