Our home exchange this year brought us to Belgium, where we were based in a 17th century townhouse in the beautiful city of Bruges.

This gave us a wonderful opportunity to visit other cities and towns in this country. A day excursion by train to Ghent, a trip on a tourist paddle steamer to Damme, just 7 km from Bruges and and an excursion to Ostend on the coast.

Mainly, living there, instead of just passing through, was idyllic. We could retreat to the very quiet and lovely back streets like locals, take in the popular areas at times when the crowds had gone, walk to the shops and dine and drink at some delightful old bars and cafes.